Surely just a faulty BALLAST, no need for'new'headlamp unit?

[GS450hSE]

2008 GS450h 50K miles and otherwise trouble-free; no local corrosion or similar.  Thumping has no effect on the on/off state of the bulb.

I think it's just a faulty BALLAST, no need for replacement headlamp unit.

Your views please.

 

[NemesisUK]

Have you checked the earthing point?

[GS450hSE]

29 minutes ago, NemesisUK said:

Have you checked the earthing point?

Ah, thanks. No. Where would it be located, please?

I still think the fault narrative (specially, that there's no flickering at all either when unexpectedly going on or off) is more supportive of the ballast hypothesis, but your suggestion is "free" and should thus be explored/eliminated first.

[Robertdt]

Hi John,

                 I also have the same issue on my DC2 Integra, light works 99% of the time then goes off for no reason and comes back on. Symptoms always the same whether im driving/parked idling, engine off. I havent had time to look at it but my car guru pal is 99% sure its the ballast unit tho he said try the bulb first.

Good luck to both of us,

                                             Rob

[ColinBarber]

Probably the ballast but could be the bulb - swap them over to see if the fault moves with the bulb or stays put.

[GS450hSE]

5 hours ago, ColinBarber said:

Probably the ballast but could be the bulb - swap them over to see if the fault moves with the bulb or stays put.

Probably wise for Robertdt's Integra.

My original post stated:

[quote]Changing bulb fixes nothing.[/quote]

so this possibility for my GS450h problem has already been eliminated.

Re the earthing point suggestion, anyone knows where the relevant point is located? Is it near the offside lamp that's misbehaving? Is it the same point used for anything else?

[ColinBarber]

1 hour ago, GS450hSE said:

so this possibility for my GS450h problem has already been eliminated.

Apologies. I didn't read properly, although the white writing over the picture makes it difficult to read so I did only skimmed over it.

Try swapping the ballasts - it's the same part code on each side so the fault should move if it is that.

I doubt it is an earth point if the fault is that intermittent. Does your car have standard halogen high beams, with only dipped HIDs? If so, does the high beam still work when the HID goes off? The high beam circuit will use a different relay and fuse but the ground connection will be on the same body connection as the HID.

[GS450hSE]

On 9/25/2024 at 9:35 PM, ColinBarber said:

Try swapping the ballasts - it's the same part code on each side so the fault should move if it is that.

I doubt it is an earth point if the fault is that intermittent. Does your car have standard halogen high beams, with only dipped HIDs? If so, does the high beam still work when the HID goes off? The high beam circuit will use a different relay and fuse but the ground connection will be on the same body connection as the HID.

Hi, thanks, swapping the ballasts was my intention. If the problem also swaps around, we've nailed it!  (I'm travelling far from home and this will wait until I'm back).

Yes, the car has standard halogen high beams, everything is as per original spec. And ye, the high beam still works when the HID gets moody and goes off, which must eliminate the possibility it is a faulty ground connection.