Low beam headlight problem - Mazda 6 Forums : Mazda 6 Forum / Mazda Atenza Forum

markg8 · 11-20-2012, 02:14 PM

I have a 2004 6I a bought used a couple years ago. I have a headlight problem that I'm trying to diagnose. The passenger side low beam doesn't work. I put in a new H1 bulb and it didn't work. I discovered the dust cover was missing and the black plastic surrounding the wire connector to the back of the bulb was cracked. I either got the car like that or the mechanic at Meineke muffler I asked to change the bulb awhile back during an oil change didn't put the dust cover back on correctly and it fell off and probably cracked the plastic on the wire connector squeezing it too tight with pliers as he tried to reconnect it. It's not easy to see in there and he probably was unfamiliar with the car. In any event he said he put the new bulb and in it didn't work, told me I had a short somewhere he was too busy to fix and pretty much made it clear he didn't want to work on it anymore. I guess I should have checked out his "work" before I left

In any event I'm trying to fix this problem myself because I don't have cash to spend on the dealer to find it for me. I tried another new bulb and replaced the wire connector with a 18-22 wire connector that looks the right size I got at O'Reilly AP. Still nothing. Can anybody help me diagnose where the short might be? What do I try next? Any help would be greatly appreciated!

Byakuya · 11-20-2012, 02:24 PM

Welcome to the forum!

Those plastic caps break if you breathe on them.

Have you checked all your fuses? All the grounds?

My thoughts are that if the dust cap was off, water got in and fried something. Check fuses.

Final Impact · 11-20-2012, 03:56 PM

Take a look at this; Although it's from an 06 it may be helpful.

markg8 · 11-20-2012, 05:33 PM

Thanks for responding guys. I checked the fuses and they're good though one was in backwards which I switched. I'm not experienced at reading electrical schematics so just to be clear, the passenger side front low beam is the right or the left lo beam in that drawing Final Impact? As for the ground I am assuming it is the other wire attached to the back of the housing were the bulb goes in. It's to the outside side of the bulb right? How would I check that? I guess I also ought to check and see if there is power in the wire going into the back of the bulb too right? And the 06 ought to be the same as an 04 right? I'm assuming they didn't change much in the way of electricals in these cars as they're the same generation.

Final Impact · 11-21-2012, 03:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by markg8

Thanks for responding guys. I checked the fuses and they're good though one was in backwards which I switched. I'm not experienced at reading electrical schematics so just to be clear, the passenger side front low beam is the right or the left lo beam in that drawing Final Impact? As for the ground I am assuming it is the other wire attached to the back of the housing were the bulb goes in. It's to the outside side of the bulb right? How would I check that? I guess I also ought to check and see if there is power in the wire going into the back of the bulb too right? And the 06 ought to be the same as an 04 right? I'm assuming they didn't change much in the way of electricals in these cars as they're the same generation.

in the auto world everything is referenced from the drivers view looking through the windshield.
So does yours have 4 fuses? 2 for L&R high and 2 for L&R Low beams?

Mine has HID so I don't have a clear image of what's broke. What you need is DMM or a 12V test lamp. Because you have one GOOD side you can compare readings.

With a DMM (Digital Multimeter) or a 12 volt test lamp you can connect one side to Battery POS and probe the housing ground lead on both sides. The light should light showing you have a path to ground. It will be good on one side and may be bad on the other side OR it may be fine. If you lost the ground we can fix that.

Next repeat the test using your leads and connect one side to the NEGative terminal of the battery. Now turn on the light and probe to find 12V for the left and right HIGH and LOW beams. What do you find??? Report back. . .

grim_reaper · 11-21-2012, 03:48 AM

Markg8, where in the world are you?

markg8 · 11-21-2012, 12:26 PM

I'm in Downers Grove Illinois, USA Grim Reaper.

markg8 · 11-21-2012, 12:29 PM

So does yours have 4 fuses? 2 for L&R high and 2 for L&R Low beams?

Yeah, checked 'em all and they're good.

I'll go get a tester and let you know what I find.

Final Impact · 11-21-2012, 01:37 PM

IIRC it has 4 fuses but honestly I have to look.

A test lamp or cheap DMM can be found at just about any automotive store. If you don't have any electrical wire and butt connectors/crimping tool you might grab some.

I'm not sure what wire to recommend but suspect its 12 or 14 gauge so you might grab both and some connectors for that size.

markg8 · 11-21-2012, 02:45 PM

Ok I used the probe I bought and have power to both hot wires on the L& R low beams. I did this by attaching the alligator clip to the body and sticking the probe in the hot wire connector on both sides and then again by connecting the a-clip to what I assume is the ground on the back of the bulb assembly too. Lights up all 4 times on both sides but still no low beam on passenger side.

11-20-2012, 02:14 PM	#1 (permalink)
markg8 Learners License Join Date: May 2010 Posts: 22 Thanks: 10 Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post Groans: 0 Groaned at 0 Times in 0 Posts Mentioned: 0 Post(s) Tagged: 0 Thread(s) Quoted: 0 Post(s) iTrader: 0 reviews	Low beam headlight problem I have a 2004 6I a bought used a couple years ago. I have a headlight problem that I'm trying to diagnose. The passenger side low beam doesn't work. I put in a new H1 bulb and it didn't work. I discovered the dust cover was missing and the black plastic surrounding the wire connector to the back of the bulb was cracked. I either got the car like that or the mechanic at Meineke muffler I asked to change the bulb awhile back during an oil change didn't put the dust cover back on correctly and it fell off and probably cracked the plastic on the wire connector squeezing it too tight with pliers as he tried to reconnect it. It's not easy to see in there and he probably was unfamiliar with the car. In any event he said he put the new bulb and in it didn't work, told me I had a short somewhere he was too busy to fix and pretty much made it clear he didn't want to work on it anymore. I guess I should have checked out his "work" before I left In any event I'm trying to fix this problem myself because I don't have cash to spend on the dealer to find it for me. I tried another new bulb and replaced the wire connector with a 18-22 wire connector that looks the right size I got at O'Reilly AP. Still nothing. Can anybody help me diagnose where the short might be? What do I try next? Any help would be greatly appreciated!

