shftl

Well, I won't be taking it to the dealer after all. Another beautiful day with the bumper still off, so I thought I'd take a shot at the passenger side. Clips on that side worked fine. Trying to replace the cover I lost the Torx screw and found it again three times. Fed up, I took out the light unit. Guided by yesterday's nightmare I got it out fairly quickly, replaced cover and screw, and reinstalled it. After that it was just a matter of putting the front end back together.

I guess that those who have had success with the fender well method have hands either more dexetrous, or just smaller, than mine. I think that the service manual method is the way to go if you're determined to do it yourself, keeping in mind that you will have to demount the ballast in order to remove the light unit. Looking back over the entire project, finding a deal on the bulbs and paying someone else to install them still looks like a good way to go. And I still think it's ridiculous that you have to dismantle the front end of the car to change two light bulbs.

saltysteve

what happened to the pics???
does anyone have pics of this how to???

saltysteve

DIY TIPS:
I have just completed replacing the bulbs and it does take some time but the front bumper does not have to come off.

take off wheel and inner wheel wells
pass side look up and youll see the cover with the warning label
you will need the tork screw bit! it will free easily
turn black cover and take off
turn silver item and pull off
undo metal clip by pushing in, over and back on both sides of clip
pull bulb out

for drivers side:
remove battery
same wheel off and inner wheel well off
unbolt horn (would be a good time to throw a airhorn in)
black cover will sneak out through the top
bulb comes out and goes throught the top

saltysteve

silver stars next to hids look crappy- dont bother

acura_dipset_tl

iTrader: (40)

pics not working

arabmoney

i got a 4g light bulb question

VmtSquad

iTrader: (1)

what happened with pics ?

TBone2004

My driver side light just died - I am now driving around with fogs on...how much does dealer charge to replace a bulb? - this looks/sounds tough without pics....

VmtSquad

iTrader: (1)

You'll have a much cheaper price on ebay for the bulb. Maybe even check the blackMarket on here before anything else.

Then you could..

1- Seize the opportunity and BlackedOut your headlights at the same time, since you'll have to remove the light - or simply change the bulb

2- Take the bulb to the dealer if your ready to pay for the time....good luck!!

rockstar143

iTrader: (6)

dealers charge $135 for 1 bulb alone.
DDM tuning charges $40 for a set. I would go with that...just make sure it's the bulb and not the ignitor/ballast.
I've been running them for 6 months now, with no issue.

Getting to the bulb...is easy...trust me...as you pull back the fender liner and see for yourself...it'll all make sense.

ezland00

Can you please fix the pictures i am planning to change my soon

ACE32TL

iTrader: (3)

dont do it,lol. the stealership in my area quoted $150 just to change the bulbs i bought into my car. Me and a buddy did it instead, wasnt hard at all, but I removed the bumper and headlights from my car to do it.

VmtSquad

iTrader: (1)

Exactly it's easier if you remove the headlights. Like I said, seize that opportunity to blackedout/Clear your Headlights

!

rockstar143

iTrader: (6)

Just do this from the fender...
In my opinion there is a huge difference between trying to change a bulb that's out and removing your bumper taking off headlights and baking, blacking out and resealing headlights

VmtSquad

iTrader: (1)

You got a point, but it worth the pain IMO

profi247

Can anyone message the guy to get the pics or post their own please? really tired of using my drls as the main headlights. can't see stuff >.<

rockstar143

iTrader: (6)

I'll message him, but if they're gone from this site it's probably because he took them off or something because they're so old. Nothing like taking a look for yourself man. I know it's intimidating but trust me. It's not rocket science...
take off one of your front wheels
look in wheel well and using a flathead pop off the 2 or 3 fasteners in there...and pry the liner back.
You'll be able to see the back of the headlight...then you'll see the torx screw thing we're mentioning (get it at pep boys and advance auto ahead of time...it's the security torx set) and you'll be able to take off the back of the housing and then it's just a matter of unplugging the bulb and plugging it back in.

YOU CAN DO IT!

saltysteve

are there fuses for these hids ? left and right fuses?

rockstar143

iTrader: (6)

probably. check under the dash...and in the engine bay.

VmtSquad

iTrader: (1)

There's some fuse besides the switch to open the HOOD and under the hood. I Don't remember where are the fuse for the headlights but it's very well documented on both plastic covers....

When replacing the bulbs make sure not to touch the bulbs with your bare hands or this will make your bulb burn prematurely!

YOU CAN DO IT !!! lol

-MiG-

iTrader: (3)

i might try this tomorrow, one of my bulbs went out, ill try to post pics

rockstar143

iTrader: (6)

Before buying new bulbs I would recommend swapping left and right bulbs to know definitively if it's the bulb or the ballast that has shit the bed.

TBone2004

I will need to do this next time - dealer did not even buy me dinner before they screwed me for ONE bulb - OMG - are you kidding me?! OK, so the tool I can get at Pep Boys, where is best place to get the same bulbs as I have in there? The one the dealer put in is slightly different color than the remaining passenger side - is that normal? They said either I have other components going bad - igniter etc or bulb may just have to burn-in some. I will duct tape flashlights to the front bumper before I pay these crazy prices for bulb installs again or new ignitors etc. WTF

MrDurdenSir

alright, here's my problem with this. I ordered an aftermarket set of d2s bulbs. look to be a typical aftermarket set, you know the type with the 2 conectors.

