jbs102

Hi everyone,
I have been driving my new Grigio with Tech for about a week and I love it! I have never had HID's before, so I just have a few questions about them. I thought I read somewhere on here that HID's go by how many times they are turned on and not so much by hours, is this true? Because for example when I get out of my car at night, they stay on for about 15 seconds (I know this can be turned off but I kind of like seeing when I get out of my car), and when I lock my car (while the lights still on) they turn off, the lights flash/doors lock, and then they turn back on for the duration. Is this bad for them to turn off then turn right back on just turn back off? Why wouldn't Acura just leave the lights on while you lock the doors? I just don't want to have them cycle on and off so much if it’s going to severely shorten their lifespan. I noticed the same thing when unlocking or opening the door that they come on. Which leads me to my next question... if the lights are already on, and when I turn the key to start the car, there is a bright flash coming from the lights--what is that about? Is that the HID's or the high beams? Thanks everyone, and sorry for the basic questions. Everyone on here has been such a help in the purchase of my car. I just want to make sure I'm not killing my lights. Thanks!

09TSXTech

HID or Xenon headlight should last close to the lifetime of your car. Normally last at least 3000+ hrs, it doesn't matter about the number of times turning off/on, it's an electrical charge to light the gas inside the bulb.

its rayden

the flash you see when it turns on is the ignition of the gases in the bulb. it's normal. HIDs require a lot of power to ignite, but very little to keep it going.

jbs102

I figured the flash was normal, it just seemed a lot brighter/more significant when I am starting the car as opposed to unlocking it and having them kick on for the first time.

LuvMyTSX

I wouldn't worry about the life of the bulbs. My 1G was almost 7 years old when I traded it in, and still had the original lights. They should last a long time.

Farage

they should last many years unless the bulbs are defective. it shouldn't matter how many times you turn them on and off.

coffeefingers

Yeah...HIDs typically last much longer than regular Halogen bulbs...but when it comes time to replace an HID bulb(s)...be ready to fork out some coin.

Ouch!

elsapo

I heard hids are like 1200 bucks?

fallacy

What you'll end up hating is the minivans and older cars that flash you cause they think you got 'brights' on.... Then u show them your brights and they stop flashing real quick.

HID's are awesome.. I just wish the foglights were the same, and I could run the fog lights independant of the HID's.

elsapo

I have that problem with the Jeep Wrangler, I put in some super bright headlights and I get flashed every so often and then when I flash the high beams, they stop real quick

MrHeeltoe

iTrader: (1)

Welcome to the " 'club" so to speak.

TrixieSX

aftermarket HID's goes for about $40 a pair.

elsapo

Thats pretty cheap I checked online and they range 40-80 bucks with ballast and all that.

So I wonder why HID is not standard in all autos to begin with if they are so cheap for someone buying them.

mrjohn90

Its because its the projector (the thing with the lense) thats expensive, and not the actual bulb itself.