now I am having this big debate with my Dealer (the one that wants $400 to replace the bulb). I showed them the notice that was sent to the Dealers about how to check for a dying HID bulb. They want to charge me to do this test as they claim it requires removing some panels. I assume that means at least an hour of work. Obviously, this is a known issue if Acura sends out a special test kit. Also, as others have posted many dealers have replaced free.
The flicker has been going on for at least a year. Does that sound like a bulb problem? Seems like it would have completely died by now if that was the issue. I don't think it is a loose connection as it will flicker when stopped.

 

this is part of email thread with my dealer:

From them:
"So i checked with my Service Manager and to hook up the light meter we
> have to take some panels out.
> Will be shipper to replace the bulb, like i told you."

assume by light meter, they mean the tool referenced in the following:
News Flash! Your dealership will soon be sent an HID bulb test light assembly (HID checker) (T/N 07AAJ-S3MA100). This required special tool lets you quickly check for a dying HID bulb without the hassle of swapping that bulb with a known-good one. Watch for it!

Note that the News Flash states the tool lets them check the bulb "quickly", yet my dealer says "shipper" (I 'm sure they meant "cheaper") to replace the bulb than check it.

Here's more from them:
"first of all we weren't able to duplicate the problem, the labor that i quoted you was $180.00 witch is 1.2 hrs. not two hrs.
Since we weren't able to duplicate the problem, for all i know you could be having another issue for example the alternator ? if you want to pay for diagnosis when the flickering is occuring, after i confirm what is going to be needed, i will be more than happy to call the factory on your behalf and ask for assistance. But must confirm problem first."

Its an intermittent problem - how can they confirm by watching it?! And, isn't that what the special tool is for! And, alternator as potentially causing flicker in one headlight. Please.

 

Next email exchange:

From me to them:
"My understanding was that the August Acura Service News referenced a
> tool to "quickly" check for dying HID. See quote below I think one or both of the following should be done:
> 1. Use the tool to check whether my issue is bulb or not (at no
> charge) 2. Call factory to see if my symptoms are consistent with dying bulb. Symptoms are that light flickers intermittently as I indicated. Sometimes a lot, others not. I notice the issue more in the winter than summer (potential relationship to temperature), but that may be because I am driving more at night. It has been flickering for more than a year. It can flicker when stopped, so do not think it is a loose connection."

Reply:
"I will pass this on to my Service Manager and have him check with the factory beginning of the week and will get back to you"

Next Week! - great customer service

 

dude call the acura customer service number and complain.
cats are hosing you
don't you have a different dealer to go to? try that

 

acura called me last night to ask about my latest service at the Dealer. Got my chance to vent! Now will wait and see if anything actually happens.

 

final update: Dealer sent me email saying they will replace the bulb for free as a "one time goodwill gesture" "even though they cannot duplicate"
I have doubts it is the bulb as it has been doing this over a year.

 

update to my final update:
Dropped it at dealer for my "Goodwill" bulb replacement. They started to give me grief about how they are only replacing the bulb - nothing else, etc. etc even if it doesn't fix the problem. I asked why they did not use the Tool that Acura sent to check to see if it was the bulb the last time car was in like I had asked. First I asked the "Service Advisor" if he had read the Service Bulletin that discussed it. He said no. I asked again him why they did not use it the last time and he said "Don't ask me, I'm only the Service Advisor". I guess they give out the "Advisor" title pretty easily. The Service Manager overheard the conversation and said he would show me the tool. I said fine.
So he brought out the tool which is just a replacement bulb with a long harness. He said that he cannot absolutely fix my problem unless he can see it first, but confirmed they did not try to the "Tool" the last time. I asked why and he said, they have to see the light flickeer first. I got in this debate saying that the flicker is intermittent and waiting to see it flicker is a waste of time. However, since it could flicker at any time and if they plugged the tool in and it flickered, it would give them proof that it was not the bulb. Simple enough, yet he got in my face saying that there's no way to diagnose without seeing the problem.
Sorry for the long explanation, but they were giving me all this attitude like they are doing me a favor and it's probably not the problem. They acted like they have not heard of the problem before.

 

Do they really want to keep your business? Maybe you need to make a video of the flickering when it happens (intermittently) to prove this to them. It's a shame that you have to work so hard to prove that there is a problem.

 

I just don't understand their attitude. Its not that they don't believe me, they say they cannot diagnose unless it happens in the shop. Its an intermittent flicker - will be difficult to repro in the shop unless they watch it constantly for an hour. My main concern is a part of my commute is on a very winding road. I keep waiting for it to totally fail.

 

Well - its done now. Going to pick it up. Hopefully this is the end of my posts on this!!!

 

I had both headlights flicker and the dealer blame me even told me my Rl was Hit! so i started taking picture with my cell phone. and went to another dealer they fixed it right,. Acura of avon. it was very frustrating and a long process to proof it.

 

shouldnt this be covered under warranty? i have the same flickering issue on my front right headlight and looking to take it into the dealer for a warranty coverage fix. i have an extended warranty on my car. since it cant be the bulb it thats wrong it must be covered under warranty right?

 

Unfortunately, it isnt covered. I just replaced my drivers side bulb yesterday and it costed $952 for an 05 RL. What was replace was the bulb $225, invertor unit $245 and the ignitor $225. They will try to charge $250 for labor also. I have noticed this issue a lot with the 2nd Gen RL through various posts. I really wish they would just do a recall on the lights.

