Headlight element keeps blowing on low beam

How-to's and repair secrets for your 4WD can be found here. Have a question? Ask it in here!
Post Reply
User avatar
Mattel
Highest Ranking Member
Posts: 1805
Joined: Tue Aug 17, 2004 12:11 am
My tercel:: 1988 Corolla 4wd Wagon (AKA Corolla All-trac) 5speed, AC, Power Sunroof, Windows, Mirrors, Steering, Locking, Diff Lock, 14" Corolla SX Alloys with Silica Hankook Tyres, 4afe, King Springs, Upgraded Headlights, Full Synth oils, 210,000kms
Location: Melbourne, Australia

Headlight element keeps blowing on low beam

Post by Mattel »

On my corolla alltrac one of my headlights (Drivers side in the US) keeps blowing lowbeam elements. High beam is fine and the other headlight is working perfectly.

Perhaps it is an earthing problem or the globe connector? Anyone have an issue like this before?
Previous: 83 Tercel SR5 4wd, 84 Tercel SR5 4wd
88 Corolla 4wd Wagon 5speed, All power options, Fact Sunroof, Diff Lock, 14" SX Alloys, Hankook Tyres, 4afe, King Springs, Upgraded Headlights, Full Synth oils, Tow Bar, 210,000kms
User avatar
dlb
Highest Ranking Member
Posts: 7445
Joined: Mon Jul 06, 2009 9:03 pm
My tercel:: '87 sr5, '83 dlx parts car
Location: bc, canada

Re: Headlight element keeps blowing on low beam

Post by dlb »

that's weird. the fuse should always blow before anything else in the system. is the headlight fuse the correct rating?
User avatar
Petros
Highest Ranking Member
Posts: 11941
Joined: Sun Jan 28, 2007 6:31 pm
My tercel:: '84 Tercel4wd w/extensive mods
Location: Arlington WA USA

Re: Headlight element keeps blowing on low beam

Post by Petros »

make sure the head light mount is secure so it will not vibrate. When the element is energized, vibrations can cause it to fail early. Also, some brands of bulbs have more support for the element than others, if you drive rough roads, these more durable elements will hold up better.

Also, check all your connections, an intermittent connection will also cause it to fail by thermal fatigue (thermal cycling).
'87 Tercel 4wd SR5 (current engine swap project)
'84 Tercel 4wd (daily driver, with on going mods)
'92 Mazda MPV 4wd (wife's daily driver)
'85 Tercel 4wd DLX auto(daughter's daily driver)
'01 Honda Civic (other daughter's daily driver)
Ridlbox
Top Notch Member
Posts: 223
Joined: Mon Aug 10, 2015 9:51 pm
My tercel:: 1984 Toyota Tercel SR 5 custom aluminum rims 4 a motor custom rims Bluetooth stereo system
Location: Plymouth CA

Re: Headlight element keeps blowing on low beam

Post by Ridlbox »

make sure the head light mount is secure so it will not vibrate. When the element is energized, vibrations can cause it to fail early. Also, some brands of bulbs have more support for the element than others, if you drive rough roads, these more durable elements will hold up better.

Also, check all your connections, an intermittent connection will also cause it to fail by thermal fatigue (thermal cycling).
This is all true bad connection and wiring can cause the biggest problem later
Last edited by irowiki on Wed Mar 23, 2016 6:35 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Reason: quote tags
i will find a tercel in a music video
That's my new goal 8)
User avatar
Mattel
Highest Ranking Member
Posts: 1805
Joined: Tue Aug 17, 2004 12:11 am
My tercel:: 1988 Corolla 4wd Wagon (AKA Corolla All-trac) 5speed, AC, Power Sunroof, Windows, Mirrors, Steering, Locking, Diff Lock, 14" Corolla SX Alloys with Silica Hankook Tyres, 4afe, King Springs, Upgraded Headlights, Full Synth oils, 210,000kms
Location: Melbourne, Australia

Re: Headlight element keeps blowing on low beam

Post by Mattel »

Thanks all! you are a wealth of knowledge!
DLB! I remember looking at my fuses in the kick panel a couple of months ago and I remembering wondering if the small diagram on the hatch to the fuse box is mirrored or a copy of the layout of the different amp fuses?
Previous: 83 Tercel SR5 4wd, 84 Tercel SR5 4wd
88 Corolla 4wd Wagon 5speed, All power options, Fact Sunroof, Diff Lock, 14" SX Alloys, Hankook Tyres, 4afe, King Springs, Upgraded Headlights, Full Synth oils, Tow Bar, 210,000kms
Ridlbox
Top Notch Member
Posts: 223
Joined: Mon Aug 10, 2015 9:51 pm
My tercel:: 1984 Toyota Tercel SR 5 custom aluminum rims 4 a motor custom rims Bluetooth stereo system
Location: Plymouth CA

Re: Headlight element keeps blowing on low beam

Post by Ridlbox »

It is not a mirror image
i will find a tercel in a music video
That's my new goal 8)
User avatar
Mattel
Highest Ranking Member
Posts: 1805
Joined: Tue Aug 17, 2004 12:11 am
My tercel:: 1988 Corolla 4wd Wagon (AKA Corolla All-trac) 5speed, AC, Power Sunroof, Windows, Mirrors, Steering, Locking, Diff Lock, 14" Corolla SX Alloys with Silica Hankook Tyres, 4afe, King Springs, Upgraded Headlights, Full Synth oils, 210,000kms
Location: Melbourne, Australia

Re: Headlight element keeps blowing on low beam

Post by Mattel »

Ridlbox wrote:It is not a mirror image
thanks Ridlbox. I checked the fuses and I had a few of them in the wrong spot. but the headlight fuses are under the bonnet and were correct. I think what I might have done is handled the glass of the halogen bulb as I forgot that its best not to touch them. Have replaced now with the last of my junkyard globes and all seems good. Thanks for the help guys!
Previous: 83 Tercel SR5 4wd, 84 Tercel SR5 4wd
88 Corolla 4wd Wagon 5speed, All power options, Fact Sunroof, Diff Lock, 14" SX Alloys, Hankook Tyres, 4afe, King Springs, Upgraded Headlights, Full Synth oils, Tow Bar, 210,000kms
Post Reply