Headlight issue and possible replacement.
Thread Starter
Audiworld Junior Member
Joined: Feb 2013
Posts: 19
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Headlight issue and possible replacement.
Hey everybody, I am driving a 2007 A8, and it has an issue with the passenger side headlight going out. About 50% of the time the bulb will work fine, and then after I start the car back up the headlight will be out. I would really hate to take the whole damn headlight out, and replace the bulb, just to find out that the bulb is not the issue. Anybody have that problem, and if so how much of a pain in the *** is it to take that headlight out to get to the bulb? Thanks for any info.
AudiWorld Senior Member
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 1,937
Likes: 42
From: Kansas City
you dont have to remove headlight housing...
Hey everybody, I am driving a 2007 A8, and it has an issue with the passenger side headlight going out. About 50% of the time the bulb will work fine, and then after I start the car back up the headlight will be out. I would really hate to take the whole damn headlight out, and replace the bulb, just to find out that the bulb is not the issue. Anybody have that problem, and if so how much of a pain in the *** is it to take that headlight out to get to the bulb? Thanks for any info.
AudiWorld Super User
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 2,381
Likes: 61
From: Atlanta, GA
You need to check to see if the igniter/ballast is working. This is a two person operation. Turn the lights on and the other person should see a spark and the headlights come on. If it sparks and the headlight does not come on, then it's a bulb. If it's a bulb, you need to do both sides. An HID bulb is like a spark plug. The gap increases as the bulb wears so if one is going bad, the other is soon to follow. Also if you only replace one, they will be different colors/temp.
If there is no spark when you first turn on the light, it's the igniter or ballast.
If there is no spark when you first turn on the light, it's the igniter or ballast.
AudiWorld Senior Member
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 1,937
Likes: 42
From: Kansas City
Not so sure...
You need to check to see if the igniter/ballast is working. This is a two person operation. Turn the lights on and the other person should see a spark and the headlights come on. If it sparks and the headlight does not come on, then it's a bulb. If it's a bulb, you need to do both sides. An HID bulb is like a spark plug. The gap increases as the bulb wears so if one is going bad, the other is soon to follow. Also if you only replace one, they will be different colors/temp.
If there is no spark when you first turn on the light, it's the igniter or ballast.
If there is no spark when you first turn on the light, it's the igniter or ballast.
AudiWorld Super User
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 2,381
Likes: 61
From: Atlanta, GA
I just went through the headlight quit sceario last week. You sugested to look for the spark and I looked but there wasnt one (cupped hands on lens, eye up against cupped hands). Changed out bulb anyway and headlight works. So evidently the spark test is not a surfire indicator as to whether its the igniter or bulb.
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