I can't find those connectors in my headlight area. I have an 07 tl type-s with the dark/stock headlight housings. Everything pictured in this post is what I have, I just can't find the connectors and then, where does the Ignighter? go when my new bulbs are installed? do I remove it?

My stock bulbs are deffinately marked d2s and so are the aftermarket one's. Thanks for the help in advanced.

Wes

shftl

The "ignitor" is the socket the bulb goes into. It, and everything else except
the ballast, is inside the screw-on housing that's secured by the torx screw everybody talks about. The housing is black plastic, and looks a little like the bottom of a bowl. The ballast is the galvanized-looking squareish metal box below the light assembly; a metal support comes up from it and attaches to the bottom of the light assembly. You remove the torx screw, unscrew the housing and remove it, and all will be obvious, although I found one of the spring clips that holds the bulb in position to be the spawn of the devil. Pull off the socket/ignitor, unhook the clip, pull out the bulb and replace it just like you would a halogen bulb. Reassemble everything in reverse order, ending with the torx screw. As rockstar143 says, you'll need a security torx bit with a hollow point.

MrDurdenSir

thanks for the reply, however, i did do all you are explaining with the original post and pics. my problem is with the 2 wires with connectors that are attached to the aftermarket bulb. i cant tell where they attach. i cant attach the factory igniter to this aftermarket bulb, its not possible because of the two wires with connectors.

shftl

If I'm understanding you, you have bulbs with wires coming out of them. It sounds like you may have the wrong bulbs. That may not be a fatal problem. There seem to be adapter kits for various bulb configurations. It may be that with some internet searching you can find something that meets your needs. Alternatively, maybe you can exchange what you have for what you need. Here's a link to the acuraoemparts exploded drawing, showing what the bulb should look like:

http://www.acuraoemparts.com/delray/...All&vinsrch=no

Good luck!

mrceotri

aggghhhh!!!! i'm so pissed. Can someone who has done this give me some advise. i've got everything off and in the process of putting it together. Got the bulb in but cannot get the clip to clip onto the housing. Is there a specific way i need to rotate the bulb as i put it in or does it not matter. I've been at this for 3 hrs now and getting frustrated!

rockstar143

iTrader: (6)

The bulb can only go in one way...line up the little grooves.
Then the clip goes around and WILL fit into the little latch thingy.
Patience, but dang...3 hours is pretty long!

nate_0022

iTrader: (2)

With in three hours you could have had the bumper off headlights out and all back together again. Like rockstar said the bulb only goes in one way. Make sure the return wire is facing down and the bulb should be seated properly then clip the bulb clips in then attach the ballast ignitor to the bulb.

mrceotri

I sure could of taken the bumper off in that time, but i figured putting the bulb in was as simple as taking it out.

I did make sure the wire was in the down position but just couldnt get that leverage needed to keep it seated and get the clip on.

I"m going to go home today and rip everything off and give it one more shot.

I did break the small plastic prong that sticks out the sides near the bottom of the bulbs, hope that doesnt cause it to rotate too much when its in the housing.

SBR291

well bumper only takes 15mins once you have been doing it for a while takes me 20 mins to get bumper and headlights off and another 20min to put it all back together and lineing everything up. but its much easier going through the fender, took me 10-15mins both sides but may take you 15-20 mins both sides saves extra 20mins.

Oh and 4g is the same. just the wheel gets in the way because they are bigger tires 245/45 17 and on our stock its 235/45 17 and the fender you have 3 pins you have to take out 2 on the side one in the middle and ours 2 on the side. but its pertty easy.

818steez06

I dont know where you guys found these d2s bulbs in your headlights cause for the second time i have taken them out and low beams are Hb4 bulbs and high beams are 9005 bulbs.. so im confused

shftl

The HB4's are your fog lights. The headlight assembly has a mechanical damper that uses the 9006s for both high and low beams, sort of like the mirror in an SLR camera. If you switch back and forth between high and low beams in a very quiet place you can hear the switch happening.

BigBluu

So my driver side headlight just went out and I noticed that it has moisture in it too. Is this the cause of the bulb going out? If so, I would need to remove and reseal the headlight assembly? Or can I just replace the HID bulb and hope it dries out?

danielbui

Nice write up good work

m7r7m

Something that should be mentioned and a long time ago at that is the torx bit is a security torx bit which means the bit should have a hole in the middle of it. I farted around with a standard torx bit for 30 minutes before I realized this. Saves you a lot of time if you have the right bit

Esco5710

Honestly i dont know how ppl were able to change the bulbs without removing the bumper!! that torx screw is embedded deep in the corner! took me over 2 hrs total but overall easy DIY. Eff the dealer!!

seanmanila

I did not have to unplug the ballast. If there is no power then I guess you wont get shocked if its not switched on.

helpful write up

shftl

You should let some time pass before you start handling the wiring. The ballast can hold a serious charge for a time after the lights have been turned off. I expect that the 20 minutes or so that it takes to demount the front bumper cover is more than enough, but for those who try the wheel-well technique, if you've just had the headlights turned on, I'd let things cool down for a few minutes.

If you're switching to a higher color-temperature bulb this goes without saying, but it's best to switch out both bulbs at the same time, even if you're just staying with stock- or near-stock bulbs. These bulbs slowly change color over the life of the bulb, so if you replace only the one that burned out it's just about guaranteed to be a different color from the other one. You can save the other one as a spare. Where I live, replacements mean either paying the Acura dealer almost $200 for a single bulb or an internet order, meaning about a week's delay in replacing the bulb. The saved bulb can be used to bridge that gap.