Erratic Headlight Problems
Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: Oct 2015
Posts: 21
Likes: 2
2001 ML320, 2010 S550, 2012 E350, 2015 C300 (All 4Matic vehicles)
Erratic Headlight Problems
I have a 2001 ML320. My headlight low beam would alternate functioning, one side would work only and then the other would. I could see the light flicker for a few seconds before it turned off. Now, even the high beam would light up at low intensity while in low beam setting which also rotates functioning one at a time. Even the daytime running light would alternate working, too. Occasionally, everything would work. The headlights have been working flawlessly for over 7 months.
The headlight assembly is an aftermarket Depo headlight with The Retrofit Source 50W Morimoto ballast and a D2S based Bi-Xenon projector. The only change I made was installing an aftermarket backup camera and parking sensors in July. In Aug, I started noticing headlight working intermittently.
I have already swapped out between left and right assembly bulbs and the complete HID kit. Same problem. I noticed the headlamp wiring harness connector's ground wire pin looks browned out or rust for both L & R connectors. I wonder if a short I had during the backup camera install might have affected it, the short had been corrected since. Also, I wonder if the 50W ballast might be too strong and have contributed to the problem. I have taken the 50W both ballasts out, the problem still persists - high beam still lights up at low intensity while in low beam setting.
Weird problem, please help.
Thanks,
John
The headlight assembly is an aftermarket Depo headlight with The Retrofit Source 50W Morimoto ballast and a D2S based Bi-Xenon projector. The only change I made was installing an aftermarket backup camera and parking sensors in July. In Aug, I started noticing headlight working intermittently.
I have already swapped out between left and right assembly bulbs and the complete HID kit. Same problem. I noticed the headlamp wiring harness connector's ground wire pin looks browned out or rust for both L & R connectors. I wonder if a short I had during the backup camera install might have affected it, the short had been corrected since. Also, I wonder if the 50W ballast might be too strong and have contributed to the problem. I have taken the 50W both ballasts out, the problem still persists - high beam still lights up at low intensity while in low beam setting.
Weird problem, please help.
Thanks,
John
Last edited by jt-hifi; Nov 2, 2015 at 02:30 PM.
Thread Starter
Junior Member
Joined: Oct 2015
Posts: 21
Likes: 2
2001 ML320, 2010 S550, 2012 E350, 2015 C300 (All 4Matic vehicles)
Problem solved! It was a recessed pin of the right headlight assembly connector that caused the erratic/intermittent problem. I pulled the pin outward until it clicked and locked tight. Everything is working as it should now, yippee!
Last edited by jt-hifi; Nov 2, 2015 at 09:26 PM.
