Hey all, first time poster. I bought my very first Honda/ Acura back in August after giving up my beloved 2003 4Runner SR5 V8. Liking the car so far, even though I've had a few issues with it. Coil pack gave out, Pass Side Ballast (I think it was the wire which I think is the ignitor on these cars), pass window & drivers rear don't roll
Up or down, still have a few tests
To do but I'm almost sure it's the motor or regulator. But anyways, replaced the ballast and when I changed the oil, well the drain plug was the end of a spark plug. Got a new drain plug installed and all was well. Anyways, onto the headlight issue. If I'm driving at night and stop, turn them off and go inside for more than 1-2 minutes, they come back on just fine. But if I leave them on, let them go off with the factory timer, and then forget something, loading groceries or something and they time out, if I Unlock it before they "cool
Down" neither will come on or sometimes only 1 will come on until I wait the 1-2 minutes, then they'll both Come back on as normal. It seems like
It's usually the passenger side that doesn't come on, but rarely is it the drivers side unless I turn them off and back on, then it seems the drivers side needs to cool down. It is a 2003 TL Type S. TIA

 

You need to test the hid headlamps individually one at a time by triggering them at the headlamp's relays. If they activate right when you power them, then you have another issue going on. Could be the timer for the headlamps.

Pax windows, check pax fuse box - fuse #8 & 16.

 

I've had the similar issue with just my left side low beam. It'll come on about 2-3 mins sometimes more if they don't turn on right away... I bought the bulb and was opening it up when i found the black case (has electrical shock warning and wires connected to is) was just hanging there with the screw... (because I bought the wrong bulb - highbeam bulb)...

It took a while with a lot of muscle to get that black box in the notches and groove and locked the box in place, screwed in the hex back in and its been about 2 weeks and I haven't had the issue yet... Try to see if those are lose - maybe that's a fix...

 

^ I believe the part you're talking about is call the igniter.

 

do what the rest of us do and give up on the 10+ year old HID technology!

spend 60 to 200 dollars depending on choice of aftermarket suppliers ...hidextra to morimoto
get a `kit` with 35 watt ballast and 5000k color bulbs

Everything is just a parts swap- no wiring upgrades needed, can leave stock parts in place and remote mount the new ballast!!

Bonus! the new parts are waterproofed in a way the stock ones never dreamed of
solve your problem once and for all!

 

personal tip: dont use the timer feature on the headlights

 

I rather like the auto-off timer. I like being able to get out and walk to my door with the lights still on and have them automatically come back on when I unlock it. It gives the car a little more premium feel.

 

I will change all of it when it dies. Just put brand new Phillips 4300k bulbs in it a month after I got it so sometime in September. If the fix for the auto off is cheaper than the complete redo then I'll do that and save the money to get the horrid tint redone.

 

I had the whole thing apart when I replaced the bulbs and a ballast. I dont remember seeing a black box but I wasnt looking for one either. Its only 4 bolts and a few clips to get the bumper off so I'll have to take it apart and look for them. It's quite odd. Thanks for the idea! Also sorry for the late replies, I had computer problems and just replaced my old Lenovo.

 

it's also what ruins the ballast because of the constant on and off..

 

All the more reason to keep using it so they can burn out and I have an excuse to redo them.