bentleyvtech

I have an 04 TL with 120K miles...A few weeks ago, I noticed my passenger side high beam wasn't working during a rain storm. A few days later it was working, then high & low stopped all working all together. Posted on another thread the symptoms and someone recommended to clean the grounds.

I removed the bumper,looked for all grounds around the headlight area and all seem clean and intact. Figured it must be the bulb so bought Osram D2S 66240 from Powerbulbs. My Pops came over today to help take out the headlight assemblys...took them all out, restored the lenses, installed new bulbs on both sides and put all of it back together except the bumper.

When we connected the battery back on (without keys in the car), the driver side headlight came on immediately, but passenger still was off. Turned all lights off, turned on the ignition and turned the lights back on and we had all working lights! Fog, High/Low, all working. Success felt good after spending much of the day on this project!

Brother-in-law came over 20 minutes later and I was going to show him the new headlights...passenger side didn't come on. When cycling through all the lighting options, high,low,fog on/off, he said he saw a flicker once but I wasn't able to witness it.

Any idea what it could be? I feel like I've wasted a day and $150 bucks on new bulbs that I may not have needed...and I hope I didn't burn one out already!

Thanks for any help!

Turbonut

iTrader: (1)

I would say if it flickered then went out it would be the ballast. Might want to switch the ballast side to side to check.

thoiboi

+1
Ballast

bentleyvtech

Dang it! Thanks for the replies. Tempted to just buy a ballast rather than take out both headlight assemblys again...

Where would you all recommend getting a ballast from?

rockstar143

iTrader: (6)

Definitely ballast, man...you already removed all other possibilities...almost there, man!
If you want to be sure, swap ballasts from driver to passenger side and see if the issue follows.

thoiboi

oemacuraparts.com or acuraoemparts.com

JasonK

Ballast for sure.

bentleyvtech

Ouch, after looking at the prices, roughly $200 for ballast or ignitor....I guess I'll be taking both headlight assemblys out again and swapping to see what is the problem. This is turning into a real headache!!!

Side question, whats the difference between the two:

Control Unit
http://www.acuraoemparts.com/delray/...L_CONTROL_UNIT

Control Unit Assembly
http://www.acuraoemparts.com/delray/...TROL_UNIT_ASSY.

Turbonut

iTrader: (1)

Look at ebay or Amazon
Used Car-Part.com--Used Auto Parts Market

bentleyvtech

Thanks. I've read for the ballast and ignitor I should go OEM due to quality of third-party items. I'd rather spend the money up front with hopes this one won't need repaired again.

bentleyvtech

Swapped out ballasts from driver side...no luck.

Swapped out igniter from driver side...we have LIGHT! Literally the last option. Thanks for the help.

Gonna order an OEM igniter unless folks think its not important to get OEM for that. Looks like its ~$190 oem brand new....

Also since the car is in pieces already, thinking about replacing the fog light bulbs. Any recommendations?

csmeance

check ebay for a used one, blackmarket section here, etc. You can find them a lot cheaper than $190.

I'd recommend any Hoen Bulb for xenon match or the endurance yellow.

JRTL92

I got some aftermarket ones just to see if they work. Haven't tried yet, though. I'm waiting on my alternator to come because my 05 has so many electrical problems. My front bumber is off now waiting on some parts. I seen my driver headlight come on once. That why i went ahead and got some aftermarket ballast and bulbs.

Once I figure those out, my next project would be the transmission on it. Mines is an AT.

csmeance

bad alternator can cause various electrical issues like the headlamp ballasts to fail.

thoiboi

or bad battery


usually i believe it's the voltage regulator in the alternator that starts failing and throws the car/ECU for a loop

rockstar143

iTrader: (6)

When my battery has been low the car has been odd, that's for sure.

molok0

any updates?

rockstar143

iTrader: (6)

nope

JRTL92

YEP!

I just finished today. How long they will last? I dunno but it does work well right now.

My problem was the ballast on both sides.
For factory ballast, the price is $80.00 on ebay. Average price online is $120.00 and up for just one. Not to mention if you need the igniter wire, it's $65.00. I wasn't going do that. No, no.

But you can go on amazon and get the whole kit for reasonable $40.00. Yea.... I'll do that. The one I got is the OP7 9006 HID Kit 6000K. Ballast, bulbs, and extra wires to connect to the battery.

Here are some tips:
1. Make your life easier and take the front bumper off to do this.

2. Disconnect wires and take off the headlight assembly. Here is the part that I over thought. You ARE going to have to cut the one set of wires that connect from the ballast. Usually a red/green wire and a black wire.

3. Cut the extra wire set from the new ballast to connect to the car wires that were just cut. Connect them together with "connectors." I, on the other hand, used black electrical tape.

4. Remove the bulb cover and take out the bulb. You can drill a hole in the middle of the back bulb cover so the wires fit nice. If you can't drill, use a lighter and make a hole big enough for the wires to fit through the back bulb cover. Slide new bulb in and make sure the clip fits back in place.

5. If your ballast is thick enough and not a slim one you can put it in where the original ballast went.

6. If everything is secure, reassemble, and everything should be work well.

Oh yea, you don't need the relay harness.
But I used mine to test my radiator fan because I haven't seen it come on. Thankfully, the radiator fan works so hopefully it's a relay or the fan switch. I'll post pictures soon.

thoiboi

You replaced a Quality OEM product with a shitty aftermarket made in China ballast.


You get what you pay for...

rockstar143

iTrader: (6)

I was thinking the same...it'll probably last and be fine...but that's one place on the car I would have just coughed up the cash necessary.