Both the high and low beams went out concurrently on my '05 TL (driver's side). I'm half tempted to replace the HID bulb myself, given the great posts here... however, the dealer mentioned that if both have stopped working at one time, it may be a bad ballast or control unit. Can you confirm that that would be the likely reason for both high/low to go at one time?

I'm not mechanically inclined (59 yo female), but I've followed step by step instructions and succeeded before on many projects. That being said, before I let the dealer officially troubleshoot and charge me a fortune, I've checked the fuses for the headlights and they are ok. Question: Do the igniter or control unit have fuses that I can check? (The under hood fuse box uses several unknown acronyms!) Anything else I can try - I know from other posts that I could try switching the passenger headlight on the driver's side, and/or switch ballasts (not comfortable with that one). Any advise is appreciated.

FYI - I read several years ago that a HID that turns pink is about to blow.... believe it or not, my passenger low beam has been pinkish (starts out white, then fades) for a tad over 2 years! And of course, it is NOT the one that just blew out! I know, get them both checked!

 

Just to make sure we're on the same line of thought, you mean the bulb pointed out by the red arrows on the driver side doesn't work anymore, is that so?

The blue arrows point to the DRL/fogs.



The low and high beams on the Acura TL is special as it does not use twin filaments or two bulbs but rather only 1 D2S bulb for both low and high beams. The bulb is always lit at 100% but the height of the beam is controlled by a shutter-type device.

If the fog light works fine, then it's most likely the D2S bulb. They're not terribly cheap but not incredibly expensive either considering their life expectancy. Changing it requires either removal of the bumper (looks daunting but isn't so horrible once you do it once) or going through the wheel well and bending your arm in weird fashions.

 

Thanks - it is the headlight and not the fogs (I am using fogs temporarily when out at night). I know it is one D2S bulb supplying both beams, but with 2 fuses it seems to say that one beam could blow and not impact the other. (also seems that way from reading several HID-related posts here too.) The Acura dealer inferred that both going at the same time usually points to something else. So, that stopped me from trying to just change the bulb using the instructions here (without removing the bumper!)... Just hoping to get more advise as to what to check myself. Again - thanks

 

well, both high beams and low beams operate on one bulb.
Do you mean, both left and right sides blew together?

 

Make sure fuse 1, 3, 5 and 6 are good under the hood as per the service manual (mostly 1 and 6 though)



If they are, the first step in diagnosing the HID is to try another build.

 

Agreed that they run on one bulb - but I'm thinking via all the hid-related threads that lows can go, yet you still have highs and VV. Only the driver's side (high and low) went out, but I know I've been on borrowed time with the pinking passenger side low beam.

 

throw your thinking out the window.

the high and low beam work on one bulb. if low beam goes out, YOU WILL NOT HAVE HIGH BEAMS!
because its one bulb.

one bulb acts as high and low beams.

if your other head light is turning pink, that means you will not have high or low in that bulb either shortly.


this is a case of burnt out bulbs.
you will need to replace the bulbs in pairs.
so, get one for drivers side and one for passenger side.

that's it! have fun sticking your hand up the wheel well!

 

Thanks Polobunny - I checked all 4 fuses and they are good. My next step will be to do Steps 1-7 ... after that I'm in over my head! At least I'll know if it is the bulb or something worse at that point.

 

I'll go 1 step further and add that it's 1 bulb and 1 filament! Some people might be used to bulbs with 2 filaments, this is not the case with D2S HID bulbs the TL uses.

Low beams CANNOT go out and high beams continue working if it's the bulb. That's exactly your case, neither low or high beams work.


Really though, first step would be to buy a pair of D2S bulbs and swap out your pink one as well as the most probably burnt one. HIDs don't always become pink before failing.

Cheers.

 

D2S: Philips 85122


pretty good deal.
comes in a pair for $95

 

 

here's a pair for $35 bucks!!!
D2S: Morimoto 3Five - HID Bulbs - Components

I currently use these in my '12 Kia Sportage!

 

Good luck, although I'm 98% sure once you change the bulb all will be fine. Careful about the change, you should never touch the glass part because it will leave residue on it that will make it fail prematurely.

Also, make sure to follow the procedure. While accidents don't happen often, HID are very high voltage and can seriously harm you.

 

Thanks all. Sorry for my confusion from reading other threads. Had already picked out the Philips 85122 as the closest (color temp) match to the original, though I'm always wary of online stores that I don't know - cheap counterfeits, etc. Can you recommend the above sites? (Pep Boys has for $99.99@).

I appreciate the detailed instructions - they will help. I changed out the front turn signal last year, so I have a feel for how cramped it is in there! Guess I need to invest in a Torx 20 bit to ease the pain there. Final question - I know the positive terminal can maintain a charge even after disconnection from the battery - is the same true of the HID mechanism? Don't want to fry myself!

 

It should not be an issue, but definitely don't mess around just for fun.

As for Pep Boys, I've heard good things about it here. Never bought from them since I'm in Canada though.

 

What will happen if the harness and the reflector are in contact?

I replaced my bad bulb with a new one and I still do not have a working HID light. My blinker and DRL's work. Is it possible the connector is bad or would the harness and the reflector contact make it so the light wont turn on.


Thanks

Ross

 

Well, given that the winter here was so bitter, I had a shop replace the bulbs. Unfortunately, the drivers side light worked for a very short period of time, then off. I checked the fuses again just to rule that out, and oddly, the light came on after that for 5-6 starts, then stopped. So, I'm going to try to figure out if it is the starter or the controller by pulling the bumper off and switching each part from right to left to determine the culprit. (I need to see if I can bang out the bumper anyway since I pulled in too far into plowed snow in a parking lot! Lost a small chunk in the center of the bumper and dented the very left end so the strake no longer meets the air guide/plate. Stupid me!).

Any suggestions on a tool to make pulling the bumper clips easier? I know a flat head screwdriver works by going back and forth, but can you recommend some sort of v-shaped tool to pop them quicker? Thanks.

 

Well done on the troubleshooting with the HIDs! Yup definitely sounds like the ballast/ignitor. (thank you for being smart and flipping the two, it's surprising that a majority of the people that come on here can't even think to do that )


Also I use this for my bumper plugs:
It works really well

 

Thanks - that is the tool I was looking for. Only saw nail puller tools that looked too narrow at Home Depot. I like the small donut to provide leverage and other surfaces.