Crispy Headlight Connector, Replace??!

[SubeeTed]

Hi All!

Well I was just about to replace my 9003 Headlight bulbs with some new Sylvania's! My drivers low beam had died...I decided to upgrade to those more internse one's,Extra Vision bulbs.

 

I had a hard time pulling the connector off the drivers bulb.....I found out why!!! The top connector and some of the rubber around it were TOASTED! I assume that's the ground?! Anyhow... I cleaned it up a little with an emery board that I modified to fit in the connector, all these connectors don't look corroded at all! I also crimped the center connector so it would hold on better to the bulb. My QUESTION IS! Am I better off just seeing if this continues to work? I have my LOW beam now! I had thought of going to the junk yard and having them snip off this connector with about 6" of wires, then I'de slice them on! It doesn't seem a good idea to me considering the draw that the headlights have? I assume that the more, newer ones will have even more draw!

 

Help! SubeeTed

[frag]

I also bought «Extra vision» bulbs and they draw exactly the same wattage than the original bulbs (45-65 or 55-65 I dont remember exactly).

I dont think that soldering on a new connector will impede current flow. If you make a decent connection of course.

Good luck!

[Cougar]

I would keep an eye on the connector as it may fail again but it may work fine now. If it does degrade, swapping it out and soldering the connections will work fine.

[BillAileo]

I had the same connector problem with a '96 OB. My conclusion was that the last time I had replaced the bulb one of the prongs slid in adjacent to, but not into, the corresponding slot of the connector. This led to arcing and ultimately a fried socket. I went the junk yard route and got a "new" connector with about six inch leads which I soldered into place. Worked just fine.

 

 

Bill