we have a 2003 acura TL, the drivers side headlight come on but then flickers out, when it is on its not even at full capacity kinda a purple hue, the mechanic thinks its the Voltage Regulator, because the battery light in the car comes on, reading the forum i have read about the Ballast and ignitor maybe being the issue, but i think possibly maybe just the bulb. any help would be greatly appreciated.

 

When was the last time the bulbs got replaced? Usually Purple Hue = DEAD BULB. Our HIDs don't work at half power they need constant 12v or the ballast wont ignite it. So odds are the bulb is past its useful life.

 

we just bought the car so no idea on the bulbs, we bought them and were going to have our mechanic install them, too much of a headache for me. i guess ill wait till a non rainy day and my husband and i can do it. since our hood dampers are out we need to have 2 people.

 

also its just the driver side that does it, i would assume that if it was the regulator like the mechanic thinks that BOTH bulbs would be flickering out. so yea ill save the money and change it myself, i think because he quoted is $10 to change them then realized the work required to change these bulbs that they didnt want to do it anymore.

 

They are no harder than regular bulbs to change. They can be changed without having to remove the headlights or anything major.

 

compared to the jeep there is a little more work involved.

 

Well it's a little harder if you aren't prone to doing such tasks but as fatty said they aren't that much harder just a couple more steps involved than usual.

 

its smarter to buy a replacement `conversion kit` with all new parts, for the cost of some bulbs alone!
That way when water is found in the headlight housing, you have the correct parts in hand to solve the results of that problem

at our cars age it makes sense to update to some modern technology- still HID but modern parts running them
try HID Kits | Conversion Kits | Xenon Headlights | HIDeXtra morimoto or any of the vendors on this site
you want a 35 watt ballast and 5000K color bulbs
don't need any extra parts from the seller

there are diy's on here for just bulb replacement from backside of housing
and kit installation via simple removal of bumper cover and housings-
its only scary the first time~

 

I actually already have the bulbs.

 

thanks ill have to look into that.

 

Well as it turns out when I took my jeep in to the shop today, I asked about the acura (my husband took the acura in) and it actually is the ballast, so I will be ordering a conversion kit after all, and returning these bulbs to amazon for a refund.

 

Try swapping your bulbs from side to side before you return the new bulbs. Based on your description, it sounds like a bulb to me. Always try the easy stuff first.

 

c'mon trash- do you really think with these cars age that its ever going to be a simple bulb replacement
Sure- several years ago when many of us got our TL- new bulbs did fine...until the dreaded moisture in housing issue reared its head
60 bucks to hidextra fixed that problem for me

 

^^^If there's no moisture, I'd at least try it. Keep in mind the op is going to have to pay someone to put a kit in. I'd guess that would be at least $100. I've only once had to put a kit in a car that didn't have a moisture problem. My former 03 is still on original bulbs, and my daughter's 00 is on the first replacement bulbs that I put in a couple years ago. It's currently around 288,000 miles. I'd also be more concerned with the high initial defect rate of the aftermarket kits when paying someone to install it. I haven't put in a lot of them, but about half the time I've had something wrong right out of the box. Sometimes it's only pins not inserted all the way in connectors, or reversed polarity, but I've also had a bad ballast, and one bulb with a greenish cast.
Now, if there is moisture, the aftermarket kits are the best choice.

 

As the OP and their shop doesn't seem to know about the small details of TL failure issues- and We have not asked IF there is moisture...

I take it as a given = by the time someone arrives at azine,,after a shops partial or misdiagnosis,,,for the labor needed to swap bulbs just to test them
Put a full kit in!

Now the cheapest ones may have a failure rate greater than desired,,I have no data
I ask those with the more expensive Morimoto setup--any problems on initial parts, or lifespan of parts?

In the case of non-diy'r, sometimes a dollar spent is 50 dollars saved

 

Great quality parts on Morimoto products, backed by 5 year warranty and great customer service. There was an issue with some ballasts a while back but they just sent people new ones when it went out no questions asked.

They started making their ballasts modular so you can use the same ballast for AMP and D2S applications and their XB35 bulbs are amazing.

I really can't recommend them enough.

 

I had real ballast failure on my 01, the kit was the way to go because a used OE ballast will be no better design or condition- a new one is way over-priced

and the technology advances in 15 years since they designed and built the oe system,,,
you have seen the new kits- you know

look for a smaller body shop or a speed/repair/parts place that does lowered Hondas and other racer type cars
They will sell and/or install aftermarket HID parts with ease, not the first car to have it done
All their daily drivers are loaded with goodies- find someone who learned on their car, not yours~

 

Can you guys recommend a kit for my 03 TL? Thanks in advance.

 

Morrimoto from the retrofit source

The Retrofit Source | Innovative Headlight Upgrades

 

morimoto are excellent and worth the price

on the budget end try HID Kits | Conversion Kits | Xenon Headlights | HIDeXtra many of us on their products
use code newfb for 10% off

 

remember 35 watt ballast and 5000K color bulbs

 

they talk about a relay harness and a capacitor do i need those?

 

NO Do not buy anything extra
we already have HID so the car has all the needed parts- relays etc

they sell it as a `conversion kit` for plain headlight cars- those need some extra wiring

Only thing you do have to buy is: a small box of connectors that match the ones that come on the new ballast- we are talking a few dollars at any parts store
And shrink wrap tape, $2 a package

 

ok thanks!!