Hey everyone.

I installed new CBI bulbs a couple months ago.

Lenses are clean as much as possible, but my light output has been dropping like a rock the past year. I thought they were my bulbs, and so I replaced them, but still having the same problem. They're aimed correctly as well.

With my lack of knowledge of ballast or the ignitor, can either be the cause? Or anything else am I missing?

Thanks

 

lemme get this straight:
so last year you had OEM bulbs but feel that its not very bright. Then couple months ago you switched over to CBI's but its still not very bright. And the brightness has been dimming down last couple months? Sounds like it can only be the ballast

 

Last year I had CBI bulbs as well. Lights has been getting dimmer and dimmer for some reason. At first I don't notice it, because it was slowly happening, but once I jump into the RDX I see that it is difference is night and day. Ok that was what I was wondering, I just thought that if the ballast went bad, the light wouldn't even turn on.

 

check the condition of the reflector bowls. ill bet they are burnt

 

I'm trying to figure out how you would do that without dismantling the entire headlight, then taking apart the TL bi-xenon projector.. Sure it's only 4 screws once you get to that point.. but I think we can safely disregard that test until after the ballast.

Ballasts like other electronic components are finicky bastards. Hence why aftermarket ballasts can make some HID's green and such. They may be on their last legs and just not outputting enough power anymore. Notice any color shifts or just overall decrease in lumens? If you had any ballasts lying around, i'd do a spot test and just directly power the ballast from the battery and to the bulb to see if you notice a difference, that'll tell you what you need to know.

 

There is a huge decrease in lumens-- I do not notice color shifts.

The lights aren't bright whatsoever-- only when 2 feet away from a garage/object. :/

 

All things considered and because it's so easy it would be silly to oversee this, your battery and alternator voltage are fine, right? All it takes for a test is a multimeter and 2 minutes.

 

Battery and alternator are good. Checked with local shop and auto parts store because the battery before was bad (had already known).

 

ttt so confused why it is happening, but even with headlights from another TL (that is perfectly fine) isn't bright when I put them on my car. Can it be the ballast?

 

Yeah very possible it's the ballast. How old are they?

 

Can a ballast actually partially fail causing dim light with no color shift? I kind of thought ballasts worked or didn't work?

And I find it strange that both ballasts would fail simultaneously and cause equal dimming of both lights... think about it.

 

I didn't even read it as both, I assumed it was just one.

Have you checked your grounds? Sounds like one of those mysterious electrical issues where the ground can be a culprit. Is it just as low with the car off and lights on (engine off versus engine on?) .

Also I wouldn't rule out the battery just yet just because I've had a previous battery test well but still end up being defective I replaced the battery and it resolved the issue I had. I guess it's anecdotal evidence at best.

 

They're both low and I know it sounds odd but it has been like this since using my angel eyes years ago. Maybe the ballast went out on both lights with the angel eyes? Other variable is that I used type s headlights at the time as well (I have an 06) but aren't 06+ ballast all the same?