My passenger side headlight flickers sometimes. I thought it might be moisture because I notice it more after going through car wash. Sometimes it goes out. If I turn the lights off and back on, it works again. Is there a way to diagnose whether the issue is the ballast or the bulb itself? Don't wanna buy 1 and then turn out the issue is the other. Also noticed today that the bulbs are slightly different colours for the first time this evening.

 

 

 

FWIW: Are you now, or have you ever seen evidence of moisture accumulating, on the inside of the headlight lens? If so, it may be an indication of damage to the ballast. If, you have never seen moisture inside the lens, the best method to diagnose the problem would to to follow projektvertx's recommendation and begin switching parts from side to side, starting with the bulb.

 

If the change in color is reddish, then bulb on its way out. Same thread below. maybe merge?


My bulbs flickered too, and once changed, no more flickering.

 

Thanks for the responses.

@projektvertx I suppose I was trying to be a little lazy, with diagnosis attempts as it's still very chilly outside, LoL!

@frankjnjr I've gone through the car wash often during this winter and haven't noticed moisture inside the lenses.

@RL09 the driver's side headlight bulb has a purplish hue to it. If that's what you meant by reddish?

I've been on Kijiji trying to find good bulbs locally, cause the dealership is trying to pull a No Lube job on me. And I'm gonna change both at the same time.

Which side is the easiest to change? Do I have to go the the wheel well for both? And on my TL the Ballast was mounted underneath the headlight assembly. Is it the same on the RL? I'm sad to admit I haven't gotten as familiar with this car as I would like because all my tools are on the other side of the country.

 

 

Yes, on mine one changed in color. All I had to do was change them. So i changed both.

Check this out: https://acurazine.com/forums/2g-rl-a...-6000k-899847/ I suggest you don't buy just any bulbs and get good ones - replacing them is a pain in the behind.

You need thin and long hands, and I'd suggest you simply pull the bumper off and unscrew the headlights, and do an easy and clean insert. You gotta clean them with an alcohol pad before inserting, and I just preferred the bumper pull for an easy and clean swap. Change both, and I suggest you change the high beams too while you're in there. But that's just me.

 

rlerman Thanks for the advice. It's snowing out here the last couple days. Hopefully when the bulbs arrive I get some warm weather or I can go to my buddies underground.
RL09 I guess taking off the bumper is easiest if I'm doing all 4 bulbs. I had ordered LED bulbs before for the high beam but they couldn't work because the 9005 are both DRL and highbeam. So I'm gonna have to get a different style. My hands are long but fat LoL!

I went out to a couple shops and they had different styles of bulbs (Not meaning colour, but base). But all labeled D2S. I'm gonna order some that have a warranty to be safe.

 

In the thread I linked you, the guys had recommended The Retrofit Source. I bought my low beams from them, and im quite satisfied.

Beware Philips though.

 

Awesome budget bulbs: https://www.theretrofitsource.com/hi...to-xb-hid.html


OEM: https://www.theretrofitsource.com/hi...ips-85122.html

awesome upgrade: https://www.theretrofitsource.com/hi...66240-cbi.html

newer: https://www.theretrofitsource.com/hi...66240-cbh.html