Hey guys, here's something that I'd like to tackle...

When I installed the bulbs, they both turned on. I went home for a while, then came back out to go to work. It was about a 15min drive. The lights were perfect. Later on, when I left work, I turned on my lights and only one came on. I turned the lights off, then on again. This time, the other bulb turned on and it switched. It kept going back and forth. Eventually both came on, but it's still doing this. Any ideas of what this can be? Its obviously not the bulbs or ballasts...

Any help is appreciated!

Thanks

 

its the ballast- probably wet inside from moisture inside headlight lens

get a full HID replacement kit with new waterproof ballast- connector wire with ignitor and bulbs -you can omit bulbs but they are pretty cheap thru our sponsor www.hidextra.com,,kit about $60 w/bulbs or order seperates in accessory section
1 new relay kit a good idea
ck online for dicount codes for them

what bulbs exactly did you install?

 

The ballasts are both good..

 

no they are not
take one apart to see why!!
but the prob you describe is fixed by replacing ballast and controller with new aftermarket kit

had same prob on my 01

 

01tl is right, mine ended up being the ballast, (I switched both bulbs and igniters, still had the problem on the same light, ballast).

How do you know your ballasts are good?

 

The only thing that I have not replaced is the igniters. Can that lead to this same issue?

The ballast is fine. The lights (both) were on for about an hour or so the other night. Why would it choose to work, then suddenly not?

 

BTW, I've had these ballasts sitting around for a bit over a month, while organizing my misadventure to obtain the bulbs. If they were problematic, I do not think that they would have worked in the first place...

 

because thats what they do as they fail--corrosion inside the unit corrupts power flow
and it will work sometimes and not others
The HID system requires a massive power spike to get the bulbs going, once running its takes a lot less power so they do stay on even with ballast prob

You may have one bad ballast, and the power weirdness freaks the system and causes it to alternate sides or both at once go out!! (mine)

it can also affect the ignitor for same reasons

get a kit and replace all that old stock stuff- the cheapest they could buy in mass quantities over a decade ago

the modern parts are a fraction of the size and weight, Waterproof! a good thing when placing electrics on the front of the car~

 

Damnit. I'm giving up on this. I really don't care what the problem is anymore lol. There IS obviously a problem and i'm just going to replace all of it.

I'm looking at the 159.99 kit from hidextra. Those canbus kits are good - you'll vouch for them right?

I'm trusting you lol

 

I just ordered the normal D2R kit from HIDExtra and works perfectly and looks just like oem.

 

they make a kit that expensive??? their 59$ set is the one I run, as do many others on here
D2r or D2s depends on your year, and is about the bulb

no need for $$ on the extra slim ballast either
the normal ones are already way smaller than a deck of cards!

 

thanks for the recommendation - we shall see what happens!

 

Guys, I'm really confused!!! Driver side bulb went out and purchased some new ones (8k) online. Swapped out both bulbs but driver side still out.
Taking your guys word that its the ballast, but now what do i need to buy, just the ballast or a whole conversion kit at H__extra.com? Can't seem to find anything in the price range you guys are talking about ($60 range). If I go with just the ballast, which one do you guys suggest, and will I need to make any modifications, other than just plugging in and turning on.. And, do I need to buy two since the passenger side is working? Any help is appreciated!!!!

 

what is a cost-effective price for very bright headlight setup....this $60 kit or something else?

 

brightness is based on Lumens output of the bulb,
if you want WAY brighter, get the 55 watt conversion- they will be blinders!!
(stock is 35w)

from hidextra: you want the D2 kit- it contains 2 new ballast, 2 connector wires (contains ignitor) and 2 new bulbs, suggest 5000K color

http://hidextra.dev-holbi.co.uk/d2r-d2s
there is an ad on main page, clicked that and got to car makes- selected acura

the 159$ kit is not for us,
we are already HID, so replacement kit at bottem of the 3 choices is for us
says 69$, but there are discounts and sale prices all the time

optional: relay kit -1 total- wires new power to lights, bypass acuras wiring and relay setup $16

note: new customer coupon on their own site, or online found easily 10-15% off

 

aj:
did you have pink light color at startup from the dead bulb? thats bulb age related death

or do you get moisture inside the headlight lens? thats ballast death
and its smarter to get the $60 kit, replace both sides and be done with the problem

or try a ballast... then find out the capacitor took a dump too (not the smart method)

Note: always replace HID bulbs (and turn signal or brake lights) in pairs
the other one will take a dive soon after, so do it once -do it right -be done with it
More importantly is the brightness and color will not match on the headlights with one new bulb
they change color and brightness as they age

its not total plug and play- 2 wires per side to cut and splice, 1 slight enlarging of existing wire hole on bottem of housing
no big deal

 

CALL hidextra and tell them you are on acurazine
State that we all talk of a 59$ kit but the price is higher when you look
they will find a coupon or current sale to make it happen at that price!

 

thanks for the info, 01tl4tl

 

you are welcome

hope this clears it up for others reading in the future
when in doubt,,call and ask for better price!!

 

Purchased & installed the $160 kit from them - 2 thumbs up! everything is perfect now. I also bought the 9005 (high beam) kit for $80. all is working great and looks good.

thanks for the recommendation!

 

did the more expensive kit have OE connectors,, so no wire cutting and splicing for power to the ballast?

 

I had it professionally installed. No idea...

 

FYI, I just bought the $89.99 kit from them along with the relay harness. It does NOT have OEM connectors. Even thought they state on the product page, "We have designed size specific plug-in type connectors to connect to OEM power cable without any cutting, which makes it a simple Plug-and-Play installation."

I contacted their "support" which told me, that my car already had HID, and cutting/splicing into the harness would be necessary. I have asked for a RMA number as I don't feel cutting into the OEM harness is a great idea.

 

all you do is cut off the oe connector on the car side of the wiring, its right there behind the light housing
you could even go back to an OE connection later if desired!
Its no big deal at all to do
requires abilty to operate wire splicing and connector securing tool (pliers)
Only 2 wires (per ballast) to do
most aftermarket kits will need a little work like that

also the kit has thicker guage wire to bulb, so minor enlargment of existing hole in housing is needed for it to fit right

 

01tl4tl, thanks for your reply. It's not a question of knowing what to do or how to do it, it's really that I don't want to cut the OEM harness. I also feel a bit mislead that HIDExtra site clearly states that their kit included OEM connectors.

I ordered a new OEM ballast from an online Acura dealer, and will just go with it.

01tl4tl, I want to thank you for all of the great advice give and time you spend on this board. I for one, really appreciate it, as I know others do as well.