Hi everyone,
A couple months ago I purchased some "HID" look-a-likes, which while the light is definitely whiter and "cleaner" - it is much, much dimmer and they are virtually useless unless on a narrow two way road (in which the light is sufficient).

Anyways, I went to compare the old stock Sylvania Halogens vs. the "Eurodesigns HID" light. I stuck one of the Sylvanias in the right side and kept the other "HID" (I'll refer to it as that even though its just a 9004 bulb wrapped in blue plastic) in the left side. It looked fine and I could definitely tell the stock Sylvanias were brighter. I switched the "HID" light back into the right side as I didn't think it was probably the best thing to run two different bulbs at the same time.

I turned on the lights after doing that and noticed my bulb failure relay was on when I turned on the high beams and when the high beams weren't on, the high beams light was lit, very dimmly. The right passenger headlight was also dim. I thought maybe the "HID" light had just decided to die so I stuck the Sylvania in once more to check. Sure enough, it was dim too. I checked Fuses 18, 19, 20, and 21 and they all appeared to be ok. I'm at a lose and a look through the FAQ revealed nothing as well as a quick Google search.

Any suggestions would be appreciated. I should have not been cheap and just gone with Sylvania Silverstars if I wanted a whiter light. :/
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'93 Volvo 945 w/128K miles

I have had to swap out the headlight connector in situations like you describe. Simply cut off a connector with with enough lead to make it easy to splice it in after cutting of the connector on your car.

A dirty connector or any sort of resistance at the connector causes heat which degrades the connector.

Randy

Since this started happening when you were swapping bulbs around, I'm inclined to think that it's somehow a bad connection at the bulb socket.

See if wiggling the connection has any effect.

If so, then clean the spade connectors in the socket.

Jeff Pierce
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'93 945 Turbo (201K miles), '93 945 (140K miles/I maintain for a family member), '93 945 Turbo (sold w 145K miles), '92 Mercedes 190E (174K miles), '85 Jeep CJ-7 w/ Fisher plow (225K miles), '53 Willys Overland w/ Fisher plow (sold to a loving home)

Thanks for all of your suggestions!

It looks like something has happened to the wires that go to the back of the headlight connector. When I push the wires going to the headlight connector a certain way, it goes to full brightness. As soon as that pressure is gone, the light is dim again.

I'll see if I can just take off the plastic covering and fix the connection. If not, I'll just cut it off and splice in a new connector as suggested by Randy.
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'93 Volvo 945 w/128K miles

I really should have looked closer earlier. I looked again and peeled back the rubber cover from the plug and... the ground cable had been pushed out of the headlight connector. Pushing it back into place fixed it!
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'93 Volvo 945 w/128K miles