Low beam is out...is there a procedure for discharging the headlight assembly or will it dissipate after a few minutes of no power?

Not a bad run...lasted 6 years with me having the headlights on all the time.

 

that isnt a bad run

 

Just disconnect the battery.

 

Figured the ballast would blow up first....everytime you unlock the car, the lights flip on...then off...then on again when I start it.

 

The headlights do not flash, only the parking lights, side marker lights and the taillights, according to the Owner's Manual.

 

No - the headlights will flash when unlocking the doors with the remote if you leave them in the on position.

In this case manual = wrong.

 

Why would anyone do this?

I can see you have not read your manual either. Page 62 mentions this.

 

OK my headlights do NOT flash when i leave the lights in the "on" position nor have they ever in the 5 or so years that i have had the car or in the two before when my parents owned the car either its only the parking lights that flash... the owners manual is NOT wrong

 

Mine definitely flash when left on. I found it out on accident...

 

I didn't say they flash. If you leave your headlights on all the time (like I do), then they'll turn on when you unlock the door and stay on for a few seconds (I suppose they stay on for the timeout period when the ignition is off). When you start the car, they'll turn on again...and obviously stay on.

 

If you leave it in the "on" position:

The headlights will come on when you press unlock on the remote and stay on for 15 seconds. If you do not open the driver's door, they will turn off at that time. They come back on when you open the door. It is bad for the HIDs to do that, I strongly recommend against it.