Why I do come here and research out my problems, and typically never need to post anything to figure them out. This time it is different. My left hid headlight was strobing the other day about 3 weeks ago and then quit working. I was thinking oh well just order the bulb, then was reading on here you should do the pairs and that would be about 300 bucks for the factory ones. I debated for a couple days and the damn thing started working again, I was thinking awesome, not 100% sure why, but glad it was. It worked for about 1-1/2 weeks or so and now has gone out again. I am guessing it is the ballast or igniter, not really sure. Any thoughts gang? Also I searched and really didn't have luck is there a good photo step by step on replacing the ballast?

Thanks for any help you can provide.

 

what year is your TL?

i would assume it's the HID bulbs that need to be replaced, not the ballasts and ignitor.

i could be wrong though.

 

Mine is a 2004 TL w/ Nav (Non Type S). I would have thought the bulb too, but the damn thing came back to working and then went out again, makes me wonder if igniter or ballasts.....

 

Should be the ballasts or ingnior i had a bad bulb once and it turns pink first for a couple days and then went of so i just replace the bulbs it never went onand of just change the color thats a bad bulb but yours its good just goes on and off 100% shure not the bulb

 

Not bulbs.

correct.

OP, buy aftermarket inverter/ballast & igniter, much cheaper.

 

Well I took it to the shop, they actually tried to replace the bulb in which I told them I didn't think was the problem, but they stated that was part of the troubleshooting. Turns out not the bulb, now they are telling me I need to replace both the igniter and the control unit. Something about they should be replaced in tandem, they said that a lot of times they replace the control unit only to have someone comeback and need the igniter replaced in a couple weeks. Does this sound right?

PS, apparently they are charging me for the new bulb as well.....go figure.

 

some one had the ballast and igniter for sale in the BM...

OP for future reference:

When one side goes off....switch the bulbs from left to right....if the problem follows the bulb, the bulb is gone....if the problem stays, your bulbs are fine, repeat the same steps with the ballast....

 

Well that what I asked the shop after they ordered the new bulb why the hell didn't they just swap the other one over there before spending 200 bucks for an OEM bulb. I got off the phone with them a minute ago, they are not going to charge me for the bulb, and will put my old one back in.