11-20-2012, 02:24 PM	#2 (permalink)
Byakuya Shiro Shinobi Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: Taxachusetts Posts: 7,475 Thanks: 711 Thanked 1,649 Times in 1,223 Posts Groans: 0 Groaned at 3 Times in 3 Posts Mentioned: 129 Post(s) Tagged: 2 Thread(s) Quoted: 715 Post(s) iTrader: 0 reviews	Welcome to the forum! Those plastic caps break if you breathe on them. Have you checked all your fuses? All the grounds? My thoughts are that if the dust cap was off, water got in and fried something. Check fuses. __________________ 2014 GT, NE Meets, The Great Mazda Climb, and NEW NEM6.com! TiGraySpeed6: "Back to class youngster, and get off my lawn!" Legacy4Life: "Nothing like a good day of raunchy car talk." 6Y Mazda "One million horsepowerzzz" Sold: 2004 V6 GT

11-20-2012, 03:56 PM	#3 (permalink)
Final Impact Registered User Join Date: Sep 2012 Location: USA, OR Posts: 1,231 Thanks: 417 Thanked 331 Times in 239 Posts Groans: 0 Groaned at 0 Times in 0 Posts Mentioned: 23 Post(s) Tagged: 1 Thread(s) Quoted: 194 Post(s) iTrader: 0 reviews	Take a look at this; Although it's from an 06 it may be helpful. __________________ 2006 Mazda 6s GS Hatchback, Lapis Blue \| AJ 3.0 & AW6A-EL 6 Spd >79,000 If this post helped you, "thanks" never hurts.. .. ..

11-21-2012, 01:37 PM	#9 (permalink)
Final Impact Registered User Join Date: Sep 2012 Location: USA, OR Posts: 1,231 Thanks: 417 Thanked 331 Times in 239 Posts Groans: 0 Groaned at 0 Times in 0 Posts Mentioned: 23 Post(s) Tagged: 1 Thread(s) Quoted: 194 Post(s) iTrader: 0 reviews	IIRC it has 4 fuses but honestly I have to look. A test lamp or cheap DMM can be found at just about any automotive store. If you don't have any electrical wire and butt connectors/crimping tool you might grab some. I'm not sure what wire to recommend but suspect its 12 or 14 gauge so you might grab both and some connectors for that size. __________________ 2006 Mazda 6s GS Hatchback, Lapis Blue \| AJ 3.0 & AW6A-EL 6 Spd >79,000 If this post helped you, "thanks" never hurts.. .. ..

11-20-2012, 05:33 PM	#4 (permalink)
markg8 Learners License Join Date: May 2010 Posts: 22 Thanks: 10 Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post Groans: 0 Groaned at 0 Times in 0 Posts Mentioned: 0 Post(s) Tagged: 0 Thread(s) Quoted: 0 Post(s) iTrader: 0 reviews	Thanks for responding guys. I checked the fuses and they're good though one was in backwards which I switched. I'm not experienced at reading electrical schematics so just to be clear, the passenger side front low beam is the right or the left lo beam in that drawing Final Impact? As for the ground I am assuming it is the other wire attached to the back of the housing were the bulb goes in. It's to the outside side of the bulb right? How would I check that? I guess I also ought to check and see if there is power in the wire going into the back of the bulb too right? And the 06 ought to be the same as an 04 right? I'm assuming they didn't change much in the way of electricals in these cars as they're the same generation.

11-21-2012, 03:48 AM	#6 (permalink)
grim_reaper Learners License Join Date: May 2012 Location: Auckland Posts: 46 Thanks: 0 Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post Groans: 0 Groaned at 0 Times in 0 Posts Mentioned: 0 Post(s) Tagged: 0 Thread(s) Quoted: 1 Post(s) iTrader: 0 reviews	Markg8, where in the world are you?

11-21-2012, 12:26 PM	#7 (permalink)
markg8 Learners License Join Date: May 2010 Posts: 22 Thanks: 10 Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post Groans: 0 Groaned at 0 Times in 0 Posts Mentioned: 0 Post(s) Tagged: 0 Thread(s) Quoted: 0 Post(s) iTrader: 0 reviews	I'm in Downers Grove Illinois, USA Grim Reaper.

11-21-2012, 12:29 PM	#8 (permalink)
markg8 Learners License Join Date: May 2010 Posts: 22 Thanks: 10 Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post Groans: 0 Groaned at 0 Times in 0 Posts Mentioned: 0 Post(s) Tagged: 0 Thread(s) Quoted: 0 Post(s) iTrader: 0 reviews	So does yours have 4 fuses? 2 for L&R high and 2 for L&R Low beams? Yeah, checked 'em all and they're good. I'll go get a tester and let you know what I find.

11-21-2012, 02:45 PM	#10 (permalink)
markg8 Learners License Join Date: May 2010 Posts: 22 Thanks: 10 Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post Groans: 0 Groaned at 0 Times in 0 Posts Mentioned: 0 Post(s) Tagged: 0 Thread(s) Quoted: 0 Post(s) iTrader: 0 reviews	Ok I used the probe I bought and have power to both hot wires on the L& R low beams. I did this by attaching the alligator clip to the body and sticking the probe in the hot wire connector on both sides and then again by connecting the a-clip to what I assume is the ground on the back of the bulb assembly too. Lights up all 4 times on both sides but still no low beam on passenger side.

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