Hi HID stopped working... - I turned off the lights and on again and it started working again.... - next day, HID stopped working once more and it's stayed like it.

I dropped off my car to a Honda dealer this morning, 2 hours later they ring me and tell me that they dont know what the problem is. They say they will need the car for another 3 hours just to diagnose the fault. The mechanic reckons that it's either the inverter or the inigiter. All he's managed to ascertain is that there is definitely power being fed through.

He said that a new igniter is £250 and an inverter is £270, including fitting and vat, it's gonna be over £500

I have notice condensation in the headlamp, and given the rain we've had of late, it's looking like the inverter is most problem the problem (but cant' be sure).


£550 - JUST to get a lightbulb working is ludicrous surely? What are my options here? Gamble on the fact that it probably IS the inverter, source one from a breakers and get a local monkey to fit it for me?

Any suggestions?

 

You have two of everything, swap bits over till you find the problem, may just be a bulb or if it's both lights a fuse, You know what Honda dealers are like, honestly if they cant sort out a leadlight what hope is there.

 

Could definitely just be a bad bulb. That's what happened when one of my HID bulbs was going out. After running for a little bit it would weaken and turn more purple and then turn off. I would turn lights off and then back on and it would turn on again. Did this a bunch of times. Bought two new bulbs and have been good since.

Could also be the ballast or igniter. As mentioned above swap them side to side one part at a time to see what is busted. Easy to do yourself as well. Just pull the bumper off and then you have easy access to the headlights to remove them.

 

Really? Even though a Honda dealer has told me that it isn't the bulb, it still might be..?

 

I had this turned out to be a lamp, dealers will dry bum you given the chance.

 

Rule no 1 - don't trust dealers.

Rule no 2 - don't buy parts from dealers.

 

Even if you ask for Shin-Etsu grease first?

 

They don't sell Shin-Etsu any more, I suspect they may have a supply of KY on hand.

 

Upon searching some old threads on here, it seems that condensation in the headlamp can cause the inverter to break... - this I have had... and given the amount of rain we've had lately, this seems likely. I fear that if I take my car apart i might not be able to put it back together again

 

If you fear that then you are guaranteed a lifetime of pocket raping by the Dealership network