Im a total noob 1st off. Im going to Acura in the morning to get a Techs input before i spend my money on parts or labor. ABout A month agoo i got condensation in my light after washing my car....Weird because ive washed it other times b4 that and ive never gotten it til that day. Few hours later it dries up. About A month later, when i turn on my light, the light cuts on and in a half second it cuts off completely. It does that every time i try to cut it on.... I forgot to mention were referring to the drivers side. Passenger sides works perfectly. I have no problem throwing up 200 for a OEM ballast, 90 For a New Headlight, New Bulbs, & 100 For labor but before spending i would like some community input if you guys think i need a new ballast with the info i listed. Im a noob so i cant take the ballast off one side and test it with the other side.

 

Acura wants $200 for labor.....smh. Guess ill see if my "Honda" dude can help me out after hours.

 

The ballasts could have gone bad due to age or water getting in the light from a leak or bad seal.

If you intend on replacing the ballast then it shouldnt take you any more than an hour to take the bumper off, take the lights off, replace the ballast and put everything back together.

Which year TL do you have?

 

2003. i got a hook-up now. my mom works in the front office of a college and she got the auto collision department to do it for free since shes an employee....pretty skeptical about a bunch of other noobs working on my car but she claims its under close supervision by the instructors....But Free Vs. $200 sounds like a instant win. im thinking its the ballast...hell im hoping it is cuz im bout to splurge out $189 for a brand new oem

 

Make sure to install the foam washer that goes around the HID ballast, the washer insure weatherproof seal between the light and ballasts.

 

I wouldn't go OEM, but it's up to you. Aftermarket is MUCH cheaper, and it may even last longer.

 

ill try aftermarket if the OEM doesnt last me long. as far the washer is concerned, do you have a link on it or where can i buy it from....not sure if the ballast i bought came with that. heres a link : http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/_W0QQ...ht_2333wt_1165

 

first- your main concern has to be resealing the lights- common problem see DIY section

after that you will need new ballast and capacitor-plus bulb
look up hidextra.com and hidconcepts for complete ballast kits with new everything
for well under 100 dollars.
you can throw that extra 200 on something else~

order kit with 5000k bulbs for close to oe color but more blue

 

well ive already purchased the ballast. and i bought 12000k bulbs.

 

return them, and thank me later.

 

it's just waste to buy 12000k bulbs. go with 5000k it has very nice hint of blue to it in our reflector housing. i had 6000k before and believe me or not they were not very helpful in rain and they were too blue for me if looking from far but the light on the road was white/bluish.

 

whats wrong with the 12000k?

 

besides being so high is the visable spectrum as to be past purple?
no useable light will shine on the road
you will get pulled over,,a LOT...those are beyond legal to say the least
didnt you notice the disclaimer `for show or off road use only`?

return them = raise some heck over selling you a worthless item when the car came with 4300
does that show you how far you went?

 

google or wiki kelvin color scale

 

thanks for he info. i wasnt even thinking about the law and i get pulled over every day bout my headlight being out. im just going to give them away on ebay or sumthing. only spent like 20 something on them. i just bought a pair 6000k for 30 something. i think thats the highest you can go "comfortably".

 

they are ok,,I ran them for years but went 5k with the new ballast kit recently
5s are better for most eyes, and in the rain

 

01tl4tl i also ran 6000k for a year and switched to 5000k and i am not looking back. it's just perfect....