TiredToyotaDrvr

98+ JDM Integra HID headlights... OEM ballast. The driver's side low beam HID works flawlessly. Passenger's side is erratic.

I let the car sit for about a month. Went to get it from where I store it and the headlight isnt acting right. It's totally random, there doesn't seem to be any pattern. It's flickering like it is trying to heat up and glow but cant. Sometimes it comes and on stays on, other times it blinks, other times it stays on for a while, then blinks, then stays on steadily again. Short? Bad Ballast?

Haven't really dug into anything yet, just wanted to see if anyone knows of a common failure or pattern in these.

Worse-case scenario, I'll pick up a 55w kit from retro-solutions.com... but if theres an easier fix, I'm all ears. Not too stoked about having to trash my OEM ballast (if it's bad)... but that'll have to do if necessary.

Thanks, all...

Fabrik8

Sounds like a bad ballast or bad wiring connection. If the ballasts are modular, try swapping ballasts from one side to the other and see if the problem tracks the ballast.

TiredToyotaDrvr

Will do... not sure if they're modular or not. The mounting may not be, but the wiring harnesses should be the same on either side.

Cant get to the shop until the weekend... was hoping to have a nice, enjoyable week of driving...

Laserjock

ahem, it would be easier to swap bulbs 1st, no?

TiredToyotaDrvr

Its my understanding that HID bulbs are either good or not... nothing in between... so the fact that it's flashing and stays on sometimes eliminates the possibility of a bad bulb...

correct me if im wrong.

twinturbomeow

ballast or wiring

TiredToyotaDrvr

But not the bulb?

LeetPIE

its not the bulb. it sounds like a connection issue. Mine were doing that and i just had to remount them because every bump would cause it to go on or off. If thats not it.. then it's the ballast.

BuddyClubCivic

My headlight switch is going bad in my civic and causes the same thing. I have to play with the switch to find the sweet spot and then it works fine.

Fabrik8

Your headlight switch is going bad and it's only affecting one of the two headlights?