Left side low beam out

Welcome to 2CarPros.

If you are getting 12v to the light socket, the bulb is good, and there are no connection issues with the plug, then it has to be a ground related problem. Since you have power, a fuse is unlikely, but each beam and side has its own fuse. See picture 1.

Next, I need you to check for a good ground to the left light. See pic 2 for location.

Here are a few links you may find helpful:

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/how-to-check-an-electrical-relay-and-wiring-control-circuit

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/how-a-car-fuse-works

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/how-to-check-a-car-fuse

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/how-to-use-a-test-light-circuit-tester

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/how-to-use-a-voltmeter

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/how-to-check-wiring

Let me know what you find or if you have other questions.

Take care,
Joe

Welcome back:

What you said makes perfect sense. However, I've see grounds fail when a load was placed on it. Are you certain the socket is good and the bulb is correct? Sorry to ask, but you would be amazed how easy it is today to get the wrong bulb.

Joe

Welcome back:

Ben, the easiest thing to do to determine if it is a ground issue is make a new ground. Simply take a wire and attach one side to the light socket ground and the other to the battery ground.

As far as the heat issue with the old socket, that isn't uncommon. I will tell you also that if a connection isn't good and any arcing is happening, that creates a lot of heat.

Try making a temporary ground to see if that resolves the issue.

Let me know.

Joe

Welcome back, Ben:

If you are certain that you had a good ground and there is power to the bulb, nothing makes sense. It should light. I need you to check two more things. First, confirm continuity to ground with the new wire. Next, I want you to get a helper and do the following. With the light bulb removed, have the helper turn the lights on. Do you see 12v? If so, keep the multi meter attached to the power wire and plug in the bulb. Do you still have 12v?

If you have 12 volts constant and a good ground, something in the bulb isn't making contact because the power has no choice but to follow the circuit to ground.

Electricity is nothing more than the continuous flow of electrons through a conductor. In this case, you have a wire where the power comes from (that has power), a bulb in the middle (that power should travel through) that should light when power is applied, and in the end, a ground that completes the circuit. Electricity always finds the easiest way out, so a ground is easiest. With all of that, if power is present, the bulb is good and connected, and the ground is good, there is nothing else to do. It should work.

The only thing I question, and I asked you to check, is if a switch is bad, a ground is weak, or the wire has a partial break in it, when the light bulb draws power, the circuit may fail. That is why I need you to check if the voltage drops from the supply when the bulb is installed.

Sorry for electrical lesson. LOL Sometimes it's easier to picture it in your mind and I tried to paint that picture. With that, either I confused you or helped you. I'm hoping for helped.

Let me know what happens.

Take care,
Joe

Welcome back:

Try using the wiring straight from the supply. Otherwise, if there is a problem, it may not fail.

Let me know what you find, Ben.

Take care,
Joe

Welcome back:

Ben, since you are just testing for a very brief amount of time, I don't see a need for it to be fused. However, I like how you think. I wish more people were as conscientious. As far as a minimum load, nothing like that. When you hook to the battery, it's direct.

Be careful and let me know if you have questions or if I can help.

Take care,
Joe

Ben:

Do you have a multi meter that you can use to check for continuity? If you do, plug the bulb into the socket and check if there is continuity between the two wires. Basically, you are checking to see if power will go in one end and out the other (go through the bulb). I will say that if you had ground and put power directly to the socket, it should have lit.

Let me know if you can.

Joe

Welcome back, Ben.

No, either the bulb is bad or where it connects in the socket is not touching or the socket is just bad. Remove the bulb and place your multi meter on the two connections for the bulb and see if there is continuity. That way we can confirm if it's the bulb or the socket.

When you check for continuity, you are basically sending a small amount of voltage through the circuit. You are correct in thinking the bulb needs more power to light, but power will still pass through if there is a complete circuit (aka continuity).

Let me know what you find.

Joe

Welcome back:

You are very welcome, Ben. I could tell you were the type of person that would figure it out. Anytime you need help, you are always welcome back here. Trust me, you can do a lot more on the car than you think. We all have to be shown how the first time.

Take care and hope to see you again if you need something

Joe