Acurazine,

I need your help again. Last night I was driving and hit a major pothole. Basically it f#$%ed up my rim. I'm not too concerned about my rim as either the wheel repair shop can fix it or I have to buy a new one.

My bigger concern right now is this was a big pothole and it had enough force to knock my sidemarker loose and take out my passenger side HID. So basically my passenger side HID ignites when I first turn on my lights (for a split second). Then the light goes off. My fogs and turn signal bulbs are still functional. My high beam on the passenger side is out as well. When I leave the lights on and unplug the ballast and plug it back in, the light goes on for a split second and I get a low pitch buzz.

Intially I was going to take the bumper off and try switching bulbs and checking for loose connections. After messing with the ballast and seeing the bulb turn on for a second everytime I flip the lights on, I'm more inclined to think I might need a ballast. I wanted to get some feedback from the experts on the board.

Thanks in advance Acurazine!

 

Paul,

Either way, you'll have to take off the bumper to install the ballast. If lose connections behind the unit are what's causing the problem, then you can easily reconnect them. Per your description, it doesn't seem like the actual bulb is what's causing the problem...I can't think of anything else but the ballast being the issue; HID bulbs have gas in them, so if that were the problem, whether it be broken or what not, it probably wouldn't ignite. The ballast on the other hand, acts as the light's control center - it ignites the gas. I vote for ballast. Does it turn any other color than the typical white/blue? Also, try turning the lights on with the headlights positioned in high-beam. If it lights (but still goes out), you can cross out the actual unit as being bad; which I hope isn't because it's EXPENSIVE. We don't have a separate bulb for our highs (as you probably know); the unit just flicks it up.

Let me know what happens!

 

Yeah so I tried the high beam trick this morning and it did ignite for a split second. I'm thinking its the ballast still. I have a spare i'm going to replace it with to see if that does the trick. On a sidenote I took my rim to Fosters this morning. $160 for a straighten and mount and balance.

Eric - Off topic...did you get the Type-S finally?

 

Try swapping the HID bulbs, if the ballasts are bad then you wont even have the flicker that you are seeing now. The only part that can be damaged, at least the one I know of, due to extreme shock is the HID bulb. Swap the bulb to see if that does the trick, also check for structural damage to the components.

 

Thanks JNC!

 

Sorry, doesn't the city pay for damages caused by potholes?

 

I know a couple of my friends were able to get Seattle to pay for their damages. However mine was in Renton. I'm still trying to find a contact number to submit a claim.

 

agreed, if the ballast is "whining" and not blowing a fuse, it sounds like a new bulb is in order. Unfortunately youll be pulling the bumper to do so unless your patient enough to do it without removing the bumper.

 

You may also try to file a claim with your insurance, comprehensive coverage. The wheel cost and HID repair may warrant it.

 

Ballasts can't ignite the the bulbs...u'll need the ignitors !!!! Paul in your case just take ur headlight out and double check on the connection of your ignitor and bulb.

 

also if you hit a pothole that HARD, i would get the alignment checked to make sure nothing is bent or anything

 

Paul, I am afraid that it is your ballast not the ignitor that needs to be replaced. Without the ballast the ignitors won't work.

P.S. You with in them streets goin 2 FAST 2 FURIOUS!