Where is the best place to get an inverter unit for a 2003 CL? The part costs $400! The left one went out in warranty (Thank God) but the right has now gone out. At this price I am tempted to tip the headlights and just run on high beams.

 

try http://www.acuraoemparts.com/delray/jsp/home.jsp a little better prices

 

Try posting a WTB (wanted to buy) in the black market here:

https://acurazine.com/forums/non-automotive-motorcycle-sales-9/

or call your local junkyards... the 01's are 7 years old now, so there's some already at your local auto recycler...

The TL inverter won't work as it's different then the CL's...

 

http://www.xtralights.com has them as well.

 

Is there any kind of kit which would let me get rid of the hyperexpensive HID inverter and use regular bulbs? I absolutely refuse to pay $400 plus labor for an inverter which will ultimately fail again (This is my second). I have tipped the headlights down and am driving with my high beams on all the time. At least the highbeam bulbs are less expensive and don't seem to burn out as often.

What I'd like to do is just convert the whole thing to use regular light bulbs. I'd be happy with the current set up if it was dependeble. But it isn't and fixing headlight problems is expensive.

 

Green Monster,

Are all TL inverter/ballast units different from the CLs?

 

I'm not sure, but I do know that some of 'em are different...

We had one member sell a CL owner a TL inverter ballast and it was a huge mess... Ron A even had to post over here in 2G CL (he's the black market mod), so you know it got messy when he's around... Basically the part didn't fit.

You can look up the parts on one of the online places and check 'em... I'm using http://www.acuraautomotiveparts.org for this check. There are other oem places... look at the info thread and search for "cheapest" for a link that lists most of the oem places.

Heck, I'll do it since it should only take a couple of minutes...

Here's the 03 CL headlight:



#13 is 33144-S3M-A01 INVERTER UNIT, HID SYSTEM

02-03 TL headlight:



# 4 is 33109-S0K-A02 INVERTER UNIT, HID SYSTEM

Note the different part numbers...

You can also buy the ignitor and ballast seperate for the TL, but you can't for the CL...

#10 33129-S0K-A01 IGNITER, HID
#7 33119-S0K-A10 CONTROL UNIT ASSY.

I like to call this "running the numbers"... It's an easy way to see if parts are the same from different models (TL and CL, CL and Accord, etc) especially if you don't have a Hollander Interchange Manual...

 

Best bet is to pick one up used. MY inverter blew last week and I got a used one online for 100 bucks!! try www.car-part.com. And yes, the CL inverter is different then a TL inverter. Keep in mind though, the CL inverter will fit any CL from '01-03

 

Thanks for the site, but what part do you search for? No headlight ballast, ballast, inverter, or headlight inverter is listed.

 

Green Monster,

I have learned that the newer (04+) TL's use a D2S system vs the CL's D2R. Now that being said, the actual connector on the inverter unit (D2S vs D2R) is the same.

Having now looked at a TL inverter in person, I can confirm that they are different from the CL unit's and you can't even test the TL unit on the CL w/o splicing wires.

Anyway, thanks for the help.

 

When you are on car-part.com look under headlights after u select your model. Again, search 2001-2003 cl since it is the same part. I have an o3 cls and i put an inverter from an 01 cl. The only problem is most of the headlights listed for sale dont have the inverter. There are a few, just call around after you browse the site. MAke sure if you purchase it, they will give your money back too if it doesnt work. I got lucky with mine, i installed it and it worked....awwwww let there be light!

 

so you searched for headlight assembly? I only ask becuase it doesn't list "headlight" or "headlamp" on the list I see.

 

yep search headlight assembly