 

This seems confusing from dealer to dealer.

Some replace everything (when still under warranty)

Some replace only ignitors / ballast under warranty - not bulbs.

Some do nothing when under warranty???

Has anyone discussed with Acura CS for the official policy? I can understand out of warranty pain...but what is the policy on these parts when under factory warranty or extended AcuraCare warranty?


*Greetings from Port Stanley, Falkland Islands*

 

I was told by my dealer that bulbs are covered under factory warranty, but not extended warranty. I was also told that if water gets into the housing and does damage, nothing would be covered as that is not considered a manufacturer defect.

 

OUCH!!!! We have a 2005 with extended warranty - that is nuts. I can see the bulb but everything else should be covered. This is foul!

 

Boy I thought I was one of the few folks with blinking head lights. Sounds like this is a pretty common problem for at least early RLs. I complained about this some time in 08 I think and of course they could not replicate. The other day it started again and then last Saturday my wife tells me my passenger side light is out. At least that's really broken. Still not clear if it's the bulb or igniter/ballast but we'll assume it's the bulb. I ordered two new ones.

As was said elsewhere I'm pretty unimpressed that Acura would design the headlight so that you can not possibly pop in a new bulb on the side of the road. I mean clearly these bulbs don't last very long. My car isn't even 29K miles old (05). I have the lights on quite a bit because of the tree covered roads with soccer moms I have to navigate but still.

I suppose it's the price we pay for the wide, under fender headlights. Removing a bumper and headlight to exchange a bulb is absurd though. I hope I can get to it like described above.

 

The HID bulbs should last 10+ years easy -- it's just that Acuras supplier produced a bad batch of equipment, and we're all paying for it. I have a BMW X5 which is a 2001 and I'm on the original equipment for the headlights. Every car has its quirks...

Chris

 

Victory is mine! I just replaced the passenger side HID and thankfully that was indeed the broken part as my headlight works again. Many thanks to lstevennl for pointing out how to get to the bulb without removing the bumper and headlights. You do have to be patient to do it this way though. I screwed up twice so I'll tell you which mistakes not to make:

- don't drop the new bulb in the headlight housing (it's big enough) as you're trying to worm it in
- don't re-engage the metal clip holding the bulb when the bulb is not present. A real PITA to remove it then. I had to rig a piece of wire to push it to the side after pushing it down. A real back-burner.

Other than that it's prett straight forward. A mirror and bright flashlight helps a lot so you can see what things look like so you know what you're feeling. It would be great if someone who did take the headlight out took some pictures of the bulb replacement process so you're not quite flying blind. Impossible to take decent pictures of this procedure as there is no room for the camera.

Took me about 2 hours. Would have been more like 1h had I not screwed up twice So in summary I'm not sure if this is a real time saver but since it's cold out I worked in the garage and appreciated not having to remove the bumper. Could be that's still the way to go.

 

had the same issue happen at times and i took it to my dealer and they replaced both bulbs under warranty, they also replaced the bulbs on my center console behind the climate control buttons and i got a new driver seat lining and seat cushion under warranty, i love my dealer and the service mngr

 

I had reported the flickering bulb to my dealer and since it wasn't 100% reproducible they just shrugged their shoulders and didn't do a thing. Lots of quality differences between dealers, that's for sure. I have two mediocre ones relatively nearby. The first dumped oil on the engine block during a simple oil change and didn't clean up the mess until I drove the car back with clouds of smoke coming out of the engine bay. Never went back. My current dealer is a little more capable but dinged the fender during a recall fix. Can't prove it so what am I to do? Bah. It's like they hate you for buying their top of the line car.

 

changed HID's and Fogs by removing the bumber then the headlight housing.

Remove bumper. Not as hard as it sounds.


I know.... crappy phone pics


This is what it looks like after you take the "Danger high voltage" cover off.


1/8 counter clockwise turn and pull. Even with the headlight assembly out these circular tabs can be a challenge. For me anyway.


Pull and replace


End result...... I'll respond later if the flickering stopped for good. 8000K for the HID's and yellow halogens for the fogs. $48 and 3 hours of my time. If I have to do it again it would take half the time at least.

 

Thanks for the pics. Where did you get instructions for removing the bumper and housing?

 

I used this.

http://techinfo.honda.com/rjanisis/pubs/AI/BII31139.pdf

 

No blinks or flickers since I did the change so Im going to say this fixed my headlight problems.

 

Is the removal of the headlight housing necessary, or does it just make changing the bulbs easier?

Thanks for the shots / info!

 

Just makes changing the bulbs easier. I took this route because before this I had no experience with replacing xenon bulbs. Hopefully these pictures will help anyone who might want to try to do it without taking the bumper off.

 

Post Garaged. Nice job even with the cell phone pix.

 

i like how you taped a paper to your front license plate. no photoshop required. lool

 

I'm photoshop challenged.

 

I am trying to replace both igniters and both bulbs on a 2005 Acura Tsx. I am wondering how difficult this is to do myself. Can the igniters be changed withough taking out the whole headlight assembly?
Also, there is condensation on the P/S headlight assembly because i had left the cap off. Smh. I heard using a heat gun to dry it out would work. Ballast should be ok I hope. I'm not sure how to tell unless i just install the igniter and see if it works. Please any feedback would be much appreciated.

 

Maybe try the 1G TSX section. They will surely be more knowledgeable on your car model.