One of my stock HID bulbs went out (passenger) and im wondering what to do next. Ive checked the fuses and relays and they work fine. To remove the bulb is no picnic and im gonna have to remove the DRL/ water bottle and the battery just so i can switch the bulbs to check if thats the actual problem. The thing is could this be the HID unit? because my bulb just died randomly one day and didnt fade out or change colours. It would just help to know before I remove anything and dont have a bulb nor a HID unit to replace the non-functioning one. Thanks for the help guys.

 

First, try the other bulb with the side that is burned out. Second look at the bulb and check to see if there is a black spot in the middle. If your going to replace bulbs I suggest replacing them in pairs.

 

+1

Honestly, though, it is time to replace the bulbs anyway. The bulbs lose output over time. A 1,000 hour bulb has 70% of the output of a brand new bulb, a 2,000 hour bulb has 50% of the output of a brand new bulb, a 3,000 hour bulb is even less.

At 7-8 years on stock bulbs, they are probably much dimmer than they were originally, although it has happened so slowly you may not have noticed.

If I were you, I'd just go on ebay and order a brand new pair of Philips 85126 bulbs for like $60-70 (not a junkyard pullout from an old car with unknown hours).

If the bulb IS the issue, and you have new bulbs on hand, then you can replace it in one shot. If that's not an issue, you needed new bulbs anyway. The other likely culprit is a faulty ballast or igniter. No easy way I know of to check it while it's on the car either.

 

I got some bulbs for sale btw. PM me if interested.

 

Replace them in pairs

 

This is the best advice. just buy a pair of OEMs off ebay for about $70 and just swap them.

I had the same issue you did. One just randomly died.

 

DDM Tuning - just got mine for $25 shipped.

Here.

 

When it comes to HID bulbs you get what you pay for. just spend the 70 to get the good ones. if you do get the philips they tend to be barley white so maybe get 6k for a more white look like the stock ones.

also a good way to see if your Balast is out is put your working bulb in the non working side and if it lights up then you need bulbs....

 

just out of curiousity, can you use a dual HID bulb with a single mode ballast?

I have no high beams from previous owners HID install, it look like he used a single beam bulb.

I was going to replace the bulbs and balasts but i could find any information as to whether you can use a single mode ballast with a dual light bulb..


any help?

 

hows the quality on those anyway? i've always gotten Ebay bulbs.

 

When one of mine died got mine from HIDextra.com for 32bucks great quality and got the 8000k which look way better than the OEM and not to bright to blind people like WTF!!

 

The Philips ARE the stock ones. Stock = 4300k. Philips = 4300k.

 

Yes You can, but you will need a relay.. the dual beam bulbs work a alot better than the single beams, way more light output.

 

can you elaborate more on this? Would i need a relay on the OEM connector side or the ballast-to-HID bulb side?

 

I know I was just shocked that the stock ones that I had in there were much whiter than the new philips ones but I guess now that I think about it they have gotten whiter over time.

 

Yeah... as they age, they get a little whiter. It has to do with the shape of the electrodes. When they wear down from use, they put more blue light, so the bulbs "colorshift" to an appearance closer to 5000k, although they are still originally 4300k bulbs.

That's what the + in the model number refers to. Philips 85126 bulbs colorshift to a slightly more bluish hue. Philips 85126+ bulbs remain 4300k because they have a different electrode design.

 

This has got to be one of the worste "you get what you paid for" line yet... I've bought two ebay brand 8000K HID bulb off ebay and they have been going on a year plus.... I just ordered a kit from DDM tuning also and they are a reputable site... don't use that line as defense, please... you just wasted money cause u didn't know of such deal, just admit it... HID's are so common now a days, they are all made the same man...

 

the relay runs from both headlights, to a ground, and then to the battery, it also comes with two fuses as well and you will need both ur ballast..
here is what it looks like:

http://www.sonicelectronix.com/item_...mpaign=froogle

 

awsome , so if i buy this kit plus dual beam HID bulbs i should be golden?


i also think its the reason why my HI beam indicator is on my gauge when my lights are on...

 

yepp i had this setup on mine back when i had stock headlights..works great..