jay87lx

Hi Everyone. I picked up a 2002 TL-S with 160K on it, nice car, fairly solid but with a few maintenance issues to be expected for a 14y/o car, so here we go.
The drivers headlight was intermittent, If you turned the headlights off and on several times it would eventually kick on. I was going to just confirm that it was the ballast (ignitor?) by taking the one from the pass side and switching it over and see if it worked because the passeneger side stopped now. So I am just going to order 2 ballasts off of Ebay , I do not want to go aftermarket at this time as I can get used ballasts for less than $50 a side.
I am understanding the front bumper cover needs to be removed, Anything else I should know? I see the ballasts are interchangeable through several models and years.

Second, I just noticed this now but the engine cradle is rotted on the pass side, I just googled quickly and it looks like the eng cradle is 2 parts? front and rear? I also see that it is a DIY job Any pointers here? Are they infact front and rear? Anyplace to get them aftermarket like Dorman??
Thanks guys

thoiboi

the used ballasts will fail the same way as the ones you had in there. Overall, just a bad design, I would have gone with some Morimoto ballasts and bulb if i were in your shoes https://www.theretrofitsource.com/ma...epair-kit.html


It includes the pigtails to be a direct swap. Make sure you pick the D2R bulbs instead of D2S.


find another cradle from a junkyard.

jay87lx

is it in fact a 2 part subframe?, any diy threads/vids?

thoiboi

go to google.com and type the following: site:acurazine.com replace subframe 2g tl


you can use that 'site:acurazine.com' addition to any query you have and you'll likely find applicable threads, DIY's, people with the same issues, etc.

jay87lx

I did that first and wasn't able to come up with a solid answer, or a full DIY

thoiboi

did you check the parts diagram from a site like Acura Parts | OEM Acura Parts | Factory Acura Parts


or download the service manual from somewhere online

jay87lx

I bought the kit as you suggested, great customer service and looks to be a quality kit, BUT,
It seems that the harness coming out of the ignighter runs into the headlight housing when connected to the bulb, whereas the factory harness comes out the bottom, did I get the wrong igniter? I tried to put the bulb in first then attach the igniter but it wont work as well as trying to attach the bulb to the ign then slide it in there, wont work

jay87lx

Dejan13

Just throwing it out there, did you try switching your headlight fuses? I had a problem with my one of my headligts and changed the ballast just to find out it was a fuse! Good thing I got the ballast from the junkyard for 10$!

jay87lx

It wasn't a fuse, checked everything and it worked intermittently. I am waiting on more parts that should fit correctly

thoiboi

Hey Jay,

Sorry for the late response, That's very odd why it doesn't fit.. Looks almost like the projector adjustment is completely off causing it to be misaligned


These might work better for you but you'll have to cut a hole in the cover and fit the grommet over it : https://www.theretrofitsource.com/am...-straight.html
but you'll probably have to exchnage the d2s igniter for an AMP igniter: https://www.theretrofitsource.com/co...b-igniter.html

Have you tried reaching out to them to see what they suggest?

jay87lx

I contacted them on Monday and went back and forth,they are sending me some different parts that should arrive today and I will see what will work. I have ZERO interest in cutting any holes so I will see what they send.
As far as the headlights being off, I had driven the car for months and the lights are spot on as far as direction

thoiboi

good luck and keep us updated!

jay87lx

I was sitting around thinking today, I brought the headlight assy in the house and warmed them up and used a utility knife and trimmed just a bit of the housing to slid that harness down there, then I trimmed a small bit off of the round cover, got it all in there and back together. It is tight down in there
All is good.
Just for shits and giggles when it was all together I checked the alignment on the lights and they are where they need to be so the alignment wasn't off. Lets just chock it up to high volume manufacturing can sometimes be off.

thoiboi

odd..

Thanks for the update jay!