Odd headlight problem

[harborview]

I have a '02 Protege LX and have started having an odd headlight problem.
The right bulb sometimes is out when I turn the lights on, but when I step out and give the lamp a hard tap on the front it goes back on and stays that way for the rest of the trip (it doesn't flicker or go back out). I was looking to see it was a loose wire or something yesterday and when I closed the hood the light went out. Hard tap and it goes back on. I closed the hood again, but it stayed on - so the problem isn't quite consistent.
Can this be a loose bulb I can just pull out and press in - or swap a new bulb in. Or is there something more at play here?
Thanks for your help

 

[concept]

Did you check the connector to make sure it wasn't loose. Sometimes, a dab of dielectric grease is used to keep out moisture and prevent corrosion. The headlights themselves rarely die, so my guess is that you have either a loose connection or wiring issue.

 

[harborview]

Thanks. I've checked before and it doesn't seem like the individual wires are loose as they feed into headlight. I had suspected it may be moisture (I have seen some in the fixture before) and wrapped some electrical tape around where the wires meet the connector, but it didn't help. Maybe I'll try again, it does strike me as what would be a loose wire, I just didn't find it.

 

[concept]

Wrapping electrical tape around the connector may trap moisture and aggravate the problem. Are you able to disconnect and connect the headlight connector? I haven't looked at mine, so it may not be that easy - just throwing out ideas at this point. Having a service manual would help.

 

[harborview]

Good to know - i'll remove the tape from the wires, recheck the connections and try some of the dilectric grease. If the problem goes away, I'll post to let folks now.

 

[E21BIMMERHEAD]

bad bulb!! If it goes on with the high beams but not the low beams, then it is for sure a bad bulb. Also headlight bulbs die all the time from a number of reasons; just be sure that when you replace it to not touch the glass at all! The oils in your skin will cause the bulb to crack once its hot.

 

[MaxPower]

Definitely a poor contact--possibly something is loose or corroded. You'll have to get in there are start taking it apart to properly diagnose/fix it. It's not a tough job, but it'll take some patience.

Wrapping it with electrical tape and hoping for the best probably isn't going to work.

 

[StealthWyvern]

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