Daddybob

I just now found this thread. 98 Forester, left side went dim. Replaced connector, nuthin' changed. Swapped relays, left side worked, right side went dim. Just now got a new relay, everything is fine. Connector was degraded somewhat, probably brought the relay to its end. There is definitely backfeed between the right and left.

A lot of life got in the way but it's finally done. Both highbeam ground wires have had an extra ground wire soldered to them, then both of those are grounded back to the new SEALED battery. Thanks for all the suggestions.

Could be from the combination of overheating and exploding last year when that happened to both highbeams at once, while we were having extended sopping wet weather, months of it. Whatever it was, it sure did a number on them. Both lenses have the same internal fogging directly in front of the bulbs.

Would you elaborate a bit more? By "drop in" LED bulbs, do you mean you didn't have to do any installation of accessories like those big ballast resistors?

Good idea! I forgot that I've got that very problem right now on my 98 Forester, left side. I bought a new set of pigtails and haven't gotten around to installing them yet. Thanks for reminding me.

Well we do know they've made some mistakes over the years and tried to cat-cover them instead of coming clean. Crappy head gaskets being the most well known one. (I just finished putting MLS gaskets on my '98 Forester.) Oh well, we are dealing with human beings aren't we. Yes, I did polish the outside of the lenses and was able to determine that the insides were fogged. I haven't looked very hard but I'm guessing the lenses can't be separated to clean the insides. On other vehicles I have cleaned lenses and clear coated them. I thought I might do that to this one until I saw what the insides looked like.

Second owner, may not qualify for extended warranty; closest dealer is an hour drive one way; owner's life is a full plate for next 3 months (so is mine). DRLs on this car are separate bulbs inside high beam reflector, thank goodness. The lenses are fogged on the inside, gonna need replacement before next fall. That will give me time to learn more about possibly replacing them with LEDs, along with any pattern changes. Definitely interested in LEDs if not too complicated or costly just because of lowered current draw. Thanks!

Update. My parts guy told me to put dielectric grease on on the bulb contacts. He says it's fixing other premature burnout problems in some other vehicles here.

1. Although I soldered the extra ground wires into the main ground wires, I put an aluminum eye crimp fitting on the other end and zip-screwed it to the painted inner wheel well. Those aluminum crimp fittings on copper wire will corrode and fail here quickly in this humidity. I need to use a soldered copper eye and ground it to the battery negative clamp. 6. Yup, not a hobbyist, totally old guy pragmatist. Your reasoning sounds good; now I wonder if Long Life bulbs last longer from being cooler?

Okay here I am again. I'm starting to figure this out. 1. Grounding is most likely the issue. Although extra work has been done in this regard, I have seen where I can do better and will do so as early as possible. 2. Only the right bright was out this time and it was not exploded. Fortunately that's the easiest headlight to replace on the vehicle and it's been done for now because I had to get this thing working ASAP, because I've got to drive her a long distance to have surgery. BTW I took care not to touch the bulb. 3. It never had anything to do with the multifunction switch on the steering column. 4. Battery has been cleaned. Fumes seeping out the caps are the most likely cause of the excessive corrosion. Probably the only cure is a better battery because this is an El Cheapo. Until then it's just going to be a matter of keeping the terminals clean. 5. LEDs and HIDs are not the answer. 6. I have been using Sylvania basic bulbs. This one is a 9005. Does anyone have opinions about a better bulb?

https://www.ultimatesubaru.org/forum/topic/172456-2012-legacy-repeat-headlamp-failure-and-blowout/

Lenses appear dry but this can be a terribly wet/humid place. This is probably complicating the problem including complicating the grounding problems. Ok, charging system, glad you reminded me. The positive post on the battery on this car keeps getting a tremendous build up of corrosion and it needs to be cleaned right now. Since this is not a common problem with my other vehicles, I figure something has to be going on with the charging system although it seems to be fine. There are no other symptoms of a charging problem, but I know how dreadfully sneaky modern alternators can be with built-in voltage regulator circuitry. No aftermarket electronic gear and no jump starting. This car isn't actually mine, it belongs to a woman friend. She lives several miles away. She has to drive it for work everyday. So I don't get all the time I need to check things over on it.

@idosubaru 1. No. 2. No. 3. Outlier I think. But I just can't find that info again. 4. Agreed, but again I think I've got an outlier. Never seen anything like this, and I'm an old guy who ran a business with lots of trucks, and I put four kids through driving. Seen a lot of crazy stuff in vehicles. Never seen exploding headlamps, and sure never seen two at once. 5. I'll look him up. Thanks.

BTW, in case I failed to mention it, both high beams have got extra grounding wires on them already. A Subaru mechanic did one of them and I did the other one.