issue with drivers side headlamp

[desertland]

My 2001 just developed two of my favorite problems. 1, it's electrical. 2, it is not consistent. I noticed the drivers side headlamp was very dim. @ 155K miles I figured it was time to accept that a new set of lamps would be a good thing. Did not solve the issue. Not always, but some times it would be just as bright on both sides. Everything would be fine and I could do little more than shut down, go in a store and 5 minutes later the headlamp is dim when I turn on the lights.

From what I can tell this is a grounding issue. Is there a known weak spot that corrosion gets to the wiring harness? I keep the battery clean ( it is new ) and often remove the corrosion in that area. Also replaced the battery connectors when I got the new battery. Battery replacement was months ago. Light issue just started last week.

 

[01STrunner]

I agree, it sounds like a grounding issue. I'm not familiar with any weak spots in the headlight wiring. I think it will be a matter of following the wiring from the light back, carefully looking at spots where it goes through holes in the front clip where it may have rubbed.

 

[BrianDye]

I agree on it sounding like a ground issue, worst case, you could just splice a new ground to the body from the headlight connector. Wouldnt be hard and shouldnt take long.

 

[desertland]

I agree on it sounding like a ground issue, worst case, you could just splice a new ground to the body from the headlight connector. Wouldnt be hard and shouldnt take long.

This will likely have to be the fix. I did not find any reasons for a bad connection from the connector to the point that that headlamps wiring joined up with the main bundle going across the radiator.

 

[desertland]

Last time I went out to fiddle with the problem I removed the headlamp again. Found some white looking oxides inside the lamp base. Looked at the connector more closely, looked OK. But I made a thin contact cleaner from some 400 grit paper and also tweaked the tension on the contacts.

Things are much brighter now. Will see how long it hols up.