Hey all, I have a few specific questions regarding wiring up an aftermarket ballast on an 01 TL.

Problem: Pass side ballast fried. (No need to ask the routine questions, already checked)

First up, I intend on buying this kit: http://www.hidextra.com/d2r-5000k-hi...ersion-kit-807

I do NOT want to pull that damn bumper off to get to the stock ballast. So here are my questions:

1. It appears from the pictures that their is only (1) 12v+ and (1) ground wire going to the ballast. Is this accurate. Headlight On/Off is just a switch on the 12v+ wire?

2. Can I access the necessary wiring going to the stock ballast without pulling the headlight housing? (i.e. enough room to pull the wires going to the stock ballast and using them to wire up the AM ballast)

3. If 2 is a no, where would the best place be to tap into the headlight wiring. I have no problem fully rewiring the headlight system post fuseblock, but don't want to make it a pita!

note:
I do not care about leaving the stock ballast in place.

Thanks in advance!

 

ck the diy list- Lighting section- there are a few on ballast install and aftermarket installation
https://acurazine.com/forums/2g-tl-1999-2003-98/new-official-2nd-gen-tl-diy-thread-706083/

 

So instead of taking the 5 min it takes to take the bumper off you want to contort yourself into unwanted positions trying to get to wires?

I personally would take the bumper off.

 

If you're worried about scratching the bumper (bumper cover, actually) get somebody to help you.

 

yea, basically. I absolutely hate jacking with cars anymore, and bumpers were always a PITA! (On other cars, I always broke those damn plastic push dammit things, and broke something random causing it not to be put back on properly.) The only body panels I mess with anymore are the race fairings on the bike.

I did find that I was correct that the headlights are simply a 12v wire and ground switched via a relay. Just need to find the stock wiring and change it over to the new ballast. Should be pretty darn easy. I'll let you know afterwards.

 

Alright, alright. I wound up taking fsttyms1's advise and just pulled the bumper off. Only trashed one of those plastic clip pieces. I was intending on pulling the fuse box out so I could re-run the wires, but the screws are so awkwardly placed on the firewall I gave up after about 10 minutes.

However, should I have to do it again I will be doing it a bit different. I didn't realize it until I pulled the headlight that the incoming power wires were just off to the side of the ignitor box case. If I knew that, I would have cut at the harness and spliced in from there. Yes, I would have to put a hole in the ignitor box case, but now I'm more concerned with the hole where the original harness went through to the ignitor.

I cut the grommet and reused it, but I could tell it wasn't fully sealed. I used silicone and hope that it works.

 

FYI, the fuse box under the windshield on the passenger side will slide up and off once you squeeze the two tabs on the back-side of the box.