terribletom Posted June 8, 2006 Share Posted June 8, 2006 Hi there, nice place, glad i found it. My (new to me ) outbacks right lowbeam is dead, yet the highbeam works. I changed the buld, but no difference. Anything else i can check out before bringing into the dealership? thanks Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sweet82 Posted June 8, 2006 Share Posted June 8, 2006 Check your bulb, I have the same issue with my 2001 Forester. If I move my blub/plastic bulb water cover, I can get the bulb to light. I have not been able to get it to consistently stay on though? I can move it from the back side and get it to work for a bit then it goes out again? I removed the bulb and reinstalled it but I get the same results? Hummm........ Welcome to the board Glenn 82 SubaruHummer--630 watts shining forward! 84 GL Mad Max 01 Forester--winky! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
terribletom Posted June 8, 2006 Author Share Posted June 8, 2006 No luck, two bulbs, same effect, no lowbeams, but highbeams work. jiggled and stuff, but no luck. I brought it to dealership, they said maybe as little as 100$ Canadian for a new connector and up to 600$ if it's some electrical problem. Bit depressed, he's supposed to call soon. tom Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Olnick Posted June 8, 2006 Share Posted June 8, 2006 I brought it to dealership, they said maybe as little as 100$ Canadian for a new connector and up to 600$ if it's some electrical problem. tom Yikes! If you are at all handy you can probably fix it for a couple of bucks. The socket and wiring often get fried but it's usually hidden inside the rubber boot at the back of the headlight housing. You can buy a generic replacement socket and splice the pigtail wires into your existing headlight wiring. Try a search here on the board--we talked about it quite a bit when I did mine a while back. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
2000outback Posted June 9, 2006 Share Posted June 9, 2006 Is there any reason not to just splice in any connector that fits a spade terminal?Is there something special about them? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
2000outback Posted June 9, 2006 Share Posted June 9, 2006 The socket people have been talking about replacing on other forums about this problem does not appear to be the one on my car giving me the problem.My Outback has 2 bulbs 1 low beam,1 high beam.The low beam is the one that won't stay on it it has just 2 separate wires going to it.The bulb has a single spade connector on it and it seems the connector going that attaches to that spade is where the problem is.It just looks as though any terminal will fit.On a previous forum someone gave this part #S 526 which is a three terminal connector that mine doesn't use.Are there different headlight configurations for the same model? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nipper Posted June 9, 2006 Share Posted June 9, 2006 Take a volt meter to the connection first and see if you have 12 volts. If you do then its the physical connection, if you dont you have to trace it back to the relays and further. nipper Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
2000outback Posted June 9, 2006 Share Posted June 9, 2006 On mine as soon as I take of that dust cover and touch the connector on the low beam bulb it comes on.But once it has been driven it goes off again. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dpoppeli Posted June 9, 2006 Share Posted June 9, 2006 Some dielectric (spark-plug boot) grease will probably fix that problem. On mine as soon as I take of that dust cover and touch the connector on the low beam bulb it comes on.But once it has been driven it goes off again. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
2000outback Posted June 21, 2006 Share Posted June 21, 2006 Some dielectric (spark-plug boot) grease will probably fix that problem. Well I tried the grease.That didn't help.I soldered a new connector on to the wire going to the low beam bulb.Same problem.Stays on for a while but then back to no low beam.Take off cover and wiggle wire ,comes back on.This is getting really frustrating.Is the socket on the high beam bulb have anything to do with the low beam? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
2000outback Posted June 21, 2006 Share Posted June 21, 2006 Nipper.Where are you.I know you may have already responded to this question before but what do you think.I'm at my wits end with this problem. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nipper Posted June 21, 2006 Share Posted June 21, 2006 Nipper.Where are you.I know you may have already responded to this question before but what do you think.I'm at my wits end with this problem. You people keep scaring me. Ok first thing first. We have to see if its a voltage issue or a current issue. Take a volt meter (9.00 one works just as well as a 100.00 one for this kind of thing) to the socket and make sure there is voltage at the terminal. If there is no voltage no matter what is done at the socket, the problem is not there. If there is voltage its the pigtail that has to be replaced. Go to subaru parts dept or call Jamie https://www.subarugenuineparts.com/oe_parts_cat.html and have her help you out. If there is no volatge let me know and we can figure out where to go from there Also a junkyard may be another source, as any socket from 1995 on should fit. nipper Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
