GeorgeTSX

Anyone with a 2004 TSX (or I guess any year TSX) have either of their HID lamps replaced yet? I bought my TSX in late April 2003 and I just noticed today that my driver side HID is out. I guess it is about due? I guess I expected it to last longer. A few months after I got this car the dealer had to replace the entire driver side headlight assembly unit and HID bulb since water got into it. Here is that original post...

http://www.acura-tsx.com/forums/showthread.php?t=495

Coincedentally, I just ran the car through a car wash and when I got home I noticed the HID was out. I don't see any signs of moisture in the headlight assembly though and obviously I have washed the car many many times over the past few years. I guess I figured the first HID to go would be the passenger side since that bulb is some months older than the driver side HID.

mg7726

'04 here...man, i don't even have the condensation replacement yet! what a cruel world!

answer: not yet.

ssmtsx

I've had issues with my passenger side headlight not coming on. I took my tsx into acura and they said that the ignitor had to be replaced. Thankfully, the light came back on and I never had to have anything replaced.

GeorgeTSX

Man I hope that is the issue with mine. I know HID bulbs are expensive.

Paul55100

I think the bulbs are ~$70-80 for a pair if you shop online.

My 2000 S2k's are still on their originals.

Brandon24pdx

I know its tempting to be lazy, but you should avoid, at the cost of a dirty car, those automatic car washes. They usually either use the spinning brushes (bad for paint) or very high powered jets of water (bad for anything sensitive to moisture contamination like headlight or foglight housings. I cant even remember how many foglight bulbs I blew out on my old car using the high--powered sprayer at the quicky wash place.

Especially if you're out of warrantee, those TSX headlight housings are expensive to replace. Last time I checked prices on the Phillips Ultinon D2S bulbs they were like $150 each also.

LuvMyTSX

I have an '04 that I bought in May 2005 and have only had to replace one headlight housing due to condensation. I have not had to replace any actual bulbs yet. The car was a dealer loaner and has been on the road since Feb. 2004.

GeorgeTSX

Yeah I know. My car was really dirty and it is a bit cold out here in Ohio to hand wash it. It was a new place that used high powered water (no brushes). I guess I will wait and see what the dealer says. It is still under warrenty fortunately.

stewie20068

yeah I've had my passenger side seal fail twice. When the HID gets wet it blows. The first time was last summer after a heavy rain. the second time was last week after I handwashed the car. Pisses me off that the first fix didn't solve the problem. Hope this doesn't happen out of warrenty considering that the new headlight assemblies would have cost over $400! What else can I do to get it fixed?

tech123

could be a ballast problem. has the car ever been in an accident? if so when front lamps from acura are replaced they come what is known as unloaded and all the existing parts of the damaged lamp are transfered to the new lamp therefore problems may accur when they were transfered and or serviced.the boot may have a slight tear and or it was simply installed incorrectly. those lamps should have a much longer life than what you're receiving. think of them as florescent lamps on your car.

sauceman

220,000Km and a few issues on the car, but all the original bulbs are still working well in the headlights. If things keep up, I might actually replace the headlights themselves because they are so speckled, but the bulbs are still functionnal.

Brandon24pdx

hid capsuls are supposed to last far longer than a premiun halogen bulb

GeorgeTSX

Nope it has never been in an accident. I called today and have an appointment tomorrow afternoon and they will take a look at it then and we shall see. I have a feeling it was the car wash and water got inside the headlight assembly.

moda_way

49k miles, bought in June 2003 and still on original bulbs... no condensation issue either.

marakbai

Had my ignitor replaced on the driver side (warranty) so got a new bulb there .. .then the passenger side went, and I was expecting the same thing, but they said the ignitor was fine, and I had to pay full pop for the bulb (over $100 at dealer) ...

Now the passenger one flickers when I turn them on, so not sure what that means, but it has a year warranty on it, so will see ...

chuson

I would like to swap out the original 4300K bulb and replace w/ a 8000K bluish color bulb. Can I just change the bulb without open up the Headlight Casing??

And what brand would you recommend for these bulb?? I search among e-bay but none of it seems to be a good quality build~

THX

Fibonacci

My '04 was on the receiving end of a parking lot bump & run. Bastard left a few scratches on my passenger side bumper just below the headlight. Chalked it up as a minor issue until a few weeks later I noticed condensation and then another week later the bulb went out.

Took it to my dealer and they said it's an insurance issue, so looks like I'm screwed and will have to file a claim.

castillo183

mine die out there is still Moisture in the Headlight ?

castillo183

From Yesterday to today my Hid is now flickering? I was checking the hid housing and it lose i think the hid bulb just Blew out? what ya guys think it worth buying a another bulb

GeorgeTSX

Isn't the car still under warrenty?

GeorgeTSX

UPDATE: So I took my car into the dealer today to have them take a look at my driver side headlight (HID) and to do my 35,000 service. I waited in the waiting room and about 30 min or so later the service rep told me that they are finishing it up and it should be done shortly. I asked him about the headlight and he said "Looks like all you needed was a new bulb." And I was like "really?? so it wasn't due to water or anything?" and he said "nope, looks like it just needed a bulb." and I said "uh oh... how much does a new bulb cost??" and he said "nothing, it is covered under warrently." (I didn't know that).

However, a little while later he comes to me and said that right after they put the bulb in it "blew out". I knew it had to be more than just the bulb burning out. Especially since I had just come back from the car wash when I noticed it was out. That and the bulb was replaced 2 months after I got the car because water got into my headlight assembly back then too. So they had to hold on to my car over night and order the parts.

So they gave me a loaner (a new 2006 TSX no NAV with 140 miles on it). Man I wish I could upgrade my 2004 TSX to a 2006 cheaply. The new standard features are really nice. Memory seats, heated mirrors, bluetooth, XM radio, AUX jack for an mp3 player, new instrument panel design, the confirmation sound it makes when you lock the car (instead of honking the darn horn) standard fog lights etc....

GeorgeTSX

Got my car back today. Here is what the invoice said...

************************

CUST REPORTS THAT DRIVERS HEADLIGHT IS OUT DIAGNOSE AND REPAIR CAUSE


- BULB (D2S)
- FUSE F (20A)
- CONTROL UNIT ASSY
- IGNITER, HID
- HEADLIGHT UNIT, L.

HEADLIGHT ASSEMBY NEEDS FURTHER DIAGNOSIS RAN CHECK ON LEFT H/L CIRCUIT & FOUND FUSE WAS BLOWN. INSTALL NEW FUSE & H/L STILL INOP.
FUSE WOULD NOT BLOW. REMOVED BUMPER & CHECKED VOLTAGE TO LEFT H/L CONTROL UNIT. HAD 12 VOLTS. REMOVED H/L & FOUND WATER IN CONTROL UNIT & IT SMELLED BURNT. REPLACED ALL PARTS OF LEFT H/L INCLUDING LENSE. H/L NOW WORKS.

About $900 in parts total from what the service rep said. It was all covered under warrenty and I just had to pay for the oil & filter change ($26.38)

LuvMyTSX

Amen for warranties.

qpskam

Have you found out why it is flickering?

lcrazyaznl

iTrader: (1)

Probably a bad ballast, my friend got his replaced and everything was okay, his bulbs ran another year or so till they turned pink and had to be replaced.

HIDStuff

Water is a huge ballast killer, as it causes them to arc. When you do replace a ballast or your igniter, seal the hell out of it with clear silicone caulk after you make the connections.