micouremo

I have a 2006 GS 430.

Absolutely love the car, however I do have a new issue with my headlights.
Pretty much every time I drive at night, the headlights will both come on and then one will go off at some point. They almost always both come on, and then usually the left will go out while driving.
It doesn't happen necessarily immediately. Sometimes 2-3 minutes later, sometimes 20 min, sometimes they work fine.

I took it to a local shop and they said the whole assembly needs to be replaced on each side. (Parts alone $1200/each side) and apparently the bumper needs to come off. Seems a little ridiculous to me.

Is this as simple as the headlights just going out? or a ballast issue?
If headlights, obviously I can pop out a headlight pretty easily.
If ballast, how hard is that to change out?

Thanks for all the help

BinaryJay

Just change the bulbs. Then search the forum, this has been covered a million times.

worker

^ feels more like 3 million times.. I lost count.

rominl

iTrader: (4)

likely it's the bulb, but to be sure swap the bulb left and right and see. and it's cheap to find philips oem bulbs on ebay. just get a pair

IXI187IXI

iTrader: (3)

agreed more than likely the bulb but if you do need to replace the ballast, then yes the bumper does have to come off.

worker

do u guys feel that these HID bulbs don't last as long as the halogen bulbs? My old Camry bulb seem to run for years and years that I forgot all about the bulb.

rominl

iTrader: (4)

hard to say but i think 3-4 yrs seem normal for hid bulbs, though mine have lasted longer so far. at least they have far better output

worker

^ I feel like I change my HID almost yearly. I remember my old halogen lasted almost 8 years.

gs430sam

i have same problem may try tomorrow to swap the bulbs but is been a 7 years ,i don't know it need to change a new ballast or not ?
How long the ballast it need to replace ??

MX5

Sounds like a new bulb is the most cost effective first shot at fixing it.

LATINA2001

I have the same exact problem with my IS and new (used) Gs 350 . It quite frustrating !

IXI187IXI

iTrader: (3)

its not the ballast. its your bulbs

LexG

Definitely bulb, I had same exact issue about a year ago. I replaced bulbs and it has been fine ever since.

C-SupraTT

Same here. I bought a pair of Garax brand bulbs and couldn't be happier, great price and well made (from Japan). Ballasts going bad is very rare.

Ice350

iTrader: (1)

My wife's 06 had the left bulb stop working about a year ago.
I replaced both bulbs and it seemed fine until now.
The left bulb is out again. Plus, the running lights go off when you turn the headlight on.
Now, at night the only illumination is the one right side headlight.

The other night a car was approching me from behind and all I could see was one light.
I immediately thought, hey that car is behaving just like ours.
As it passed me I saw it was a GS300.

With the running light issue plus the second time the left headlight went out, I bought a ballast off ebay. I was gonna get it installed tomorrow. But now you guys are saying it's just the headlight.

Should I go ahead and change the ballast?
Might as well since I have it.