High beam not working on one side
Admin Access Staff asked 7 hours ago
Not sure what to do or purchase. Restored my 1966 vw beetle sedan. My headlights work but the high beam does not work on one side. Converted it to a 12 volt. Do I need to purchase a headlight or is there a bulb I can replace for the high beam. Can not find the answer and need to fix. I live in a rural area with lots of deer out at night. Thank you. Hope you can help me so I can purchase what I need.
Admin Staff answered 7 hours ago
Hi Donna,
Thank you for the opportunity to help you with this.
Sometimes, electrical problems can seem overwhelming. I find that sticking to the basics is the best way to solve problems like this.
To start with, my go-to tool is a simple light tester. We do sell this tool, and it is only $4.95! You might already have access to one. Please click on the link below to see the tool I am talking about:
https://socalautoparts.com/product/test-light-6-12-volt/
With this tool, you will take the alligator clip and hook it to a good ground on the body. Since you will start under the hood, one of the screw heads that holds the speedometer in the car will work well.
Use the sharp, pointed end to probe for electrical power. If the power is there, the light will illuminate!
In front of the speedometer is the back side of the fuse box. On your ’66 Bug, there are 8 fuses. 4 of them in the middle are for the headlights. Look for the 2 white wires; they should be the left and right high-beam wires. The 2 yellow wires should be for the 2 low-beam headlights.
Practice good safety principles! Make sure you can safely start the car by putting on the emergency brake/blocking the wheels.
Start the car and turn on your headlights, setting them to high beam. Touch the tip of the tester to each of the 2 connections of the white wires at the fuse box. Both should light the test light. If one does not light, turn the car off and inspect the fuse and replace with the same color, should be white, fuse.
If the test light lights up on both white wire connections, your fuses should be OK.
Next, remove the headlight where the high beam is not coming on. Remove the headlight assembly from the car by removing the lower screw on the headlight ring. Lift out the headlight assembly. Using the test light, start the car, turn on the headlights, and test the white wire connection on the back of the headlight bulb. If it lights there, replace the headlight.
If the light does not illuminate at the headlight connection, it is likely that the problem lies in the wire between the fuse box and the headlight.
We do sell 12 vt headlights for your car. I do not know how old your headlights are, and these do get dimmer with age. It is good to replace both so you have equal brightness.
We sell a halogen sealed beam:
Also have a new H4 style housing and bulb:
https://socalautoparts.com/product/headlight-housing-h4-style-flat-lens/
I hope this will get you back up and running! And yes, those deer need to be seen as far ahead as possible!!
If you have more questions, we are here to help!!
Thanks, Andy