vivftp

Howdy all!

Here's a problem I've had since I got my car and wanted to double check it here as I'm not 100% sure about my mechanic any longer.

The problem is with the passenger side lowbeam HID. I could always turn it on the first time, but after it had run for a second or two, if I were to shut it off, it wouldn't turn on again and would need to cool down before it'd come back on. Now my dads mechanic said it was an issue with the bulb, so based on his suggestion I ordered a pair of Phillips 4300k bulbs off ebay. They arrived, he installed them and the exact same issue is still occuring. Only now there are times when the lowbeams don't turn on the first time, and now the bulbs don't necessarily HAVE to cool down before they'll turn on (ie. if I had them running, switched them off then back on and they didn't come on, I just keep flicking the lowbeams off and on and eventually they will come back on.)

Now according to the same mechanic and a car buddy of his who was there while he was installing my bulbs, they say it's an issue with the resistors in the right headlight itself, and that the entire headlight has to be replaced. From where I stand, I've already wasted 100 bucks following his advice as the bulbs didn't seem to be the issue in the first place, and before I go waste more money on an entire headlight, I wanted to ask here and see if anyone might have alternate suggestions on what might be the issue.

I did a search and couldn't find anyone with this exact issue, so I'm hoping someone here might be able to help me out.

Incidently, if a new headlight is required, I'm looking at an OEM option as the dealership wants over 400 dollars for the new headlight. I've been looking at this one:

http://cgi.ebay.ca/HEADLIGHT-HEAD-LI...QQcmdZViewItem

Anyone reading this ever deal with OEMs like this? Are they reliable and should they be a good replacement for the factory light? If it is a resistor issue, would it come with all the power connectors that'd house the resistors? I tried contacting the seller to ask, but never got a response.


Well... thanks all!

01tl4tl

more likely a ballast issue
Do you get moisture inside the headlight housing/lens?
the water drips down and gets inside the electrical ballast- killing it

You were due for bulbs based on age, and phillips are the stock brand-
Check the Off Topic link top of pages here- then look in `private sales` for someone selling a ballast
Or call the local junkyard- now called auto recyclers for one

Have an auto electrical specialist check it for you
Stop flicking the HID lights on and off- its really hard on them,

vivftp

I've never seen moisture in that particular headlight. The passenger side foglight is cracked on the lens and has moisture in it... that's the only light with that issue.

Yeah, I'll into those. Thanks

Yeah, the only reason I flicked them like that was because I needed HIDs in a hurry and they didn't seem to want to work otherwise.


Now I was just asking some guys on IRC, and one guy suggested looking at these:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/_Car-...3756.m14.l1318

Basically he suggests seeing if I can swap the HID ignitors that're there (if they are interchangable) and see if that's the issue. If it is, just buy a new one, and that's it.

Does that make any sense? He didn't have much experience with Acuras.

spiro

Had the same problem!
Switched the igniter, Problem followed the igniter.
Changed the igniter.
Everything is fine.

spiro

Live in Toronto Canada? Come on over I will fix it for :
FREE LABOUR + PARTS=GOOD WORKING HEADLIGHTS

vivftp

Yes I do live in Toronto. What part are you in? I'm in the Scarborough area.

That's a very generous offer. How much would you charge for the part?

spiro

I do not have the part but you can search the BLACKMARKET on this forum. Thats where I found one for $50 .
MY email harrydsharma@yahoo.ca

vivftp

I'll look into it thanks.

Just to find out, if I did want to swap the 2 HID ignitors there to see if it is the problem, are they interchangable?

I'll try to consult with a friend to do the job, but IF I needed to do it myself, are they just things you unplug and plug back in? Or is there a lot more required? If more, then I think I'll get someone more experienced to deal with it, heh.

spiro

Yes they are interchangeable.