*** HELP PLEASE**** DRIVER SIDE LIGHT BULB

[ka]

i used after market bulbs for my front low beam lights. After one year, one of them burned out. i thought it was just the bulb, i changed it to new one but the new bulb did not work. i took it to the dealer they tried to find out what is the problem and it was the shocking news. it needs a new wiring harness for the left light to work. it seems that the aftermarket i use has more watts than it suppose to be. The estmiated part price is 3000 dollars, the warranty wont cover it because they knew i used after market bulbs. Please if any one know how to fix it in cheaper way or how to buy this part from any where else like junk yards or something. send me Asap. the car purchased from canada.

thanks

[RichD978]

what if you go buy regular sylvania bulbs and bring it to another dealer?

['00vegas-solara]

what if you go buy regular sylvania bulbs and bring it to another dealer?

Yea that's a great idea. Do they log your VIN and share info with other dealers though?

[SolaraBlue]

am i missing something? are wiring harnesses really that much? i found some for my car when i was looking, for $12 and you can install them yourself. of course i drive a gen1 so maybe its different? and what was the wattage of the bulbs?

[cklinh]

More importantly, the brand of the bulbs?

And $3000 sounds like a major rip off, unless it's more than just the harness...

[Astro]

Wow, $3000!!! I'd change the bulbs (so both are the same) and hit up another dealer.

[MikeATL]

Yeah, the real question is if the dealer "blacklists" you for using aftermarket bulbs. Switch to standard bulbs and bring it to another dealer.

$3000 seems like a ripoff just a wiring harness, there has to be more to it.

[sydemoid]

Nine times out of ten, it will be the bulb connector that has melted and the plastic does not allow for there to be a closed circuit to the bulb.

A harness should not cost 3000.... thats insane!

Go to autozone, and you will find connectors for like 5 dollars each.

so do this, get your hands on a multimeter, remove the bulbs, and turn on the headlights. Test the contacts for 12 volts DC... Must be DC, since all cars operate on DC voltage, not AC, found in household wall plugs.

Anyway, look at the connector's inside, if there is molten plastic in there, turn off the headlights (dont need to get shocked) and try to clear it out with a small jeweler's flathead screwdriver...

Plug in a bulb, turn it on, if it turns on... you just saved yourself 2990 dollars!...lol

If this is the case, you can purchase the connectors as stated before, and although not recommended by any dealer, splice into the headlight leads, just do them one pin at a time, so you dont cross connect, and have the wrong polarity on a bulb. I recommend using soldering iron, and heat srhink on each individual wire, after you're done. You will wrap the whole thing with electrical tape, making it look stock.

A dealer wont notice this if done properly!!!!- Been there done that with my old Nissan.

Hope this helps... cuz $3k is totally crazy!

-Dio

[bunthy]

i don't remember the thread, but this is the lighting forum that I go to to seek answer for anythign lighting:

http://faqlight.carpassion.info/

Anyways, somewhere there, they mentioned that if you used a high wattage bulb, you'll end up firing the whole harness and that replacing it cost around $500. I guess they have to take out ALL the bad wires and put a new one in.

But yeah, check to see if there are eveltrical currents runnign through them. If so, you get a new harness for it, either from another solara from a junk yard or a new 9006 socket from walmart or an auto shop.

Good luck...and to reiterate, $3000 is a little, just a little too much...

[gone]

$3,000?!? wow....

[MikeATL]

now that I think about it, thats about right for a dealer to charge.

They charged me 100 bucks to install an A/C filter. Turns out I can buy the same filter for 20 bucks at NAPA and install it in 2 minutes.

(Most) dealers will rip you off every chance they get. If you cant get a dealer to fix it bring it somewhere (reputable) and get a quote.

[ka]

thanks for the replies guys,
i took the car to one of the Auto Performance guys and he said he would fix the thing for 30 dollars . he believe that all it need is just new plastic socket and to replace some of the bad wires just cut and replace , but again this not 100 % yet , he has to order the part first and go from there with the testing. the toyota dealer would take 3000 dollars because they buying the originall part from toyota and that include a lot of labour hours to replace the wires in the engine. i guess they dont like to use the cheap way which is cut and replace the bad wires. they only belive in bringing the car back to orignal 100 %.

[ka]

I found out what i need. all i need is a new H11 socket with wires.

Does any one know where i can get it.?!!!

[DocJohn]

I found out what i need. all i need is a new H11 socket with wires.

Does any one know where i can get it.?!!!

Hoen http://www.hoen-usa.com/connector.htm makes some excellent heavy duty ones you could use to fix your melted H11 sockets. You would need to cut off the connector end and splice into the bulb wires from the car's harness.

They make some really good bulbs too.

12/6/05 UPDATE: Sorry, I just noticed Hoen sells the HD connectors only for the H11 socket, but not the socket itself. I guess you could order new H11 sockets from Toyota parts dept. At least this way you would be sure they would fit your headlight housings properly.

[DocJohn]

bump