One of my headlights doesnt turn on sometimes
08-30-13, 05:52 AM
#1
One of my headlights doesnt turn on sometimes
I've noticed recently that one of my HID headlights doesnt turn on. I can get it to turn on by turning the headlights from auto to off and back until it turns on. This is kind of annoying but I can get it to work but if this is a symptom of a incoming failure what part would it be? The ballast and/or ignitor?
08-30-13, 08:29 AM
#3
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Very well could just be the bulb. My bulb did that when it was going. From reading on here it is the same with many others just before their bulb goes completely. Unlike standard halogen bulbs which simply die, HID bulbs act more like fluorescent and they go out over a period of time.
08-30-13, 09:28 AM
#5
Not that I've heard. But from OP's symptoms, it's not a bulb issue, as it requires him to turn off the headlights and turn it on (essentially resetting the voltage to the ballast). I've run into this issue on my Z4 with aftermarket HIDs, and on a ML350 with OEMs, and it's always the ballast.
09-03-13, 05:23 AM
#6
Just want to update everyone I havent encountered the problem for sometime and I passed my state inspection. I took a look around and you can buy OEM ballasts for pretty cheap $40-75 depending on used or remanufactured. New from Sewell was around $200 shipped I believe. Replacing a ballast requires removal of the front bumper and affected headlight, but does not require the removal of the headlight lens as some guides point out.
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09-03-13, 08:34 AM
#8
yea whenever it does really fail ill do swap arounds to narrow down the problem for sure if its bulb or ballast. I had a similar problem on my bros TSX where we found out the ballast was literally filled with water from a headlight that lost seal and had condensation. So we replaced the headlight unit and ballast ourselves.
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