Eastboy123

MAN...i been having problem with my headlight .......it been just flicking.....i took it to the shop and they said my ignitor/ballast was bad............so i am planning to get a used one and was wondering if anyone know how to change the ignitor/ballast? Need some help from the pro's ........THANKS

GoldenChild

iTrader: (1)

Just in case they are wrong, did you check your fuses? It sounds stupid, but I was about to change mine, when I checked the fuses and found my fuse burnt, somehow it must of been arcing, because it was still receiving power (it was flashing) I replaced it and now it is fine.

ssang86

hey goldenchild which fuse was it?

GoldenChild

iTrader: (1)

The headlight fuse in the engine compartment (check fuse map on cover). Its a yellow 10 amp fuse if I remember correctly.

ssang86

where is the engine compartment? thanks

GoldenChild

iTrader: (1)

Black box over by the passenger side near the windshield.

ssang86

Im sorry but is it inside the car or the outside where engine bay is thanks.

ljmushock

pop your hood... walk over to the passenger side of the car and look along your firewall there is a black rectangular box. on the top are fuse/relay diagrams... check those first they say (left headlight and right headlight)... Good luck with it though, probably the ballast like mine im dealing with right now... saving up some extra money to buy the damn expensive ballast

timrink

Eastboy123,

Sorry to hear your inverter might be going out.

Changing the ballast / inverter is not as straight-forward as you might think, but it is pretty simple. It requires removing the bumper to take out the headlight.
Before you change the inverter, I would double check that it is not the bulb by switching the driver / passenger side bulbs. Also, the Acura dealership should have a free HID headlight tester that will determine if your headlight is good or bad.

I just did this repair last weekend, and I made that mistake. I assumed that the flickering light meant that the inverter was malfunctioning (after all, the light did start to come on). Further, the local repair shop told me that it was a bad ballast, so I replaced the ballast. As it turns out, my original ballast was fine, but the HID light bulb was burning out. I confirmed that by switching the bulbs from driver / passenger sides (I should have done that in the first place).

On that note, if it turns out you do have a bad ballast / inverter, I would love to sell you mine at a significant discount. I bought mine from the Acura dealer (BRAND NEW) for $420. I can show you the documentation on my purchase to verify that it’s new, and I can send a picture to verify that it is a new inverter. It works, and it’s like new / mint. I’d be happy knock off $120 and sell it for $300. My loss for trusting the shop diagnosis and not testing myself.
Otherwise, without further whining…

Here’s how to change the ballast / inverter:
1. DISCONNECT THE BATTERY!
a. The HIDs run at 25,000 Volts. That’ll kill you.
2. Remove the black cover behind the grill.
a. Three Phillips screws and a few push-snaps.
3. Remove the front bumper.
a. Two Phillips screws by the front wheel wells.
b. Two 10 mm bolts under the bumper.
c. Four push-snaps under the bumper.
d. The bumper pulls off at this point, but you may have to wiggle and
slide it back and forth to get it come off from under the headlights.
e. Be sure to disconnect the bottom road lights before you pull the
bumper off.
4. Remove air filter assembly (to get to the driver’s side inverter)
5. Disconnect 4 electrical connectors on the back of the headlight.
6. Remove the headlight.
a. Two 10 mm bolts on top.
b. Three 10 mm bolts holding black rail just below headlight.
7. Use a tamper-free Torx driver (T20 or T25) to remove the cover off the
back of the headlight.
8. Twist the HID light connector off the back of the HID light.
9. Remove the HID inverter / ballast from the bottom of the headlight.
a. Three Phillips screws.

Good luck!

bkanipe

another satisfied customer. I just finished up swapping out the inverter in my garage. It took ~ 2hours start to finish. No issues other than a i busted two of the plastic push snaps. I'll have to track some down, but it's far from a deal breaker.

Dismas

Tim! I need a ballast for an 02 CL as well. Please?

artbran

iTrader: (2)

even though this thread has a bit of age, I wanted t comment.

It doesnt arc as you say. I know this for a fact because when the headlights are on and you pull that very fuse, they will flicker also,

pdipon

mine is flickering as well hopefully its the fuse