Weird low beam issue...Help!!!

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  • spiDmang
    No R3VLimiter
    • Nov 2010
    • 3941

    #1

    Weird low beam issue...Help!!!

    Hey guys,

    my driver side low beam has been acting up. Whenever I turn on the low beam, the light output is VERY weak (almost like a city light). On top of that, the driver side high beam is also on and is also very weak??

    I have no idea where to start. Also if I try and disconnect the high beam connection and turn on the low beams, the driver side won't work. The high beam has to be plugged in to get any type of light output

    Any ideas??


    P.s. fuses are good, bulbs are new. Would a faulty relay cause ONE low beam to act so finicky?!?
    -Brad, AlphaTeam Motorwerks, LLC
    91' 318iS - S54/6MT Swapped
    08' E90 M3 6MT - Daily
    04' Chevy Duramax CCLB - Work Truck/Hauler


    Originally posted by IronJoe
    Alpha Team: running through e30s, gringo icebergs, and 19 yr olds.

    Originally posted by 2mAn
    Brads a standup guy even though he likes buttsex
  • e30austin
    I waste 90% of my day here and all I got was this stupid title
    • Sep 2010
    • 15382

    #2
    I would stick another relay in there just for shits n' giggles. Can't hurt.


    Comment

    • iansane
      E30 Fanatic
      • Oct 2011
      • 1341

      #3
      Bad ground on the low DS low beam?
      84 325e - 91 325i - 92 318 touring - 91 Trans Am - 01 S4 avant - 03 S-type R - 96 F350 - 15 SS - 84 Biturbo - 91 Defender

      Comment

      • spiDmang
        No R3VLimiter
        • Nov 2010
        • 3941

        #4
        Originally posted by iansane
        Bad ground on the low DS low beam?
        Are you referring to the ground that connects to the bulb? If not, does that ground connected somewhere in the engine bay?
        -Brad, AlphaTeam Motorwerks, LLC
        91' 318iS - S54/6MT Swapped
        08' E90 M3 6MT - Daily
        04' Chevy Duramax CCLB - Work Truck/Hauler


        Originally posted by IronJoe
        Alpha Team: running through e30s, gringo icebergs, and 19 yr olds.

        Originally posted by 2mAn
        Brads a standup guy even though he likes buttsex

        Comment

        • PNWDan
          E30 Fanatic
          • Feb 2011
          • 1326

          #5
          Low beam and high beam relay are different. Has someone done the pin jumper between them to run highs and lows at the same time? If so, I would look there and the relays first. If not, it sounds like you have a short in the loop somewhere.

          1987 Alpinweiß 325is

          Like the PNW E30 Local Crew Facebook page

          Comment

          • iansane
            E30 Fanatic
            • Oct 2011
            • 1341

            #6
            Originally posted by spiDmang
            Are you referring to the ground that connects to the bulb? If not, does that ground connected somewhere in the engine bay?
            Not necessarily at the bulb itself. I've seen many 4light systems that develop a bad connection to ground on one low beam circuit. The electricity travels wherever it can and you get ~12v to both the high and low beam and a really dim bulb on each, or a normal-ish low and a constant on dim high beam. Not staying this is definitely your issue, but it's worth looking into when you mess with the relays.
            84 325e - 91 325i - 92 318 touring - 91 Trans Am - 01 S4 avant - 03 S-type R - 96 F350 - 15 SS - 84 Biturbo - 91 Defender

            Comment

            • spiDmang
              No R3VLimiter
              • Nov 2010
              • 3941

              #7
              Originally posted by iansane
              ~12v to both the high and low beam and a really dim bulb on each, or a normal-ish low and a constant on dim high beam. Not saying this is definitely your issue, but it's worth looking into when you mess with the relays.
              This is the exact situation I have. But I don't get any
              Light output if I don't have the high beam hooked up. Should I look into new relays?
              -Brad, AlphaTeam Motorwerks, LLC
              91' 318iS - S54/6MT Swapped
              08' E90 M3 6MT - Daily
              04' Chevy Duramax CCLB - Work Truck/Hauler


              Originally posted by IronJoe
              Alpha Team: running through e30s, gringo icebergs, and 19 yr olds.

              Originally posted by 2mAn
              Brads a standup guy even though he likes buttsex

              Comment

              • iansane
                E30 Fanatic
                • Oct 2011
                • 1341

                #8
                Originally posted by spiDmang
                This is the exact situation I have. But I don't get any
                Light output if I don't have the high beam hooked up. Should I look into new relays?
                I'd go after the ground on the low beam first. It sounds to me like the ground is gone and it's using the high beam circuit as a ground. When the high is unplugged there is no where for the electricity to ground out and it doesn't work. You have a DVOM? Check continuity between the ground terminal on the low beam head light connector and the chassis/bad/strut bolt/any solid ground.
                84 325e - 91 325i - 92 318 touring - 91 Trans Am - 01 S4 avant - 03 S-type R - 96 F350 - 15 SS - 84 Biturbo - 91 Defender

                Comment

                • spiDmang
                  No R3VLimiter
                  • Nov 2010
                  • 3941

                  #9
                  Originally posted by iansane
                  I'd go after the ground on the low beam first. It sounds to me like the ground is gone and it's using the high beam circuit as a ground. When the high is unplugged there is no where for the electricity to ground out and it doesn't work. You have a DVOM? Check continuity between the ground terminal on the low beam head light connector and the chassis/bad/strut bolt/any solid ground.
                  Ahhhhh...thanks for putting that into nooblish (English for noobs)...

                  So theoretically speaking, if I grounded the low beam elsewhere, the light should work?
                  -Brad, AlphaTeam Motorwerks, LLC
                  91' 318iS - S54/6MT Swapped
                  08' E90 M3 6MT - Daily
                  04' Chevy Duramax CCLB - Work Truck/Hauler


                  Originally posted by IronJoe
                  Alpha Team: running through e30s, gringo icebergs, and 19 yr olds.

                  Originally posted by 2mAn
                  Brads a standup guy even though he likes buttsex

                  Comment

                  • spiDmang
                    No R3VLimiter
                    • Nov 2010
                    • 3941

                    #10
                    Originally posted by iansane
                    I'd go after the ground on the low beam first. It sounds to me like the ground is gone and it's using the high beam circuit as a ground. When the high is unplugged there is no where for the electricity to ground out and it doesn't work. You have a DVOM? Check continuity between the ground terminal on the low beam head light connector and the chassis/bad/strut bolt/any solid ground.
                    This was exactly the issue. Thanks a bunch bud! Now I can drive at night for late night munchies!
                    -Brad, AlphaTeam Motorwerks, LLC
                    91' 318iS - S54/6MT Swapped
                    08' E90 M3 6MT - Daily
                    04' Chevy Duramax CCLB - Work Truck/Hauler


                    Originally posted by IronJoe
                    Alpha Team: running through e30s, gringo icebergs, and 19 yr olds.

                    Originally posted by 2mAn
                    Brads a standup guy even though he likes buttsex

                    Comment

                    • iansane
                      E30 Fanatic
                      • Oct 2011
                      • 1341

                      #11


                      Jackpot!
                      84 325e - 91 325i - 92 318 touring - 91 Trans Am - 01 S4 avant - 03 S-type R - 96 F350 - 15 SS - 84 Biturbo - 91 Defender

                      Comment

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