HarleyTechTalk

Technical Forums => General => Topic started by: Ironheadmike on April 26, 2021, 04:10:11 AM

Title: Swapped headlight bullb now spots are dim
Post by: Ironheadmike on April 26, 2021, 04:10:11 AM
98 flsts . I swapped out the light bulb for a brighter one and now my spots are really dim . The bulb is a halogen . Almost amber . Any suggestions on how to fix this or what the problem is ?
Title: Re: Swapped headlight bullb now spots are dim
Post by: Hossamania on April 26, 2021, 04:14:28 AM
Go back into the assembly and look for loose connections, bad ground. Wiggle wires while the lights are on, look for frayed wires.
Title: Re: Swapped headlight bullb now spots are dim
Post by: Ironheadmike on April 27, 2021, 10:14:29 AM
Everything is good and tight . Could the lights be too much draw ?
Title: Re: Swapped headlight bullb now spots are dim
Post by: Pete_Vit on April 27, 2021, 10:47:06 AM
 :scratch: maybe the spots just 'look' dim, are they halogen also?
when I swapped my HL with a brighter bulb the issue I had was the draw and with the spots on the fuse kept getting blown, since you not seeing that maybe it's just an illusion ?
Title: Re: Swapped headlight bullb now spots are dim
Post by: Hossamania on April 29, 2021, 04:42:37 AM
Disconnect the new bulb and see if anything changes.
Let's may be on to something, might be an optical illusion. Are you checking them in daylight or in the dark?
Title: Re: Swapped headlight bullb now spots are dim
Post by: mkd on April 29, 2021, 05:34:00 AM
ironhead, what hoss said is spot on. the headlight wires can get frayed and the plug itself to the back of the bulb can be loose or corroded. i know when installing the trim ring you can put too many twists in the wires and mess the wiring up. my 98 flsts had a headlight issue. i think there is a ground strap rivet to headlight housing that could get loose as well.
Title: Re: Swapped headlight bullb now spots are dim
Post by: Dan89flstc on April 29, 2021, 10:17:04 AM
Read the voltage at the connector for one of the spots, while the spot is connected (and turned on...).

Do this with the headlamp connector plugged in, and with it unplugged.

Voltage reading should be the same.
Title: Re: Swapped headlight bullb now spots are dim
Post by: bobrk1 on May 09, 2021, 04:26:42 AM
I  went  with  the  halogen  then a led never  affected  the  spotlight , have  you  unplug  the  light  and  noticed  a  difference ?