Headlights: one dim one bright: Ford Focus 2000

jimogr

Looking for some help with this problem, one of my headlights is very dim, the other is extra bright (both when dipped and full beam).

The car is 2000 ford focus.

So far I've tried changing the bulbs and swapping the relays.

I've read it can be an earthing problem - anyone know how to get to the bottom of this, or where the earth would be attached to the body of the car. The wire connections on the bulb holder look ok, but how do you test this?

Any ideas appreciated.

Also, if I can't get to the bottom of it myself, would a regular indy garage be any good for this problem, or do I need a motor electrician - any recommendations.

pcardin

ah fords and electrics. I remember seeing these sort of problems with fords in 80ties, 90ties, 00ties and these still exist. Why ford is uncapable to sort these out is unknown. Every week u see a ford with blinking brake lights when they turn or reverse light that is still on. Ford probably be the only car brand that will receive my applauses if they decide to bankrupt. :mad:

Sorry for rant.

it looks like there is a problem wih ground somewhere but probably direct ground from headlight would not be recommended.

sean1141

pcardin wrote: »

ah fords and electrics. I remember seeing these sort of problems with fords in 80ties, 90ties, 00ties and these still exist. Why ford is uncapable to sort these out is unknown. Every week u see a ford with blinking brake lights when they turn or reverse light that is still on. Ford probably be the only car brand that will receive my applauses if they decide to bankrupt. :mad:

Sorry for rant.

it looks like there is a problem wih ground somewhere but probably direct ground from headlight would not be recommended.

Have you been behind many renaults or fiats??
nearly every second megane and punto I have been behind have brake lights flashing with indicators or indicators stop when the brake lights come on! Its not only ford!

jimogr

I've had this car for many years and this is the first problem I've had with electrics. Any suggestions to fix it appreciated.

H4 plug wiring

MK1 has H4 bulbs. Run a temp lead from the ground wire to the battery negative lead (you can literally hold the wire by hand. If the dim light brightens up fit a proper ground lead.

If that doesn't help try running a cable from LO beam to the battery positive. If that helps you'd then need multimeter around the light circuit to see if you can spot the section where the voltage drop happens. The lights have to be on and bulb fitted while measurements are taken as bad connections can show full voltage that collapses whenever the circuit is actually under load.

About the bright bulb: Are you sure it's correctly fitted (right way around etc.)?

pcardin

sean1141 wrote: »

Have you been behind many renaults or fiats??
nearly every second megane and punto I have been behind have brake lights flashing with indicators or indicators stop when the brake lights come on! Its not only ford!

I never had any punto but have had Fiat Stilo, Alfa Romeo 166, GTV, Lancia Thesis, Kappa and 4th gen Quattroporte. So plenty of italian cars to say - such rubbish never happened to them.

jimogr

samih wrote: »

H4 plug wiring

MK1 has H4 bulbs. Run a temp lead from the ground wire to the battery negative lead (you can literally hold the wire by hand. If the dim light brightens up fit a proper ground lead.

If that doesn't help try running a cable from LO beam to the battery positive. If that helps you'd then need multimeter around the light circuit to see if you can spot the section where the voltage drop happens. The lights have to be on and bulb fitted while measurements are taken as bad connections can show full voltage that collapses whenever the circuit is actually under load.

About the bright bulb: Are you sure it's correctly fitted (right way around etc.)?

Thanks for that samih, I'll give it a go. Yeah other bulb is fitted fine, it may just be relative to the other one it seems very bright.