Headlight bulb Extremely Dim

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Old 01-24-2017 | 09:45 AM
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Headlight bulb Extremely Dim

Hi guys.
i have a 2007 TL type s
My headlights bulbs are extremely dim on both sides, I took them out the headlight housing to see if it was a dirty projector or lens and the bulb itself is dim, as dim as a flashlight with low battery. What could be the problem? Bad fuse? Bad ground? Low voltage battery? The lights do not flicker or glow pink, it's just really dim. Stock ballast and d2s bulbs.
Old 01-24-2017 | 09:55 AM
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Pics?


Probably need new bulbs. Try that first


Either that or the projector reflective coating has failed..
Old 01-24-2017 | 10:00 AM
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I don't have pictures right now because I'm at university. And like i said the bulb itself is dim. Also when I turn on my headlights I can barely see a "cutoff" line like others do
Old 01-24-2017 | 10:03 AM
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Originally Posted by toosoonjr
I don't have pictures right now because I'm at university. And like i said the bulb itself is dim. Also when I turn on my headlights I can barely see a "cutoff" line like others do
you are going to need to help us out.
how do we know what the problem is..if you cant explain it well or show us pictures....

for me; the first course of action is to inspect head light. is chrome peeling inside? yes no?
2nd would be to see if head lights are seated correctly. have you done so?????
third, get new bulbs...

this is what you should be doing.
we cant answer anything else until you come back with physical real results.
Old 01-24-2017 | 10:31 AM
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Thanks and sorry for being a noob at this, I figured you guys would know. I do have a picture of the bulb while it's off. Does it look like something is that wrong with it?
Old 01-24-2017 | 10:36 AM
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no, cannot tell anything.

check head light housing for paint cracking in chrome.
check if headlights were seated properly in head light housing...(there's notches and the bulb has to line up and fit into notches)
lastly, if those check out, try new bulbs.
Old 01-24-2017 | 11:30 AM
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That looks like a crappy aftermarket bulb actually...
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Old 01-24-2017 | 03:26 PM
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OP, that is definitely not a D2S bulb, D2S bulbs don't look like that , period. If you have OEM projectors, I don't see how these bulbs would fit?? Don't make sense to me.
Old 01-24-2017 | 03:30 PM
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yeah.. wtf looks like they just tried to jam an H1 bulb in there... How did they attach that to the stock ballast



Welp looks like we found your problem
Old 01-24-2017 | 04:23 PM
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Oh ok I guess previous owner played tricks on me then.
Old 01-24-2017 | 04:25 PM
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Old 01-24-2017 | 04:26 PM
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Blue circle is spliced and split into a aftermarket ballast and circle in blue is the plug that connects to stock ballast
Old 01-24-2017 | 04:32 PM
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That is some amateur hour splicing and I'm willing to bet it doesn't get better under all that tape.

Yikes to all that shit.
Old 01-24-2017 | 04:36 PM
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It's not really that complicated tbh. Can I just cut that part of the wire off ( circled in blue ) and just tape off the ends? And get an oem ballast and ignitor with some d2s??
Old 01-24-2017 | 05:05 PM
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You can... I'd want to know what's going on under those balls of tape and maybe redo it.

What does the rest of the headlight look like? Was the socket or housing damaged when they jammed that other bulb in?
Old 01-24-2017 | 05:29 PM
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Definitely not stock
Old 01-24-2017 | 06:00 PM
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Na it wasn't jammed in. It was just held on by the two metal clips.
Old 01-24-2017 | 06:39 PM
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yeah go buy a set of OEM ballasts ignitor and bulbs and you won't have dim bulbs anymore..
Old 01-24-2017 | 07:28 PM
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Are you certain that what you have in there is an OEM TL projector which is bi-xenon? Meaning low beam and high beam same projectors. I would suggest you buy a Morimoto ballast or if you want to splurge then you can go OEM, little bit more expensive. Both Morimoto and OEM will have the D2S socket, and just get a nice pair of philips or sram D2S bulbs.
Old 01-24-2017 | 08:10 PM
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I'm pretty certain that it is the oem projector. And I ordered a pair of oem ballast and ignitors already.
Old 01-24-2017 | 08:11 PM
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When I flick the handle the light tilts up for high beam, when I let go it tilts back to low beam.
Old 01-25-2017 | 11:07 AM
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just get a set of new bulbs/balls
Old 01-25-2017 | 11:08 AM
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Originally Posted by toosoonjr
When I flick the handle the light tilts up for high beam, when I let go it tilts back to low beam.
yeah, that's how bi-xenon works
Old 01-26-2017 | 04:42 PM
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Originally Posted by toosoonjr
When I flick the handle the light tilts up for high beam, when I let go it tilts back to low beam.
Originally Posted by thoiboi
yeah, that's how bi-xenon works

I think I kinda understand what he trying to say. OP you had mention that how you flash your high beam but to keep it on high beam you have to push the handle instead of pulling, its a common mistake if you come from a 90- early 2000 cars.
Old 01-26-2017 | 10:51 PM
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Originally Posted by justnspace
no, cannot tell anything.

check head light housing for paint cracking in chrome.
check if headlights were seated properly in head light housing...(there's notches and the bulb has to line up and fit into notches)
lastly, if those check out, try new bulbs.
I don't think there is supposed to be any type of chrome or coating in the projector bowl for hid's. For the DRL or fog lights yes, but for the high and low beam, no.
Old 02-19-2017 | 04:43 AM
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Mine are losing focus because of age, 2005. A guy at HIDPLANET said those old reflectors lose their finish and scatter the beams all over the place and cause problems too. That is my problem. Front end never wrecked. All alignment pins in all holes. Lights cast light on the lines on either side of my lane. Mine are so bad that the cars behind me cast a shadow of my car and it projects out in front of me. My projector bowls are used up. Time for Morimoto replacements and clear lenses.




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