HID problem - ballast burned?
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From: Sioux Falls, South Dakota
HID problem - ballast burned?
I had a leaky headlight which caused one of my low beam bulbs to burn out. I finally got my new set of bulbs (wow... expensive) today and threw them in after I resealed the lense housing and that light still doesn't come on. Now, I assume the ballast is burned unless there is another fuse or something that powers them separately? Just curious if theres anything else I should check before I take it in for service and try and get that ballast covered under warranty. Any suggestions before my battle with warranty service coverage?
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The only things I could suggest is..swapping the ballast between the headlights.
If the ballast in question works on the other side, and the working ballasts no longer works, we know its not the ballast. You can then invest the further time by tracing the wiring back and checking all fuses, etc.
But swapping the ballasts is a lot of work. Both headlights need to come out. You don't have to put them back in to test them, you can just swap them, and plug the headlight in with it sitting atop the engine or someplace else, like in the pic below.
<img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v72/chino1127/AR%20TS%20A6Q/HIDvsHalogen01.jpg">
But swapping the ballasts is a lot of work. Both headlights need to come out. You don't have to put them back in to test them, you can just swap them, and plug the headlight in with it sitting atop the engine or someplace else, like in the pic below.
<img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v72/chino1127/AR%20TS%20A6Q/HIDvsHalogen01.jpg">
Thread Starter
AudiWorld Member
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 415
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From: Sioux Falls, South Dakota
The car IS still under extended warranty however...
I have to take off the intake and a few other misc pieces before I take it in so I figured I'd check to see if there were any separate fuses I could check before doing so. Also, who knows if they will cover it since my headlights are "modded" etc (no clear corners). Oh well, I think I'll give it a shot and see if they go for it.
I'm not ambitious enough to pull the bumper off again to test the ballasts after I just pulled it off to clean that light out
I'm not ambitious enough to pull the bumper off again to test the ballasts after I just pulled it off to clean that light out
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Joined: Jul 2004
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Headlights come out without any need to pull the bumper off!!
Just three bolts, and they slide right out (with a bit of careful wiggling).
But I'd have the dealer look at it since you ahve to the warranty...let them go through the trouble to determine what it might be.
But I'd have the dealer look at it since you ahve to the warranty...let them go through the trouble to determine what it might be.
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