All of a sudden I noticed my driver side headlight has dimmed A LOT. It hardly shines and is a very faint purple tint. It would also flicker if I hit bumps and such.

I only rely on my passenger side to light up the road, but if I would cover the passenger side light, the driver side hardly lights up ahead at all.

Does the HID bulb just need replacing?

 

Actually, more likely that your ballast is failing on that side. Bulbs tend to be all-or-nothing. However, the ballasts and connections along the way can be prone to moisure/oxidation which, in turn, lowers the quality of the current to the bulb...and the HIDs neeeeeeeed current .

My suggestion...inspect the ballast by removing it from the headlamp for full visual inspection. Then, while out, might take it to your local Honda service center and have them test it if it looks foul. Even if it doesn't look foul, just like ballasts fail in fluorescent [office] lights...and cause the lights to flicker, etc....so too can any ballast fail.

- Dave

 

It's strange because last night they were working properly.

I will try swapping bulbs out soon.

Where is the best place to purchase a new ballast if needed?

 

1. And if there's any moisture available...they can "act up." Dry...and less so to no acting up. Corrosion over time of moisture/drying, and ultimately they

2. Why swapping bulbs? Just to test the bulb theory . Okay.

3. Hardtopguy would be your best bet. Not so sure I'd go with a "WTB" thread...as you might just "buy" someone else's ballast problem (given the way folks can screw others on our FS board more and more now ).

 

I'll check the connections and everything.

I meant swapping the passenger side bulb to the drivers side to see if it behaves the same. Just to see if it could perhaps be a bulb nearing the end of its life.

I definitely would purchase a new set if it comes to it....

 

w1ingman, well it ended up being just the bulb that was bad (thank god)

Have a pair of new bulbs in and I'm now a happy camper

 

OT, do you have to access the headlights from the fender?

 

Good that it was just the bulb . I'll have to tuck that info away (always good to know that in life, there's always the chance to learn something new ).

As for Highrpmek's question. Yup...if you desire, jack the front of the car, pull the wheels, pop a few of the front-most plastic retaining clips that hold the plastic wheelwell in place...and you can fold it back out of the way to access the rear of the headlamp. There are also access holes available on each side of the engine bay to reach in and change bulbs, etc. ( if you have the sized hands of a 3 year old).