Headlight electrical issue.... HELP

[transampimp]

The T/A is fine, but I was finishing up the front end on my 98 Sonoma today from the deer I hit a few months ago. I hit a dear on the passenger side and the hit tore the head light off the car. The unit was completely torn out of the car, but the bulbs popped out of the wire harness with no apparent damage to the wire harness pig tails.
I installed a new head light with brand new bulbs. The side that didn't get hit by the dear lights up perfect. However the side that got hit is very very dim. The connectors look perfect, and it appears that the driver and passenger side share the same wire harness. Any ideas on what to check?

I'd appreciate any info? I have a volt, ohm meter but I don't think that will help me determine what the problem is?

[GETGONE]

Check your ground wires. I'm trying to think where the grounds run for the headlights but I'm not sure I ever really looked. I wonder if with the headlight getting ripped off it stretched and broke some of the strands of wire but didn't cause the insulation to break. If I remember right the harness runs over to the drivers side where the drivers side wires come into it. I'd test from there to see if you can find any breaks.

[shawnc16]

so why would a voltmeter not help you? You can do voltage drops... check resistance in the wiring.. good possibiltily yur ground is shitty...

[bmwmcars]

ohm test the ground. put one lead on the ground plug the other on the motor.

then test your voltage to the headlight with the power on. make sure you get ~12v+; test this using both your ground at the plug and the block itself.

[shawnc16]

or you can voltage drop your ground.. if you ohm it out.. the circuit needs to be isolated... meaning.. disconnected from the headlight

[shawnc16]

take one lead.. place it on the battery (-) its the best ground in the entire vehicle.. Take the other lead and place it on the ground.... should see 12+ ... make sure the headlights are on... haha that usually helps...

[transampimp]

Thanks guys, I'll let you know..... Stupid deer