JustJeff

Remove the headlight.
Remove the front lens.
You are all with me so far, you all know how to do this, I'm not gonna repeat it.
Set the headlight down on a table, not your dining room table.
The kitchen table will be fine.

Remove the rear cover on the Xenon/High Beam area.

Twist the Black/Red **** CCW on the Xenon.
<img src="http://mk1tt.montebellopark.com/images/twistredCCW.jpg">

Twist the ring CCW. Note the position of the tabs.
<img src="http://mk1tt.montebellopark.com/images/knoboff.jpg">

The bulb will then be loose. Also note the tabs on the bulb. It just sits in the ring.
Carefully remove the bulb and set it aside.
<img src="http://mk1tt.montebellopark.com/images/bulb.jpg">
<img src="http://mk1tt.montebellopark.com/images/twistknobCCW.jpg">

Release the spring catches on the high-beam. Remove the whole connector, set it aside.
<img src="http://mk1tt.montebellopark.com/images/headrear1.jpg">

Next, go to the top, and spin loose the headlight adjusting screws.
Use a 6mm allen head on a drill motor to turn these out.
You will need to turn them a lot.
<img src="http://mk1tt.montebellopark.com/images/headtop.jpg">

You are releasing the whole Xenon/High Beam assembly in the front of the headlight.

(Yes, this one is broken on the right here. Illustration only.)
You need to unscrew these two white "tracks" from their screws.

<img src="http://mk1tt.montebellopark.com/images/headproj2.jpg">

Once it's released, you can set it aside too.
note here the Xenon leveler motor is missing.
<img src="http://mk1tt.montebellopark.com/images/headproj1.jpg">
<img src="http://mk1tt.montebellopark.com/images/headassembly.jpg">

You have to remove the track from these posts.
<img src="http://mk1tt.montebellopark.com/images/headpost.jpg">

Now you can see the Xenon *Ignigtor*.
<img src="http://mk1tt.montebellopark.com/images/headzenonignigtor.jpg">

<img src="http://mk1tt.montebellopark.com/images/headxenonignigtor2.jpg">

Get your new *ignitor* and swap it out.

Now, I know a lot of you are calling THIS a ballast, but it's not.
This is the power supply. This converts +12VDC to some 85VAC.
<img src="http://mk1tt.montebellopark.com/images/headpowersupply.jpg">
<img src="http://mk1tt.montebellopark.com/images/headpowersupply2.jpg">

That is what drives this. It kicks up the 85VAC to a max of 2kV to drive the bulbs.
<img src="http://mk1tt.montebellopark.com/images/ignigtor.jpg">

OK, got it?

Power Supply.
<img src="http://mk1tt.montebellopark.com/images/headpowersupply.jpg">

Ignigtor
<img src="http://mk1tt.montebellopark.com/images/headxenonignigtor2.jpg">

formulanerd

ballast: a power supply or transformer that is used to obtain the necessary circuit conditions (voltage, current and wave form) for starting and operating.

JustJeff

it may be, but I like 'ignigtor' better.

sTTevo

Thanks for another great write-up. Why do these lamps need 2kV to make light?

JustJeff

To ignite a xenon bulb the ballast creates a peak voltage of around 20,000V which can be compared to generating a spark on a spark plug. As soon as the bulb is lit (after a fraction of a second) the ballast creates a voltage drop to about 85V. The igniter circuit is an integral part of most ballast types, but can be a separate unit (ballast type 1). This type of igniter is electrically positioned in between the ballast and the bulb.

Gettysburg

I wonder why the replacement is white(with a different color sealing resin)?

MaxHedrm

Seems more appropriate for the 1-2000 volt range.

MaxHedrm

Don't you mean Power Supply? :^P

mad scientist

I will keep you posted on the progress.

JustJeff

mailing it today, First Class.