Do all Acura TL's come with those damn HID headlights?!
07-26-2010, 12:07 AM
#1
Cruisin'
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jul 2010
Age: 36
Posts: 16
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Do all Acura TL's come with those damn HID headlights?!
I have a 1999 Acura TL. Perfect condition. The headlight went out. To my amazement I find out for JUST the bulb, I have to pay $100.00. Ridiculous. My mother has a 2006 Pontiac Grand Prix GT, and her bulb cost $2.00!!!
So, I take my $100 bulb to a shop to have it put in. They say the way my car is built, they can't get to put the bulb in, because its hard to get to, they can't access it. They told me to go to an Acura dealer.
The dealer puts it in, didn't come on. They say that I need a new inverter for it. $500!!! Seriously, whats up with these cars? I love my Acura, but this is outrageous. You don't have to go all this trouble to fix a headlight on other brands.
My question is, do all Acura TL's after 1999 still have this HID s***? If they don't I will buy a post-1999 Acura.
So, I take my $100 bulb to a shop to have it put in. They say the way my car is built, they can't get to put the bulb in, because its hard to get to, they can't access it. They told me to go to an Acura dealer.
The dealer puts it in, didn't come on. They say that I need a new inverter for it. $500!!! Seriously, whats up with these cars? I love my Acura, but this is outrageous. You don't have to go all this trouble to fix a headlight on other brands.
My question is, do all Acura TL's after 1999 still have this HID s***? If they don't I will buy a post-1999 Acura.
07-26-2010, 12:13 AM
#2
Advanced
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: Richmond, VA
Age: 33
Posts: 85
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
before the 99's no, after yes!
had the same problem with my car and the dealers told me the same thing but guess what the problem was, the headlight fuse was blown. then a few months later the inverter got wet and wouldn't work even after i dried it and took it apart. paid about $300 at the dealer for a new one and put it in my self.
also there's places on-line where you can get a pair of bulbs for like $40 shipped. like ddm-tuning and hidextra
had the same problem with my car and the dealers told me the same thing but guess what the problem was, the headlight fuse was blown. then a few months later the inverter got wet and wouldn't work even after i dried it and took it apart. paid about $300 at the dealer for a new one and put it in my self.
also there's places on-line where you can get a pair of bulbs for like $40 shipped. like ddm-tuning and hidextra
Last edited by youngson141; 07-26-2010 at 12:16 AM.
07-26-2010, 12:24 AM
#3
i bought a pair of hid bulbs from ebay just for $20.00+ free shipping also they give you 12 months warranty. mine works great also i paid $5 for passenger side and $10 for driver side to a local garage mechanic as he told me its hard to reach the bulb without removing air filter box.
07-26-2010, 12:26 AM
#4
Cruisin'
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jul 2010
Age: 36
Posts: 16
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
before the 99's no, after yes!
had the same problem with my car and the dealers told me the same thing but guess what the problem was, the headlight fuse was blown. then a few months later the inverter got wet and wouldn't work even after i dried it and took it apart. paid about $300 at the dealer for a new one and put it in my self.
also there's places on-line where you can get a pair of bulbs for like $40 shipped. like ddm-tuning and hidextra
had the same problem with my car and the dealers told me the same thing but guess what the problem was, the headlight fuse was blown. then a few months later the inverter got wet and wouldn't work even after i dried it and took it apart. paid about $300 at the dealer for a new one and put it in my self.
also there's places on-line where you can get a pair of bulbs for like $40 shipped. like ddm-tuning and hidextra
07-26-2010, 12:28 AM
#5
Cruisin'
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jul 2010
Age: 36
Posts: 16
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
i bought a pair of hid bulbs from ebay just for $20.00+ free shipping also they give you 12 months warranty. mine works great also i paid $5 for passenger side and $10 for driver side to a local garage mechanic as he told me its hard to reach the bulb without removing air filter box.
07-26-2010, 12:30 AM
#6
Trending Topics
07-26-2010, 12:45 AM
#9
Race Director
iTrader: (7)
why not just buy an HID kit from HIDEXTRA (vendor on here) and retrofit it. the kits go for 60
no need to sell your car just get another car that will potentially have the same problem. you can also find inverters/ballast in the blackmarket on here or on ebay.
just search, you have many options, i too learned the hard way before azine, i spent 700 for the same thing
no need to sell your car just get another car that will potentially have the same problem. you can also find inverters/ballast in the blackmarket on here or on ebay.
just search, you have many options, i too learned the hard way before azine, i spent 700 for the same thing
07-26-2010, 01:03 AM
#10
07-26-2010, 06:50 AM
#12
Drifting
Search this board for info, it's not that difficult to repair/replace. Aftermarket HID parts can be fitted for much less than OEM parts. The increased light output is worth it compared to halogens.
07-26-2010, 07:03 AM
#13
Team Owner
iTrader: (4)
Best
thread
ever
thread
ever
07-26-2010, 10:49 AM
#14
go buy a honda if you want cheap parts
moms car doesnt have near the light output of the TL!!!
by all means (sarcasm follows) get an 03- out of VIN on the trans warranty, and got the tbelt recall done without a new water pump...
maybe one with no gps!!!!
moms car doesnt have near the light output of the TL!!!
by all means (sarcasm follows) get an 03- out of VIN on the trans warranty, and got the tbelt recall done without a new water pump...
maybe one with no gps!!!!
