Please dont tell me to use the search button. So my passenger side xenon is out. There is a faint highbeam illuminated on the dash. I am worried that my ballast is shot because I keep blowing fuses. Anyone have any ideas? Would it still blow the fuse if it is just the bulb??

 

awesome...i guess all the old skoolrz got G35z

 

i wish i could help you. i'm having the same problem right now. i don't know what the hell is wrong. i'm going to talk to a mechanic today and hopefully he can tell me what to do. then i'll let you know.

 

my passenger hid is out also. i think its my ballast

 

My driver side HID is out too. I just called my mechanic to get it checked out. He said it is much more common for the ballast to go out. I hope it is just the lamp cuz the mechanic said the ballast is money ($400-500).

Why is it a common problem? Is it because of the fuse?

 

you guys could probably switch around the HID ballast and bulbs to see if it is the ballast or the bulb went bad. i dont know if its the same way with acura.

 

yeah imma switch sides of the bulbs n see if it the ballst tomorrow mayb.

 

Me too! It's my ballast. I hope installing the ballast is easy as changing the bulb.

 

I got a original ballast on ebay, and installed it today. Everything is fine now. After installing the ballast, I forgot to put in a new fuse. You guys should have seen my face when the lights started flickering. After the new fuse, everything is working.

So don't forget to change the fuse after you install your ballast!

 

The passanger side ballast went out on mine at about 19k, now the driver's side headlight has gone out, and the warranty just expired last week. Grrr.

The owner's manual says don't touch because the wires are hot even when the car is off. Is there anything special you have to do before futzing with the headlight assembly?

 

That really sucks! Why don't you ask the dealer anyways. The worst thing they can say is no.

 

yeah i have 100k extended warranty but hid's arent't covered. and btw, those of you installing your new ballast or new fuses i would disconnect the battery first. the hid system is VERY powerful and could be pretty dangerous. damn, ballasts are running 150-200 on ebay. so much for just a new bulb

 

I saw that one. I got lucky and I got one for $100 on ebay. I could have offered a lower price but I didn't want to take the chance. Wow, I thought they would at least cover the ballast. And don't forget to change the fuse.

 

I've been looking on ebay for a ballast too cuz I don't want to pay $415 for a new one. But, with "ballast acura cl" typed into the search, I see a variety of ballasts some even manufactured by Mitsubishi Electronics. I am a bit confused to which one to get. I am assuming that the ones for a 2003 CLR is made by Stanely.

 

Any Luck On Finding Ballast ..i Need One Also..

Any Help On Finding Cheap Used Or New Would Be Great.

Thanks

 

I think this is the one to look for.

And, this is the best price I found so far. I've had no luck with ebay atleast I don't see any made by Stanley.

oem-inverter

For about the same price, I am thinking about an HID conversion.

NBO

 

where is ballast located? my friends car has same issue. drivers side light flickers then goes out.

where should we start looking to see if i need a bulb or ballast

 

My driver side head light just went out I called Acura dealer and they quoted me $200 if it is just the bulb and $800-900 if it is the inverter!!

I really hope it is just the bulb!

 

There are a lot of good vendors on this site that sells the bulbs at a lower cost.

800-900 does not seem right. Is it for 2 plus installation? I got mine on ebay for

$100. You can check the junk yards. Also, if you want it new, just buy it from that

oem acura parts website. I don't know the exact address but you can search for

it. I wonder if this ballast problem is just normal wear and tear.

 

I'm going drop it off at the dealer so they figure out the problem and get it fixed somewhere else.

Thanks for the info on the sites!

It is odd we all have the same issue. I don't even drive my car all that much, just on the weekend really.

This did happen to my 01 A4 as well and is was $250 just to replace the bulb!

 

oem parts can be expensive. KAIXEN bulbs are very good and you can get a good deal from excelerate. Here is a link you can check out https://acurazine.com/forums/showthread.php?t=330409&highlight=EXCELERATE+bulbs

I don't know if anyone had this problem, but I had a hard time putting the metal clip in place that holds the bulb. Well, I hope everyone has better luck trying to find a ballast. Also, I wonder if anybody tried to open up their bad ballast.

 

Hey guys.... Damn.... this headlight problem just started happening to me last week too. My driver side low beam flickers and then goes off. If I turn the lights off and then on again 2-4 times it will stay on and does not go off. Its like it needs to warm up or something. I am wanting to address this problem before it gets worse. What are the steps to figuring out if my problem is the fuse, the buld, or the ballast (inverter). Anyone know where some pictures are that show how I can get to the driver side lights to check the fuse, etc??

This group is amazing and you guys always seem to come through with great help and info!! Thank you over and over again!!!

Hunter

p.s. my car is a 03 cls with only 45K miles on it.... does the age of the car help in diagnosing the problem?? also, it just went out of warranty 5 months ago (time).. arg!!

 

I just sent you a message. Something always happen after your warranty just ends.

Hopefully it is just the bulb but usually it is not the case. I think everybody who reply to this thread had a bad ballast. If you can diy, and you can't find a used ballast, I think you can buy a whole new hid conversion kit for less.

Anyways, good luck again!

 

I checked the fuse using the diagram in the box on the firewall. Both yellow 20amp fuses were good. Does this help me diagnose if it is the ballast or the bulb? I am hoping to not have to swap the bulbs as it takes some doing to get to the driver side bulb from what I can tell.