2000outback Posted June 21, 2006 Share Posted June 21, 2006 You people keep scaring me. Ok first thing first. We have to see if its a voltage issue or a current issue. Take a volt meter (9.00 one works just as well as a 100.00 one for this kind of thing) to the socket and make sure there is voltage at the terminal. If there is no voltage no matter what is done at the socket, the problem is not there. If there is voltage its the pigtail that has to be replaced. Go to subaru parts dept or call Jamie https://www.subarugenuineparts.com/oe_parts_cat.html and have her help you out. If there is no volatge let me know and we can figure out where to go from there Also a junkyard may be another source, as any socket from 1995 on should fit. nipper I haven't checked it with a voltmeter yet but I did test it with a test light and there was voltage there at the low beam terminal. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nipper Posted June 21, 2006 Share Posted June 21, 2006 I haven't checked it with a voltmeter yet but I did test it with a test light and there was voltage there at the low beam terminal. that works, then the socket is fried. Call jamie see if a pigtail is available or go to a junkyard and get a couple of them and splice it in. nipper Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
2000outback Posted June 21, 2006 Share Posted June 21, 2006 that works, then the socket is fried. Call jamie see if a pigtail is available or go to a junkyard and get a couple of them and splice it in. nipper Here's the part I don't get.The connector that attaches to the low beam bulb is the one that seems to be causing the trouble and it is just a small female connector that pushes on to a single spade connector on the back of the bulb.Is this the pigtail you are referring to or is it the one on the high beam? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nipper Posted June 21, 2006 Share Posted June 21, 2006 Here's the part I don't get.The connector that attaches to the low beam bulb is the one that seems to be causing the trouble and it is just a small female connector that pushes on to a single spade connector on the back of the bulb.Is this the pigtail you are referring to or is it the one on the high beam? thats the one. Are you sure the bulb is good before you try anything else? nipper Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sweet82 Posted June 21, 2006 Share Posted June 21, 2006 Having all the same problems....and patiently waiting for someone to solve this mystery...... Could a pin/blade on the headlight be bent a bit for a better connection? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nipper Posted June 21, 2006 Share Posted June 21, 2006 you can disect the terminal from the socket. you need a small jewlers screwdriver ( that would be my next step, but its hard to explain how to do). You release the terminal by pushing down a little plastic tab (i forget which direction what goes). Thern you can play with the terminal all you want. nipper Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
2000outback Posted June 21, 2006 Share Posted June 21, 2006 There is a little spring clip that holds the bulb in place.Beside that is another termninal that I assume is a ground that stays put when you remove the bulb.I crimped and soldered a new end on the wire to the bulb and it worked for a day and then went back out.What really bothers me is a bought a Subaru to get away from this nickel and dime North American built headaches and I seem to have one anyway. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nipper Posted June 21, 2006 Share Posted June 21, 2006 There is a little spring clip that holds the bulb in place.Beside that is another termninal that I assume is a ground that stays put when you remove the bulb.I crimped and soldered a new end on the wire to the bulb and it worked for a day and then went back out.What really bothers me is a bought a Subaru to get away from this nickel and dime North American built headaches and I seem to have one anyway. ok i answered sweet, now your turn (im getting a headache). hehe you bought one when GM had a hand in things. now check your ground wire. Im not quite sure what your saying you did. Also did you use a high current spade terminal. Sometimes the terminals arent rated for the load. Want to try something? Stuff like this isnt usually a problem on the hot side, but a problem on the ground side. If it was on the load side, you would see some arcing on the terminal. check the negative side. Also check the head light relay for that side of the car nipper Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
2000outback Posted June 22, 2006 Share Posted June 22, 2006 ok i answered sweet, now your turn (im getting a headache). hehe you bought one when GM had a hand in things.now check your ground wire. Im not quite sure what your saying you did. Also did you use a high current spade terminal. Sometimes the terminals arent rated for the load. Want to try something? Stuff like this isnt usually a problem on the hot side, but a problem on the ground side. If it was on the load side, you would see some arcing on the terminal. check the negative side. Also check the head light relay for that side of the car nipper The connector that I changed was on the bulb/hot side.I just went out to check it and there was voltage at the bulb so I pulled the bulb and changed it and it lit.We'll see if it lasts. sorry for being such a pain Nipper but this problem is really frustrating. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nipper Posted June 22, 2006 Share Posted June 22, 2006 The connector that I changed was on the bulb/hot side.I just went out to check it and there was voltage at the bulb so I pulled the bulb and changed it and it lit.We'll see if it lasts.sorry for being such a pain Nipper but this problem is really frustrating. i dont mind, it takes my mind of my back and leg pain right now nipper Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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