Headlight wiring harness issues. Please help

[jeenyus]

When I got my sr5 the drivers side (left) headlight wasn't working becuase the three wires had been pulled out of the connector. So I went out to the junk yard and snipped off another connector, twisted the wires together, and taped them. Now when my headlights are on the left one lights up but is quite dim and when I turn on the brights it just shuts off. I'm wondering what would be the best way to fix this. I appreciate any help.

Thanks

[jondee86]

Twisting wires together is not the best way of joining them. You should
solder them, or at the very least, use screw-down strip connectors. If
you don't get a good solid connection between the wires, you will get the
sort of problems you describe.

Cheers... jondee86

[Red]

The usual way to join wires like that is with crimps. For $5 you can buy a cheap crimping tool and box of 100 assorted barrel connectors in any parts shop in the US--but they are junk. A proper crimping tool (which will last a lifetime and make a properly tensioned crimp) is about $50US and the crimnps range from 25 cents each for "decent" ones (in quantity) to $1 for "marine grade" conectors that are also lined with adhesive and jacketed with heat-shrink. Once you use one of those--the connection is permantently sealed and watertight.

If you don't seal them, eventually water will get in and rot the wiring and they will dim again. For just 3 wires? I'd go to an auto or marine electrical shop that already has the good tools and ask them to do the job.

[jeenyus]

I got some pretty good crimps for now. I'll see how they hold up. Thanks for the help.