I have a 2006 DTS, and i am experiencing problems with the driver side HID headlight. Sometimes it shuts off on me, if I turn the car off and then back on it works as expected again. This is an intermittent issue, also it seems as though when the headlight is on it is not aligned. It thought that these vehicles had auto leveling HID systems. Any knowledge/pointers on this issue will be greatly appreciated.
2006 DTS Performance HID Headlight issue...
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You're not the only one or first to address. My pass side does it. I just cut the lights off and back on and it comes on. A quick fix for now. Someone said it is either loose or is going out. Best bet is to swap with each side and see what happens. I've been lazy but I think I will do it tomorrow. It's a pain to get in there too.:banghead: I'm not sure its the light tho for mine cause I had the right parking light out and then it started working again before I could take a look and hasnt gone out since but the hid started to and its aggravating. Caddys dont look right with one headlight. :tisk: :thumbdown:
Guys, your HID bulb is failing. Best to just replace it. It is covered under warranty.
The ignitor ballast is trying to re-ignite bulb, then the ballast over heats and turns off. Turning off car re-sets ballast only to start cycle again. The ballast is very expensive (over $800) so best to change bulb now.
Its about 2 hours to change bulb, and bulb is about $75 to $120 each depending on where you get it.
Fender liner and bottom pan have to be partly undone to access fasteners behind lamp housing. Airfilter box etc has to come out to access more fasteners. Way more complicated and time consuming than needs be. GM are you listening??
Good luck
The ignitor ballast is trying to re-ignite bulb, then the ballast over heats and turns off. Turning off car re-sets ballast only to start cycle again. The ballast is very expensive (over $800) so best to change bulb now.
Its about 2 hours to change bulb, and bulb is about $75 to $120 each depending on where you get it.
Fender liner and bottom pan have to be partly undone to access fasteners behind lamp housing. Airfilter box etc has to come out to access more fasteners. Way more complicated and time consuming than needs be. GM are you listening??
Good luck
too much of a hassle..i decided to pull it out today just to see what kind of work is involved and it was a complete pain u know where..i did the passenger side so i didnt get the chance to play with the air filter..removed the fender nuts, removed the grille and stuck a towel on the fender so it didnt scratch the paint and was able to pull out the whole piece..i dont know how they can change it just from the wheel well..maybe if it was on a lift possibly... but that was a headache..it took me half the day cause it started raining and then the fios guy came to install my stuff so i was delayed in putting it back..5hrs basically to remove and 15mins to put back in..lopsided time ratio but now i know what to expect after i get my lights..how much would i have to pay roughly if i took it to the dealer with lights in hand?
2001 DeVille(totalled):2007 DTS White Lightning Performance
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121 Posts
Hi, Everybody, i have quick question.
When switching from Hi Beam to Low Beam.. I hear a THUMPING bump underneath what sounds like somewhere in the firewall or maybe the fender well <most likely> but its loud, Is it natural for it to do that?
Thanks.
When switching from Hi Beam to Low Beam.. I hear a THUMPING bump underneath what sounds like somewhere in the firewall or maybe the fender well <most likely> but its loud, Is it natural for it to do that?
Thanks.
Mine does that too. I think all of them do cause I had the same question when I got mine. They didnt say what causes the sound but that it just means that its working.
You could ask Ewill3rd. He's an official tech.
You could ask Ewill3rd. He's an official tech.
2001 DeVille(totalled):2007 DTS White Lightning Performance
Joined
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121 Posts
COOL thanks... ill take your word on it..
The thumping you hear is the shutter (like when you blink your eyelid) over the bulb moving up off the bulb for Hi beam and back down half-way over the bulb for low beam.
These bulbs don't have a hi and low wattage like the filament bulbs.
Nothing to worry about.
Andy1 Calgary
These bulbs don't have a hi and low wattage like the filament bulbs.
Nothing to worry about.
Andy1 Calgary
2001 DeVille(totalled):2007 DTS White Lightning Performance
Joined
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121 Posts
Thank you 4 reassuring me... Excellent explanation...
