# Headlights Dim **URL:** \ **Category:** Maintenance/Repairs\ **Tags:** focus, ford, headlights\ **Created:** [March 29, 2010, 4:58pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/headlights-dim/46817 "2010-03-29T16:58:34Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 4\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![billybubba](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/c2a13f/32.png) [@billybubba](https://community.cartalk.com/u/billybubba)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2010, 4:58pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/headlights-dim/46817/1 "2010-03-29T16:58:34Z")
Hey all, I have a 2001 ford focus and have been having problems with the headlights. They seem to be overly dim when not using the highbeams. I have noticed that the highbeam indicator dash light is very dimly lit when the regular headlights are on and then all returns to normal when I use the highbeams (the indicator light is normally lit and the highbeams seem to be of a normal brightness) any thoughts? is there a slight short somewhere? ---
**Author:** ![billybubba](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/c2a13f/32.png) [@billybubba](https://community.cartalk.com/u/billybubba)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2010, 5:59pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/headlights-dim/46817/2 "2010-04-05T17:59:38Z")
Anyone? ---
**Author:** ![Caddyman](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/caddyman/32/23_2.png) [@Caddyman](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Caddyman)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2010, 6:09pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/headlights-dim/46817/3 "2010-04-05T18:09:24Z")
The high-beam indicator lamp should not light at all when you are using the low-beams…I suspect the dimmer switch, probably a “multi-function” steering column stalk switch, is the problem…It also could be a bad bulb, with a broken filament shorting inside the bulb… ---
**Author:** ![circuitsmith](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/circuitsmith/32/40376_2.png) [@circuitsmith](https://community.cartalk.com/u/circuitsmith)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2010, 8:27pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/headlights-dim/46817/4 "2010-04-05T20:27:07Z")
It could also be a poor ground connection in the headlight circuit. I would use a voltmeter and measure the voltage from each ground wire at the bulbs and the negative battery post, with the lowbeams on. Should be no more then a few tenths of a volt.