golf299

Hi all -

I have a 2003 TL and the low beam on the driver's side suddenly stopped working. I replaced the bulb with a known working bulb and that did not solve the issue. I did notice some moisture in the headlamp as well. The light will not come on at all, even with turning it on and off several times like others had suggested. What is the most likely problem and the easiest way to fix it? I feel like I need to replace the whole headlamp because of the moisture issue.

Thanks for the insight!

thoiboi

Ballast is bad. You'll need to get a new one. I recommend aftermarket

golf299

You think I can get away with just replacing the ballast, even though there's moisture in the headlamp?

frankjnjr

i have an 03 type S. owned it for almost 3 years. currently @ 227K. up until last summer, never any issues with headlights. last august, i pressure washed the engine bay and low and behold, the next day, considerable condensation appeared inside driver side headlight. (LESSON LEARNED) i removed the headlight assembly, removed bulb holders, ballast etc. and used a hair dryer to remove the condensation, than i re-sealed every area on the assembly, lens ballast gasket etc. to date, no further issues. since i noticed the moisture immediately, damage to the ballast appears to have been avoided. so to answer your question regarding the moisture, it would be prudent to discover the source of the moisture or risk future damage to the replacement ballast.

01tl4tl

go back and use search, several years ago the water path was found, and the fix is aftermarket HID kit- new ballast, ignitors and bulbs
Found from 50-300$ Dont get the cheapest!

That water in the housing drips out the bottom hole- directly onto the ballast, gets inside and rots the electronics.
20 year old technology is garbage compared to new, and its waterproof
Note the dealer wants 2500 DOLLARS to replace all the parts

get the 35 watt kit with 5000K color bulbs
New housings on ebay- aftermarket, Some try silicone seal around the edge of lens to housing.

thoiboi

https://www.theretrofitsource.com/ma...epair-kit.html should fit the bill.

Make sure to pick the D2R bulbs.

Type-S_215

Each headlight has it's own fuse, before buying anymore parts or replacing anything major check the fuse for that headlight.

Type-S_215

01tl4tl

215 when you have been here a while you will learn its not the fuse. This problem has been found and solved years ago
Once you get moisture in and a bulb out, or sometime one side out... then the other!
It needs new parts for the system, way cheaper modern parts than stock for fraction of the price.
50 bucks gets a cheap set you may need to replace in a few years, 100 better 200 more better~
thats for 2 new bulbs, 2 ballast and 2 invertor/ignitors Get the 5000K color bulbs and 35 watt ballast.
Thats everything you can replace, and the new stuff is sealed and waterproof connectors,
easy diy project thats well documented on here