Weird Headlight Issues
Weird Headlight Issues
Posted this in my progress thread but I figure it'll get more traffic here...
Basically my HID went out a week ago and then I noticed the above.
-Noticed that right headlight housing was filled with condensation after few days of torrential rain. It is a blacked out housing that I bought on the black market.
-Right HID went out soon after
-Right HID was replaced by used car dealer (not Acura) when I bought the car in Jan 2010. I do not know if they used an OEM bulb.
-Weird freaky stuff with high beams thinking that they are DRLs.
-No electronic mods to head lights
-Only have fog light mod, done 6 months ago with no issues
-Original ballasts
So I go to the front of my car just now to see if the HID was still out and this is what I see...
My car thinks it has DRLs
They were somewhat dim, same brightness as the fog lights, and definitely not high beam brightness.
I checked to see if I had the brights on. I didn't. More . When I turned the brights on, the right high beam bulb went out. I think this is more than a bulb or ballast issue...
When I put my regular low beams back on, the high beams did not come on again.
There is a ghost in my electrical system.
My car thinks it has DRLs
They were somewhat dim, same brightness as the fog lights, and definitely not high beam brightness.I checked to see if I had the brights on. I didn't. More
. When I turned the brights on, the right high beam bulb went out. I think this is more than a bulb or ballast issue...When I put my regular low beams back on, the high beams did not come on again.
There is a ghost in my electrical system.
Basically my HID went out a week ago and then I noticed the above.
-Noticed that right headlight housing was filled with condensation after few days of torrential rain. It is a blacked out housing that I bought on the black market.
-Right HID went out soon after
-Right HID was replaced by used car dealer (not Acura) when I bought the car in Jan 2010. I do not know if they used an OEM bulb.
-Weird freaky stuff with high beams thinking that they are DRLs.
-No electronic mods to head lights
-Only have fog light mod, done 6 months ago with no issues
-Original ballasts
Last edited by 03tLsNBP; Oct 6, 2011 at 09:54 PM.
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 33,535
Likes: 1,142
moisture kills OE ballast and control box next to it
need to reseal the housing (see diy) and install an aftermarket full HID kit
2 new bulbs- ballast- controller/connector wire.
get the relay `kit` to make installation better- bypass the stock power system
ck our sponsor www.hidextra.com for good info and prices..under 100 bucks with everything, simple diy
cant help you on the other lighting prob -drl
have you looked in the diy for that?
need to reseal the housing (see diy) and install an aftermarket full HID kit
2 new bulbs- ballast- controller/connector wire.
get the relay `kit` to make installation better- bypass the stock power system
ck our sponsor www.hidextra.com for good info and prices..under 100 bucks with everything, simple diy
cant help you on the other lighting prob -drl
have you looked in the diy for that?
what happens if the control box is screwed up too? is that expensive to replace?
this is what happens when i turn my high beams on now:
the left side low beam stays on and the right side high beam is off. but i know there is nothing wrong with the bulb since i posted that other picture with both high beams on.
as for the mystery DRL, sleepersho had a possible explanation.
this is what happens when i turn my high beams on now:
the left side low beam stays on and the right side high beam is off. but i know there is nothing wrong with the bulb since i posted that other picture with both high beams on.
as for the mystery DRL, sleepersho had a possible explanation.
Maybe someone can confirm this as I've never had a light out until recently, but I think when one of the HID low beams go out, the car automatically turns on the high beams, but not on full power.
Does the high beam light on the dash come on but dimmer than it should be?
Notice how if you turn the high beams on, the fogs and the low beams turn off, but in that picture you took, both beams are on, but the highs aren't on full blast.
Assuming my little 'theory' is right, its kind of a nice feature, if you have a light out, the car compensates and turns on the high beams on a lighter setting automatically.
Does the high beam light on the dash come on but dimmer than it should be?
Notice how if you turn the high beams on, the fogs and the low beams turn off, but in that picture you took, both beams are on, but the highs aren't on full blast.
Assuming my little 'theory' is right, its kind of a nice feature, if you have a light out, the car compensates and turns on the high beams on a lighter setting automatically.
anyone?
i want to purchase new ballasts ASAP but i need to know first if thats gonna fix the problem.
how do i check the "control box"? and where is it? i dont remember seeing it next to the ballasts when swapped my housings.
i want to purchase new ballasts ASAP but i need to know first if thats gonna fix the problem.
how do i check the "control box"? and where is it? i dont remember seeing it next to the ballasts when swapped my housings.
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 33,535
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that silver metal thing attached to rear side of housing is a controller per acura verbage
on hidextras kit its built inline on the connector cable from ballast to the bulb
have you tried swapping relays for the lights?
on hidextras kit its built inline on the connector cable from ballast to the bulb
have you tried swapping relays for the lights?
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 33,535
Likes: 1,142
the high and low beams are totally seperate circuits
ballast wont fix a high beam problem- they are plain ol bulbs on 12 volts
the `control box` is the capacitor on the HID ballast system for the lows
other mismatch light probs can be the headlight switch on steering column
ballast wont fix a high beam problem- they are plain ol bulbs on 12 volts
the `control box` is the capacitor on the HID ballast system for the lows
other mismatch light probs can be the headlight switch on steering column
I am going to replace the ballasts and see if that solves all the issues. They are old and not very waterproof anyways.
I haven't tried swapping the relays. I'm honestly not sure how to go about doing this. Is there is DIY?
I haven't tried swapping the relays. I'm honestly not sure how to go about doing this. Is there is DIY?
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So I checked the right side headlight fuse and it was blown, which explains why the right high beam does not come on. I replaced it and the high beams work fine now. But the HID still doesn't fire up. So I guess now I have a ballast issue for sure?
Why did the fuse blow though? I guess the rain shorted something out?
Why did the fuse blow though? I guess the rain shorted something out?
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