I had thought thats what it was but I didn't wanna be wrong cause I had heard that those bulbs were just 1 setting. Beats the older models when you had a low beam and a high beam. Had a 98 and 01 deville. Just sucks how expensive these bulbs are though.
Yes it does, but they sure do have good lights. :cool2:
Much better than the old sealed beams.
Jim
Very true:thumbsup:
We do see problems like this with the "bulb". (arc tube)
If I see one shutting off I replace the bulb and I haven't heard many complaints after that.
The HID light uses only one bulb. Older halogen systems had 2 separate bulbs. The knock noise when you hit the high beams is a mechanical door flipping up to expose more of the light beam. If you pull up to a wall in the dark you can see it as it changes position. Once the lights are struck they stay on and the flippers flip up or down whether you want high or low beams.
Yes they are a genuine PITA to change.
If I see one shutting off I replace the bulb and I haven't heard many complaints after that.
The HID light uses only one bulb. Older halogen systems had 2 separate bulbs. The knock noise when you hit the high beams is a mechanical door flipping up to expose more of the light beam. If you pull up to a wall in the dark you can see it as it changes position. Once the lights are struck they stay on and the flippers flip up or down whether you want high or low beams.
Yes they are a genuine PITA to change.
Well I tackled my lights today...every last one of them....very fun...I did it in the Autozone parking lot too cause for some reason I keep misplacing a tool or 2 so they were cool with me doing it there plus I had the wrong lights for my parking lights..at Autozone they show up the same code as the turning signals so I replaced those anyways...did a lot of work in 2 days..put in the third brake light yesterday and installed my indash screen that I've had for like a yr now....next now I have to look for some nice Vogue tires to get put on
wow i was wondering how expensive they were, mine goes out once in a blue moon drivers side as well. been meaning to come here and check it out
Ballast is less than 100 bucks on Ebay...
http://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_nkw=cadillac+dts+headlight+ballast+2006
It bolts to the rear of the headlight unit...
It is the piece I have outlined in RED..
.
.
Well, i had actually just replaced both of my bulbs last weekend. My driver's side was intermintent, esp in the morning. I bought the factory lamps off of rock auto, they were $144/ea plus shipping. It has them listed as an OSRAM xenarc lamp from germany. I then pulled off the front bumper and pulled both headlight housings off. I find that the easiest way when dealing with the front end lighting. I mean the whole bumper is held on with many plastic clips, 2 bolts, and 4 keyhole slots. It really is a lot easier that it sounds, i think it takes less time just to throw the bumper off than wasting time to find ways around it.
ANYWAYS i got caught in the middle of the job because the back of the housing is held on with anti-tamper torx screws.(the torx screws with the raised dot in the middle) You can get a cheap set from advanced. ALSO, to my surprise, my factory (?) lamps were labeled as Phillips Xenstart. The osram xenarcs came in a ac-delco box, and as far as i know osram-sylvania is a seperate company from phillips. Im sure a gm parts guy would know the answer to this.
To make a long story short, I through the new ones in and put everything back and havent had a problem yet. Im hoping the ballasts dont go in the future, which by the way are labeled as AL from france. Which makes me more confused because the replacement ones im seeing have a different part no. and are germany. Anyway they look great also, better than my old ones, they have a really 5000k whiteish color to them that i really like from Cadillacs.
ANYWAYS i got caught in the middle of the job because the back of the housing is held on with anti-tamper torx screws.(the torx screws with the raised dot in the middle) You can get a cheap set from advanced. ALSO, to my surprise, my factory (?) lamps were labeled as Phillips Xenstart. The osram xenarcs came in a ac-delco box, and as far as i know osram-sylvania is a seperate company from phillips. Im sure a gm parts guy would know the answer to this.
To make a long story short, I through the new ones in and put everything back and havent had a problem yet. Im hoping the ballasts dont go in the future, which by the way are labeled as AL from france. Which makes me more confused because the replacement ones im seeing have a different part no. and are germany. Anyway they look great also, better than my old ones, they have a really 5000k whiteish color to them that i really like from Cadillacs.
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