sparkyj

I have a New (old) 2000 Acura TL.
Headlight is out.
Don't know what brand the car is running now.

First order to diagnose?
Swap bulbs with the working one?

these bulbs can be expensive.
Are the lower priced ones ok?

Any advice is appreciated!

02tl-p

Try switching the bulbs. If that doesn't work then it's your ballast. If it's the bulb you can get it for 30 bucks on Amazon. If it's the ballast you can also find those not to badly priced in Amazon. I know I had too and I'm sure everyone that has owned these cars has had to replace the ballast. Did the bulb turn to a purple pink color before it stopped working?

sparkyj

Thanks. I just acquired the car from a neighbor. I don't know .
I saw Autozone had the bulbs $99! Yikes!
I assume the OEM bulbs are 4300k. Will have a look at the working one tomorrow and try to match.

Thanks for you input. i have a few threads going here, trying to jumpstart ownership to get this car rolling:-)

02tl-p

I know when mine went out. It originally went completely out. Then I turned off the headlights and then on again. The light turned on but it was pinkish purple. So I let it run for about a week the replaced it. Look up the Philips d2r bulb on Amazon. If I remember correctly that's the oem replacement.

sparkyj

I'll check I think this one is "out" :-)
The owner didn't know it was out so I think I am starting at zero tomorrow
Thanks. Will look that up now. Great Info!!

sparkyj

Well I checked the bad one and it was completely shattered. Wow. Wonder what caused that?

Thanks!
The drivers side was replaced with a Flosser 2DR IMS bulb (Xenon).
I checked the old service receipt that came with the car.
Dude charged her $175 for the bulb, but installation was free! Ooof....thanks buddy!
So has anyone had luck with bulb that will match this brightness?
I went to the pick a part yesterday, looking for a door, thinking I might find this bulb. It is really a different shape on the end. Very specific it seems.
What other cars use this same bulb, in case I hit the bone yard again tomorrow?

sparkyj

OK, Been looking at various threads about headlight adjustment but can't seem to locate an adustment procedure like to ol' "face wall 20 feet away from a wall and point the center of the light at 3' off the ground, etc"

Does this type of procedure exist? i've got one pointing "down the road" which may be too high (or normal, I don't know), and one Marty Feldman eye pointing down in front of the car at 15 feet where I can see a hot spot and off angle toward the center.