Mark/WRX

Had a dim headlight for a while, checked it out today, and the plug has melted. Short circuit it would appear.

This happened to anyone before? (bugeye WRX)

You think i could order the plug from a subaru dealer?

Cheers

Chelspeed

H4 blub? If so then they are available here, half way down the page under bulb connectors. VWP are an excellent compnay to do business with.

Doesn't need to have been a short circuit. I've heard others say that if the terminals get corroded then the high current drawn by the bulb can overheat the high resistance, dirty joints on the connector.

Mark/WRX

yes H4,

thanks very much for the link,

John 37

Had both headlight bulb plugs fail on my MY2000 with H4 bulbs.
Replacing them is dead easy, just cut off the old plug (one wire at a time) and connect the loom wires to the new one.

John

Mark/WRX

hello again,

ok so i've replaced the melted connector with a new one (from the link above), and its the same, the bulb is dim, on, but dim. Like there isn't enough current. Really could do with getting this sorted, any more ideas, thanks very much !

John 37

Check the fuses.

John

Mark/WRX

ok, i'm on it

Chelspeed

Add a relay close to the back of the headlight. Use the existing wiring to switch the relay and connect the power side of the relay direct to the battery.

John 37

While this is a good idea on Subaru's to get rid of their useless wiring, the O/P should find the fault he's obviously got first.
Solve the fault not the symptom.

John

alcazar

iTrader: (2)

Sounds like the bulb is trying to draw too much current, hence it's dim and has melted the wiring.

I'd be checking the bulb and then wiring to it.

Alcazar

Mark/WRX

bulb has been changed, was dim before, and now dim after.

Orginally i could whack the headlight and it would be bright again...

alcazar

iTrader: (2)

So what happens when you wack it now?

The plug melting is 99.9% certain to be caused by either the wiring carrying too much current, (least likely, or the fuse would have gone), or the resistance of the wiring being too high, so the wiring has got hot.

When you cut the old plug off did you notice the state of the wiring? Was the copper inside it's insulation corroded? Discoloured? If either, you'll need to cut it back to where it's bright copper coloured. Did you use new terminals for the new plug? You should have done. Are the bulb terminals bright and shiny? Can you measure the resistance of the earth?

You did follow the old wiring correctly, didn't you?

Sorry, is this just on ONE light or both?

Apologies if any of this is daft questions, but we have to cover all possibilities

Alcazar

scooby turbo

Hi try a earth to the body from the head light blub if it looks better it was a bad earth

John 37

BE CAREFUL IF YOU DO THIS.
Scooby head lights are wired as switched earth so you may just earth the live feed.

John