I will update as I learn more. Thank you all again for the help!!!

Also, Big thanks to Ed for the PM. I hope we can figure this thing out cheeply...

Hunter

 

The low beam on the right side of my '03 CL is out. I switched the bulbs today and the light on the right stayed out and the light on the left stayed on. I followed the test procedures in the HELMS Manual and it appears that I have a bad inverter(ballast).

The procedure in the manual for replacing the inverter requires that the bumper be removed before removing the headlight assembly for access to the HID unit (inverer).

Did you remove the bumper when you replaced the ballast or is there an easier way?

Thanks

 

My right side is out too. Low beam works, but the HID will only go on the left side. I guess i'll try replacing the bulb first. Seems like lots of ppl are having this problem right now.

 

Fuck... happens to everybody at once? Mine is dead too. Only mine doesn't flicker, and never did, it just blows the fuse instantly when i flick the switch.... is this still the ballast?

 

Any chance you can scan/post that particular page? or describe the procedures to test it?

Thanks

 

1. check fuses 43(20A) & 45(20A) in the under hood fuse/relay box.

2. substitute a known-good HID bulb & recheck.

3. - disconnect the 2p connector from the inverter unit
- turn on headlight and check for battery voltage between #2 terminal & ground
- turn off headlight switch & check for continuity between #1 terminal & ground

4. if all above is good, substitute known good inverter (ballast) & recheck.

BE EXTREMELY CAREFUL AND PROCEED AT YOUR OWN RISK. THE INVERTER STEPS THE VOLTAGE UP TO 25,000 VOLTS.

 

I'm really not having good luck with this... My passenger side HID went out, completely out, no flicker or anything, the fuse is good and doesn't blow. I got a new bulb, nothing changed (bulb wasn't the problem). Got an inverter off of eBay, hooked it up and now the light flickers, fuse does not blow. I assume the inverter I just got off eBay is bad as well? Is there a way to test the inverter out of the car? Or should I just start looking for another one? This is starting to really piss me off.....and getting expensive....

 

The only reference that the Acura CL Service Manual makes to the inverter is to replace it with known-good inverter and check if the lights come on.

Unless I find a better price at another site, I am going to order a new OEM inverter from Acura of Peoria (www.oemacuraparts.com) tomorrow for $309.13.

Did you have to remove your bumper to install the inverter that you got off eBay?
The service manual says yes, but I am hoping no.

 

No, I just tested the unit, hooked it up with the old one still in place, made sure it was grounded, turned it on (found out it didn't work). I didn't tear the car apart yet. My car is a '03 CL-S 6 speed and it looks like the inverter is attached to the bottom of the light assy so it looks like the bumper is going to have to come off. Bummer. I'm waiting until I get a good inverter before I go that deep into it. I think I'll get one from that place you mentioned too. I'm not going to mess with used ones any more.

 

They seem to be very prompt. I placed my order online at 9:30 AM EST and I just(3:00 pm EST) got an email from DHL shipping with a shipping confirmation number.

I found the website different from the traditional Acura dealer website. The part is called a headlamp control module on the Peoria Acura website instead of an inverter. I called and talked with a parts person who confirmed that it is the same part and that it is an OEM part. You can do a part number search. The Acura part number is 33144-s3m-a01.

Good Luck

 

Yesterday i swapped my HID bulbs and checked the fuses. (my right HID won't go on by the way). The left went on again and the right didn't. So it's not the bulb. So i went to the acura dealership near me and they said the inverter would be over $700?? He seemed to be on the oem site (i could see the screen). I'm wondering if he was just trying to screw me or if i am looking at the wrong part. As far as i know the part number is what hm03cl wrote above. I just really want to be sure before i order it. Maybe the canadian system the guy was searching on is old and doesn't account for the fact that our dollar is good now? lol.
So is part # 14 what i'm looking for on this link?
http://www.oemacuraparts.com/partloc...layCatalogid=0

Thanks for the help

 

That link doesn't work i guess. Anyways, it's part # 33144-s3m-a01

 

Just putting this link out there:

http://motors.search.ebay.com/search...&fsop=1&fsoo=1

I just paid $500 at the dealership to get mine replaced. I couldn't wait to order the part since I was driving for the holidays. I had some coupons from my local Acura dealer that brought down the price from $660.

Good luck!

Enjoy the Holidays

 

I am having the same problem with my driver side headlight. It will flicker then turn off until I flick the lights on a few times then it will stay on.

From the posts I am assuming I will need to replace the Inverter P/N 33101-S3M-A12. Should I also try changing the light bulb first?

Also is it complicated to change the Inverter? I couldn't find out if you had to take the bumper off or not. Any help is apperciated.

Thanks!

 

Could this be what I need? I have a 2001, but this looks like it comes with the Ballast and Inverter. Is this too good to be true?

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/02-03...spagenameZWDVW

 

Here is a surprise, my right side light just went out!! Chicago728 commented about biying a conversion kit. Conversion to what?? Has anyone done a conversion??

 

Wow, alot of people having this problem. I bet everybody just has a bad inverter. What I am saying is that buying a new oem inverter cost alot so if you can't get a used one on ebay or at the junk yard might as well get a new kit from a vendor like excelerate who sells the kaixen hid kit for a good price.

https://acurazine.com/forums/sponsored-sales-group-buys-10/kaixen-hid-kit-groupbuy-330409/

Good luck everybody!