Trouble w/ HID Headlight

cadillacowners · #1 (**permalink**) 10-05-09, 12:31 AM

Help! Running out of options. I recently noticed my low beam HID headlight on the right side start to blink and turn itself off. This happened several times, with the motor running, as I turned the headlights on. I ordered a new replacement bulb, but it came on for only a few seconds, blinked and then went out, not to come back on again. I then put the new bulb in the working left side and it worked fine. Putting the working bulb in the right side got no results. I checked the fuse (OK) and the grounds (OK). The other lights up front all work. Possibly the low beam relay? Would a bad relay let the left side still work OK and only affect the right low beam? Anyone had experience with the HID bulbs? Its a D1S Xenon bulb. This is driving me crazy!

submariner409 · #2 (**permalink**) 10-05-09, 09:48 AM

The bulbs are charged and triggered by ballast transformers which build up to 800 (?) volts trigger and then run the bulb at a much higher arc voltage. The ballasts are known to fail primarily because, according to the GM shop manual, the ballast carries 20+ amps while triggering the arc.

HID bulbs and ballasts "wear out" and lose brightness over time, so you'll need to replace both bulbs and ballasts in order to keep the same light output and "ON trigger" times for both sides.

I believe your low beams are HID and the highs are 9005 halogens ?

cadillacowners · #3 (**permalink**) 10-05-09, 12:15 PM

Thanks for the feedback. The low beams are HID and the highs are 9005 halogens. My conundrum is that all three HID bulbs, the original "burned out" bulb, the new replacement and the good bulb from the other side all work correctly in the good side (left) receptacle. All three bulbs do not work in the right side receptacle. This leads me to believe that it's not the bulb. The fuse is good altho I replaced it with a new one anyway. The grounds as layed out in the FSM are good. The only thing left to test is the low beam relay in the fuse box but if it was shot wouldn't lights on both sides go out? I cannot find any loose wiring either. Any ideas?

submariner409 · #4 (**permalink**) 10-05-09, 01:27 PM

The ballast...........

Mark C · #5 (**permalink**) 10-05-09, 02:19 PM

Get ready for a serious beating on that part. GM part number 12335573, GM list of 399.00 each.

cadillacowners · #6 (**permalink**) 10-06-09, 11:15 AM

Unlike the FSM illustration, the ballasts are a part of the bulb. The three units I have all have the ballast attatched to the bulb as one unit. As I said previously, all three work fine on the drivers side but none work on the passenger side. Does anyone know if the lo beam relay operates each side independently or as one? Trying to eliminate as many possibilities as I can so I'm not spending money needlessly (as I already have thinking the problem was a burned out bulb). Thanks

cadillacowners · #7 (**permalink**) 10-27-09, 06:02 PM

Update on this problem. After tearing into the front end a little farther I found that there are two ballasts (one for each side). The metal boxes on the end of the bulbs are not ballasts as some websites indicate. Possibly igniters? Anyway, I'm now looking for a used OEM replacement ballast to correct the problem. The cost of a new one from the dealer is way too high. Thanks to everyone who helped me on this issue

Ian-STS99 · #8 (**permalink**) 10-27-09, 07:24 PM

Not sure if the igniter and ballast is all one unit on the cars that have HID lights, maybe someone can chuck in some info .......

and to see if the conversion kit from SharpHID will work on cars that have HID's already.....

Seems silly to spend $300.00 or more when you can get a conversion kit for less, like $80.00 !

So far I am pleased with the SharpHID kit that I installed a week ago, and what a difference in the wet / when it rains, I can see the road due to the white light thats given off by them.

chad3113 · #9 (**permalink**) 11-03-09, 04:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ian-STS99

Not sure if the igniter and ballast is all one unit on the cars that have HID lights, maybe someone can chuck in some info .......

and to see if the conversion kit from SharpHID will work on cars that have HID's already.....

Seems silly to spend $300.00 or more when you can get a conversion kit for less, like $80.00 !

So far I am pleased with the SharpHID kit that I installed a week ago, and what a difference in the wet / when it rains, I can see the road due to the white light thats given off by them.

I have a CTS-V and seem to be having the blinking headlight problem on the drivers side. What was the kit you ordered from SharpHID and was it plug and play?

Ian-STS99 · #10 (**permalink**) 11-03-09, 09:09 AM

Hi Chad,

The kit was for the low beams (single bulb), the kit came with 2 bulbs and ballasts.

Was it plug and play ? .... yes, for my car it was as it connected straight into the original harness.