My 2003 CLS's driver side headlamp isn't working. I first tried to go to the local pepboys and autozone to buy a replacement lamp, but they didn't stock the lamp since it is HID. So, I called my mechanic about getting the lamp replaced. He then informed me that it is a very common problem for the HID to go out not because of the bulb but the charger/valance (sp) not working which is a $400-500 part.

I am going to take the car into the garage to get it checked out to see whether it is the bulb or the valance thing that needs to get swapped out. If it is the valance, the mechanic suggested that i go get a kit to retrofit the headlamp with conventional bulbs. But, I like having HIDs for the cool factor. $500 is very steep to pay for a bit of coolness tho.

Any tips?

 

Its the inverter unit if not the bulb. NEw they run around $400. MIne went and I got a used one for $105 bucks. Look on car-part.com thats where I got mine. Why would you want to get rid of the HIDs? I never even heard of getting a kit to switch to conventional bulbs.

 

I don't want to get rid of the HIDs. It's just a suggestion the mechanic gave me if I want to keep the car's care cost down I guess since according to him that the inverter thing is a common problem.

I will check car-part.com. Thanks for the tip.

 

Find out if it's the bulb or not (by swapping bulbs) and then you can worry about it from there.

If it is the ballast/inverter, you can pick one up from one of the online places or call around and see if a local junkyard has 'em. The last 2003 CL's are 5 years old now, and the 01's are over 7 y/o so they are starting to find their ways into the salvage yards... Don't get the ballast and invertor from the TL, they are different then the CL (ballast/inverter is one unit on the CL and 2 separate units on the TL).

I don't think I'd use a mechanic that would recommend removing the HIDs

http://www.oemacuraparts.com has the ballasts for $309.13
http://www.acuraautomotiveparts.org has it for 339.97

Hopefully it's just the bulb.

 

Nice reference I like the online junkyard concept...

 

LOL Hey its an easy option to find a part when you dont feel like getting raped at the dealer. You ever use that site? THey have almost any part for any car lol

 

LOL Hey its an easy option to find a part when you dont feel like getting raped at the dealer. You ever use that site? THey have almost any part for any car lol

 

I just did a search for an 01 grille (thinking about doing the mesh grille mod, but want to keep my stock one), and there's a junkyard that I didn't even know about 5 miles away from me with one for $60

 

See? Thats awesome lol Cant beat a used grille you want to play around with for 60 bucks...you wont even have to pay shipping lol Alot of these junk yardsw will ship it and give your money back if its a faulty part too. I paid 5 bucks shipping for my used inverter and it was shipped from VA to PA

 

Monster, thanks for the tip.

Also, found this for others who are also interested in the same topic.

link

 

man my 03 passenger side has been out. i was thinking it was the ballast but sometimes it flickers back on for a couple seconds. i'll have to switch sides with the bulbs and see if it the ballast for sure. i dont want to have to buy an expensive ballast that i dont need.

 

I was hoping it was just my bulb that needs replacing. Now my mechanic says I need to replace BOTH the bulb and ballast.... I miss the days back when I can go to pepboys and buy a $5 bulb ...

 

i'm going through this now and went to the dealer to confirm which parts i needed as I am going the route of buying my own parts to save a little money. i was on oemacuraparts.com researching the part #'s the dealer told me i needed however only the inverter part # displayed in the search but the bulb did not.

does this part # look familiar to anyone? this is the bulb they told me to order.

BULB 33116-S04-J11

i found a few bulbs on the oemacuraparts site, but they dont list part #'s on the bulbs. should i be getting the low beam bulb pack?

just my luck i need both invertors and both bulbs

 

Here's a link to the headlights, with part numbers and descriptions.

You made a mistake posting your part number. The correct part number is 33116-SOA-J11, which is a D2R bulb.

Check the Black Market for someone selling this bulb, or you can check auto parts stores.

Click here for the parts list.

 

thanks ron! that helped quite a bit. david mcdavid acura listed S04 on my invoice instead of S0A.

 

My driver's side low beam is out as well. However, i'm wondering if it's the lamp or not beacuse the when the dimmer switch is on low beam, the passenger side high beam stays on. When i hit the flash to pass, it looks like another filament in the high beam comes on.

 

weird...sorry nothing more to ad that is just f'ed up.

 

very

 

hey guys im lookin for some 2003 clear headlights any tips where i can find them>?

 

make them...it's really not that hard I just did it for the first time when I was 5 scotches deep...I think I need to take another shot at sealing the housing though lol.

 

Anyone have instructions how to get to the ballast? I ordered one last night.

Thanks.

 

03 cls seem to have this prob quite a bit, mind had flickering and then going off when turned on..after reading monster sugestion i played aoround and then gave up, but i must have moved somethin because the headlight works now. i dont believe its the bulb...most likely the inverter..en please dont ask the stealership to replace it..its a ripoff..u must find other way..