HID? Aftermarket headlight just went out, suggestions?

This is not stock and it appears that the lamp itself if hard wired in? Car came this way, here are some pics:

http://img.tapatalk.com/d/13/02/10/9ybanubu.jpg

Ballast:

http://img.tapatalk.com/d/13/02/10/e5apebuh.jpg

 

Any suggestions other than finding a shop that does HID conversions and probably paying out the arse?

That's just a cheap HID kit. Swap the bulbs from side to side. If the same side is out, the ballast needs to be replaced. If the other side is out, it's the bulb.

 

Replace what's broken.

I would love to do just that but I don't see where the bulb disconnects? It looks like its hard wired through the cover into the harness....

Also since its not a normal bulb where would I go about getting a new one... On a Saturday at 830pm, or tomorrow? .

 

Seriously bummed right now and have a trip coming up weds.

There are almost definitely AMP connectors somewhere. Trace from the bulbs to the ballast.

Tough to say without seeing it, but with my experience with the Diode Dynamic kits and TRS, the bulb plugged in somewhere in between the backside of the cap and the ballast with a simple clip type plug. Did you see anything like that?

Also since its not a normal bulb where would I go about getting a new one... On a Saturday at 830pm, or tomorrow? .

 

Seriously bummed right now and have a trip coming up weds.

 

ebay

 

or a vendor (diode dynamics)

I'm looking again now. Things are kinda tight with all these wires

So there are plugs, but they are past a grommet in the back of the lamp cover. I don't see how to get the bulb out without destroying the cover or cutting the wires. Also the new one would have to be cut then spliced back together to run through the grommet?

http://img.tapatalk.com/d/13/02/10/hahe6are.jpg

 

http://img.tapatalk.com/d/13/02/10/ha2e2yta.jpg

Black wires go to the bulb and there is 2 plugs

Just a standard AMP connecter bulb. The grommet is attached to the wires of the new bulb.

 

But you STILL don't know if the problem is the bulb or the ballast.

There are 4 wires through the grommet. 2 blacks for the bulb, and another black and a blue for something else. It would be difficult for me to swap bulbs back and forth due to the way they are both configured. In switching the headlights on and off I got it to flicker a few times, but that doesn't rule out either as the culprit. Anyone have any idea what a ballast and bulb will cost? Wishing this had stock headlights right about now lol.

If you MUST have an HID kit, take the car to stereo installation shop and have them replace the whole kit. They'll probably charge you $150.

 

OR, buy two new standard bulbs and cover the holes in the gray covers with Gorilla tape.

 

I really don't think you should be doing this yourself. HID's operate at 23,500 volts and you can get hurt.

That many volts? Wow. Yeah I don't really wanna mess with it too much if it isn't easy. It appears that it isn't. I'm thinking I may have to replace the whole shebang. Sucks big time. Prob gonna call the dude I got the car from and see what he says. He does have a shop after all.

 

I was hoping it would be simple, but after messing with it it really isn't. Fml

It's very easy. But it sounds like you aren't very comfortable working on cars.

Definitely not easy like a stock bulb! I see myself cutting or breaking something and making the problem worse. Some would be offended that you said that, but I'm totally not. There are some things I can do but I'm bad with unfamiliar stuff such as the way this wired. I would gladly let someone else do it rather than break it ya know?

Knowing your limitations is a big part of the learning process.

 

Search on here for HID kit installs and walkthroughs.

This will help you out. I'm sure one of the vendors could overnight you a kit and you could do the install yourself before your trip.

 

http://legacygt.com/forums/showthread.php/plug-and-play-hid-install-walkthrough-69506.html?t=69506&highlight=HID+walkthrough

 

If you want to go back to stock bulbs, the connectors that plug into the blue/black wires from the bulb (INSIDE the gray cover) are the stock light connectors. You can unplug the whole HID mess and reinstall stock bulbs and use some Gorilla tape over the holes in the gray covers.

Thx!

So I started the car with the lights on last night. After doing some reading I think that may have been what did it. Does anyone know if this would fry the ballast, bulb, or both?

 

As always any thoughts are appreciated.

Stuck a silver star in there for now. I think it's the bulb that's the issue. I can hear the ballast whining like the working one does but the bulb won't light up. Are all bulbs the same or are they specific to the ballast? Like do the plugs match up? I am thinking I will need two new bulbs and two new lamp covers for the headlights so the color of light matches and I can ditch the janky covers that the previous owner mangled with some type of tan glue to seal them up.

 

This way I can get 2 new matching bulbs and install them non jankily.

 

Jankily: yes that's a word even if Siri doesn't think it is lol

http://img.tapatalk.com/d/13/02/11/zepypyva.jpg

 

At least I am legal now and will have a spare bulb to quick swap if this happens again.

 

Anyone know what type of kit this ballast goes to or where I could find bulbs that are plug and play?

 

http://img.tapatalk.com/d/13/02/11/yhyva8yd.jpg

Any bulb with AMP connectors and a base to fit your housing will work.

 

I'd just replace the whole kit. You STILL don't know if its the bulb or ballast.

So I started the car with the lights on last night. After doing some reading I think that may have been what did it. Does anyone know if this would fry the ballast, bulb, or both?

 

As always any thoughts are appreciated.

 

Any ballast without the ability to prevent hot-strikes will beat up both the bulb and the ballast. Better ballasts prevent hot strikes, cheap ones like what you have will likely not.

 

Stock wiring doesn't help either.

 

Do the install correctly, with a dedicated harness and quality parts.

 

http://www.theretrofitsource.com is a great resource.

So I listened to the ballasts, and they both make the same high pitched whine when on. Very scientific I know lol.

 

Also just got off the phone with Garrick at Diode Dynamics and it seams that I need a new kit. Nobody knows whose kit this is and if I get another bulb it won't match the color of the other. So after playing around with it a bunch I think I just need to get a whole new kit from them for $89. Because 2 new bulbs (so color matches) would be $40. And a ballast would be $60. Cheaper to just get the kit and swap it all out.

 

After messing with it it appears pretty cut and dry except I will use the relay harness or whatever it's called and run it to the battery for better reliability and dependability. Currently from what I can tell there is no relay to the battery.

 

I am also going to order 2 new dust covers and do the install correctly. The way the grommet is glued in now the bulb doesn't come out of the dust cover without wrecking the janky seal:

http://img.tapatalk.com/d/13/02/11/ana3eba4.jpg