Weird headlight issue on '01 TL...

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Old Oct 28, 2015 | 02:42 PM
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Exclamation Weird headlight issue on '01 TL...

So I've got a very odd situation going on with my headlights. A couple of weeks ago my headlights were randomly going in and out, and eventually the right side completely stopped working. I went through all of the testing (swapping sides, volt-meter) and determined it was the igniter. Instead of going with pricey OEM stuff, I decided to buy an aftermarket HID kit off of Amazon.

It worked great once I got it all put together and drove about a half hour. Got home later that night and turned on the headlights and the damn thing stopped working again. Now it seems to be working but only when switched on manually (I.E. the right headlight doesn't turn on when I use the auto shut-off/turn on feature).

I could deal with that but I'm now concerned because the problem headlight is dimmer than the other. Fuses are great and I was almost certain it was a ground issue, so I cleaned off the ground bundle behind the headlight inside the passenger-side fender, still no luck.

Has anyone else experienced anything like this? Any ideas at all? Thanks in advance for any knowledge.
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Old Oct 28, 2015 | 03:04 PM
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you bought aftermarket HID kit.

explain in great detail with what came in the box and how you installed it. did you install both sides or just one?
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Old Oct 28, 2015 | 03:07 PM
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Originally Posted by justnspace
you bought aftermarket HID kit.

explain in great detail with what came in the box and how you installed it. did you install both sides or just one?
The kit came with 2 ballast/igniter combos, 2 power wires which I spliced into the factory plug for the low beam, 2 ds2 (I think) bulb connectors, and 2 bulbs. I installed both sides. Splices were done using butt connectors and heat shrink, because I didn't have a soldering iron handy.
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Old Oct 28, 2015 | 03:12 PM
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I like relay harnesses because they serve two purposes. 1) it protects the car from electrical surges and 2) it helps with continuity, or brings continuous power to the bulbs.


with the problem bulb, you can try reversing the plug, maybe that will solve it.
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Old Oct 28, 2015 | 03:15 PM
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Probably a bulb issue. Swap the bulbs or the hardwares and see if the problem follows.

Remote possibility it could be the factory relays... swap those and see if problem follows.

Imo you get what you paid for.

Last edited by 01acls; Oct 28, 2015 at 03:17 PM.
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Old Oct 28, 2015 | 03:16 PM
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Originally Posted by justnspace
I like relay harnesses because they serve two purposes. 1) it protects the car from electrical surges and 2) it helps with continuity, or brings continuous power to the bulbs.


with the problem bulb, you can try reversing the plug, maybe that will solve it.
That's a good idea, I'll give that a shot here in a minute and see if there's any difference. Thanks.
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Old Oct 28, 2015 | 03:17 PM
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Originally Posted by Avian
That's a good idea, I'll give that a shot here in a minute and see if there's any difference. Thanks.
right, it should be red and black. flip it, to where its black then red!
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Old Oct 28, 2015 | 03:19 PM
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agreed with you get what you paid for.

Get a relay harness

and get a good system:

D2S: Morimoto Elite HID System - HID Systems from The Retrofit Source Inc
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Old Oct 28, 2015 | 03:24 PM
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FYI: I hear if you get the right adapter kit it's plug n play. For future reference.
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Old Oct 28, 2015 | 03:37 PM
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Originally Posted by 01acls
FYI: I hear if you get the right adapter kit it's plug n play. For future reference.



If i'm not mistaken it's these: http://www.theretrofitsource.com/acc...-adapters.html
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Old Oct 28, 2015 | 08:30 PM
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Spent about 2 hours messing around with them, and still nothing! I've noticed that when the broken one isn't working, it makes an odd noise when trying to turn it on. Any ideas? This is miserable, I need my car at night.
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Old Oct 28, 2015 | 09:11 PM
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^ To me you seem like you know what you are doing.

I'm thinking it's time to use the warranty.

This what I would do.

Jump a hot and ground straight to the defective ballast side of the HL. It's either yae or nay.

Simple as that.
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Old Oct 28, 2015 | 09:15 PM
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Defective ballast.
Either that or bad headlight relay


Buy a relay harness and see if it'll work with existing hid system.


If not buy a new set
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Old Oct 29, 2015 | 10:23 AM
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many of us use HIDeXtra | HID, LED, Xenon Vehicle Headlight Kits & Bulbs `kit` with all the new parts and new bulbs
5000K color bulb is suggested to best see objects on the road, higher is NOT better!
35 watt ballast are the same as stock ones- stay on that power

We have HID already- so a new relay setup should not be required
Just swapping in good modern miniature electrical do-dads and really waterproof- internally sealed with epoxy or silicone- ballast.
The connectors have orings to seal them. Our DIYs will give you tips on where to mount the ballast

NOTE!! DO NOT use the auto- off/on headlight setting-
it should not be on the car with these type lights!!

buy cheap garbage and replace it twice
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