Last edited by 01tl4tl; 07-26-2010 at 10:51 AM.
The following users liked this post:
YoungBull354 (03-11-2014)
The following users liked this post:
isiah s (12-25-2020)
07-26-2010, 01:00 PM
#18
SixSpeedDreamin'
Research...It is not hard to change the bulb 99-03 TL. I changed both of my bulbs in 10 minutes. It's not as hard as you think, I got my bulbs from HIDExtra a vendor on Azine. I think I paid $20...not a difficult job at all.
07-26-2010, 01:29 PM
#19
07-26-2010, 02:35 PM
#20
I dont know about the 99s but the 02-03s should have the same setup. The HID ballast is mounted on the bottom of the headlight so by getting to it, you need to get to the headlight, which requires you to take off your bumper, hence why the shop didnt want to do it. The design is poor on the ballast, it has an opening of the wire to go inside the housing to the headlight. But if you have a leak in your headlight, guess where the water goes? To the bottom where the ballast is. Its a pretty poor design. Go on ebay and buy an aftermarket hid kit, its waterproof and will be under 40 bucks shipped. I have them on every car in my family who didnt have HIDs. Headlights shouldnt be a reason to sell your car, it should be the transmission
The following users liked this post:
kellxrated (10-26-2020)
07-26-2010, 03:53 PM
#21
Senior Moderator
I dont know about the 99s but the 02-03s should have the same setup. The HID ballast is mounted on the bottom of the headlight so by getting to it, you need to get to the headlight, which requires you to take off your bumper, hence why the shop didnt want to do it. The design is poor on the ballast, it has an opening of the wire to go inside the housing to the headlight. But if you have a leak in your headlight, guess where the water goes? To the bottom where the ballast is. Its a pretty poor design. Go on ebay and buy an aftermarket hid kit, its waterproof and will be under 40 bucks shipped. I have them on every car in my family who didnt have HIDs. Headlights shouldnt be a reason to sell your car, it should be the transmission
The following users liked this post:
JmannTLs03 (08-01-2012)
07-26-2010, 05:23 PM
#23
I wonder if the OP knows the TL runs on premium gas--or since moms car uses 87...
07-27-2010, 07:05 AM
#26
Team Owner
iTrader: (4)
07-27-2010, 07:15 AM
#27
Dude...
check fuses
then swap driver for passenger bulb to see if it's the ballast or the bulb.
If it's like the 3G TL you can actually access the bulb thru the fender liner when you cut the wheel in (or take it off). The security screw they sell the tip for for 10 dollars at any autoparts store or u can use a pair of pliers to get at it.
It's pretty easy, if all else fails, I've helped a friend with an 01 retro a $30 DDM tuning hid kit in.
check fuses
then swap driver for passenger bulb to see if it's the ballast or the bulb.
If it's like the 3G TL you can actually access the bulb thru the fender liner when you cut the wheel in (or take it off). The security screw they sell the tip for for 10 dollars at any autoparts store or u can use a pair of pliers to get at it.
It's pretty easy, if all else fails, I've helped a friend with an 01 retro a $30 DDM tuning hid kit in.
07-27-2010, 11:33 AM
#30
I usually complain when a car does not have HID's! 
Thread win!
Thread win!
The following 2 users liked this post by thelastaspec:
el.profe (07-28-2012),
JmannTLs03 (08-01-2012)
07-30-2010, 09:16 AM
#32
Rice Patrol
Thx! this thread was just what I needed to make me smile this morning haha
it's about as WTF as that thread a few weeks back of installing halogens in place of the HID...people these days
it's about as WTF as that thread a few weeks back of installing halogens in place of the HID...people these days
07-30-2010, 12:51 PM
#34
HID is nice of course, but who wouldn't complain of the costs if they have to replace them. Any part will fail, but the flaws of having moisture in these headlights killing the HID parts is the pain. Acura should cover the HID failure parts due to headlight condensation defect.
08-04-2010, 03:13 AM
#36
Every porn dvd in a
Sad, looks like this kid sold his TL already. LOL. I'd rather settle for an American car which has cheaper headlights and I can't see for shit pass 15 feet in front of me at night. I found this website but I can't do research to find how to replace the bulb, or if the dealer was lying to me.
08-04-2010, 11:43 AM
#37
There are a few threads guiding how to replace the bulb. It's really easy once you've done the first time. Basically, disconnect the power connector, remove the torx screw on the top (in the back) of the headlight, twist off the rear headlight bulb cover, twist and disconnect the bulb connector, find the clip right behind the bulb slightly push it down, then swing it the right way and lift up the clip, and the bulb can be removed.
Disclaimer: do it at your own risk.
Question for Webmaster, does an OP has to have such disclaimer?
Disclaimer: do it at your own risk.
Question for Webmaster, does an OP has to have such disclaimer?
Sad, looks like this kid sold his TL already. LOL. I'd rather settle for an American car which has cheaper headlights and I can't see for shit pass 15 feet in front of me at night. I found this website but I can't do research to find how to replace the bulb, or if the dealer was lying to me.
08-04-2010, 01:28 PM
#38
Three Wheelin'
iTrader: (3)
Join Date: Aug 2007
Age: 35
Posts: 1,301
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
should have bought a set from HIDEXTRA, comes in pairs, so your headlights are the same and then I paid a garage mechanic 10 bucks to put it in because I didn't have a torx screw...
The following users liked this post:
RebekahLovesTL (03-26-2014)