Dim Headlights

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Aussy Edo
Posts: 386
Joined: Tue Aug 19, 2008 7:41 pm
State: QLD
Location: Northern Territory

Dim Headlights

Post by Aussy Edo »

Hi People,
Generator still works well and pumping out good volts according to multi meter but headlights are dimmer than Tony Abbot and Julia Gillard combined!!
Could it be bulbs or is it more likely the current is weak by the time it gets to the headlight?
Any Thoughts?
Edo
One Day Hopefully!!
Bluehaze
Posts: 350
Joined: Tue Jun 22, 2004 3:51 pm
State: NOT ENTERED
Location: Croydon, Vic

Post by Bluehaze »

Assuming you have the original style tungsten filament globes, I'd start at the connections at the dip switch. Also the connections at the headlight switch.
Another thing to be sure of is that you have a solid ground between the battery negative and the chassis (as well as the heavy earth from the battery to the engine block)
An effective way to see where you are losing voltage is to measure voltage between the source (battery) and the load (lights) while the lights are on.
Leave one multimeter lead connected to the positive terminal of the battery, and with the other lead measure voltage at the light. Ideally, there should be no volts (we're looking for voltage drop). Even with thick wires and good connections, up to a volt is not outside the norm.
Now work backwards through the circuit.:
Terminal blocks
Dip switch
Headlamp switch. (This has a "bi-metal strip" which acts like a self-resetting fuse, pay special attention around this critter).
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Aussy Edo
Posts: 386
Joined: Tue Aug 19, 2008 7:41 pm
State: QLD
Location: Northern Territory

Re: Dim Headlights

Post by Aussy Edo »

Thanks Blue Haze, will have a look at them next weekend...........the light switch is abit tempremantal itself and requires a wiggle to get the lights to work even tho the dashlights are working?
Edo
One Day Hopefully!!
Blacky
Posts: 13334
Joined: Tue Jul 20, 2004 8:58 am
State: WA
Location: up in the Perth hills

Re: Dim Headlights

Post by Blacky »

Aussy Edo wrote:Thanks Blue Haze, will have a look at them next weekend...........the light switch is abit tempremantal itself and requires a wiggle to get the lights to work even tho the dashlights are working?
Edo
Well THAT would be a good place to start !!!!
I started with nothing and still have most of it left.


Foundation member #61 of FB/EK Holden club of W.A.
User avatar
Aussy Edo
Posts: 386
Joined: Tue Aug 19, 2008 7:41 pm
State: QLD
Location: Northern Territory

Re: Dim Headlights

Post by Aussy Edo »

But they do still work Blacky.......will get my multimeter on that switch,can you buy these repro?
One Day Hopefully!!
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