Another Headlight Question
Thread Starter
Driver School Candidate
Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 31
Likes: 0
From: OH
Another Headlight Question
Hi All,
Asking forgiveness in advance because I see there are already quite a few headlight questions out here...
I have had my '06 GS300 for about 3 weeks now (I picked it up over Thanksgiving). When I drove into work the other day the building guard told me my passenger side headlight wasn't 'bright' and appeared to be flickering. I had no dummy lights on the instrument panel indicating anything was wrong as far as a light being out. When I drove home that day I parked, turned the headlights on and walked over to the passenger side - the light appeared to be out.
So I start searching Lexus forums about how to install a new light bulb and find out there are all kinds of headlight questions, and a new word, "ballast", keeps cropping up.
My questions are: 1) how do I know if mine is a ballast problem or a headlight problem? I am surprised I didn't get a dummy light either way.
2) if headlight problem, is there anything showing how to change the bulb?
3) if headlight, should I just change both so the color/intensity will be the same?
4) headlight recommendations?
Thanks VERY MUCH in advance for the help!! I am also glad I found this forum - it appears to be very active!
Leigh Anne
'06 GS300
'95 Mitsu 3000GT
'77 MB 450SL
Asking forgiveness in advance because I see there are already quite a few headlight questions out here...
I have had my '06 GS300 for about 3 weeks now (I picked it up over Thanksgiving). When I drove into work the other day the building guard told me my passenger side headlight wasn't 'bright' and appeared to be flickering. I had no dummy lights on the instrument panel indicating anything was wrong as far as a light being out. When I drove home that day I parked, turned the headlights on and walked over to the passenger side - the light appeared to be out.
So I start searching Lexus forums about how to install a new light bulb and find out there are all kinds of headlight questions, and a new word, "ballast", keeps cropping up.
My questions are: 1) how do I know if mine is a ballast problem or a headlight problem? I am surprised I didn't get a dummy light either way.
2) if headlight problem, is there anything showing how to change the bulb?
3) if headlight, should I just change both so the color/intensity will be the same?
4) headlight recommendations?
Thanks VERY MUCH in advance for the help!! I am also glad I found this forum - it appears to be very active!
Leigh Anne
'06 GS300
'95 Mitsu 3000GT
'77 MB 450SL
Lexus Test Driver
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 987
Likes: 1
From: FL
Hi All,
Asking forgiveness in advance because I see there are already quite a few headlight questions out here...
I have had my '06 GS300 for about 3 weeks now (I picked it up over Thanksgiving). When I drove into work the other day the building guard told me my passenger side headlight wasn't 'bright' and appeared to be flickering. I had no dummy lights on the instrument panel indicating anything was wrong as far as a light being out. When I drove home that day I parked, turned the headlights on and walked over to the passenger side - the light appeared to be out.
So I start searching Lexus forums about how to install a new light bulb and find out there are all kinds of headlight questions, and a new word, "ballast", keeps cropping up.
My questions are: 1) how do I know if mine is a ballast problem or a headlight problem? I am surprised I didn't get a dummy light either way.
2) if headlight problem, is there anything showing how to change the bulb?
3) if headlight, should I just change both so the color/intensity will be the same?
4) headlight recommendations?
Thanks VERY MUCH in advance for the help!! I am also glad I found this forum - it appears to be very active!
Leigh Anne
'06 GS300
'95 Mitsu 3000GT
'77 MB 450SL
Asking forgiveness in advance because I see there are already quite a few headlight questions out here...
I have had my '06 GS300 for about 3 weeks now (I picked it up over Thanksgiving). When I drove into work the other day the building guard told me my passenger side headlight wasn't 'bright' and appeared to be flickering. I had no dummy lights on the instrument panel indicating anything was wrong as far as a light being out. When I drove home that day I parked, turned the headlights on and walked over to the passenger side - the light appeared to be out.
So I start searching Lexus forums about how to install a new light bulb and find out there are all kinds of headlight questions, and a new word, "ballast", keeps cropping up.
My questions are: 1) how do I know if mine is a ballast problem or a headlight problem? I am surprised I didn't get a dummy light either way.
2) if headlight problem, is there anything showing how to change the bulb?
3) if headlight, should I just change both so the color/intensity will be the same?
4) headlight recommendations?
Thanks VERY MUCH in advance for the help!! I am also glad I found this forum - it appears to be very active!
Leigh Anne
'06 GS300
'95 Mitsu 3000GT
'77 MB 450SL
Most people change bulbs at the same time. Though I must admit, on my beater BMW, I didn't since I just don't care about the car like my Lexuses
.
1) there is no light to tell you that a bulb is bad. im 99.9% sure its just the headlight bulb going out. to tell this, swap the bulbs to the opposite side. if the problem still happens but on the other headlight, then its the bulb
2) the FAQ has the majority of these already answered. I know your new so i'll be easy on you lol but check out the FAQ section when you have some time. Changing Bulb
3) yes i would recommend changing both at the same time because the other may go out in a few months. now would be a good time to upgrade to something you want since the dealer will charge you about 100 per bulb. if you want the oem 4300k bulbs, i have a used set for sale
4) headlight recommendations as far as new bulbs? A lot of people like the Garax 6000k bulbs. i had them in my GS and liked them. They are a bit whiter in color than the stock 4300k.
2) the FAQ has the majority of these already answered. I know your new so i'll be easy on you lol but check out the FAQ section when you have some time. Changing Bulb
3) yes i would recommend changing both at the same time because the other may go out in a few months. now would be a good time to upgrade to something you want since the dealer will charge you about 100 per bulb. if you want the oem 4300k bulbs, i have a used set for sale
4) headlight recommendations as far as new bulbs? A lot of people like the Garax 6000k bulbs. i had them in my GS and liked them. They are a bit whiter in color than the stock 4300k.
Thread Starter
Driver School Candidate
Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 31
Likes: 0
From: OH
Thanks everyone for the fast response - and thanks also for not berating me for not checking FAQs - I signed up while taking lunch and didn't have a lot of time to completely check out the site.
In regards to the headlight suggestion, a quick eBay check came back with aforementioned Garax 6000k lights but also had a designation of D2S D2R beside it - are these okay?
Thanks again!!
Leigh Anne
'06 GS300
'95 Mitsu 3000GT Spyder
'77 MB 450SL
In regards to the headlight suggestion, a quick eBay check came back with aforementioned Garax 6000k lights but also had a designation of D2S D2R beside it - are these okay?
Thanks again!!
Leigh Anne
'06 GS300
'95 Mitsu 3000GT Spyder
'77 MB 450SL
Lexus Test Driver
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 1,084
Likes: 2
From: North Carolina
I believe the D2S and D2R are two different bulbs with subtle differences at the base. You'll need to make sure you get the right one to fit your vehicle. I am not sure, but I think your car takes a D4R or D4S. Someone correct me if I am wrong.
Last edited by moose66; Dec 14, 2011 at 02:17 PM. Reason: Text Edit
Thread Starter
Driver School Candidate
Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 31
Likes: 0
From: OH
Thanks IXI187IXI - I was wondering what the # was in reference to. I got a pair of the Garax 6000k off of eBay last night - the PROPER ones.
Leigh Anne
'06 GS300
'95 Mitsu 3000GT Spyder
'77 MB 450SL
Leigh Anne
'06 GS300
'95 Mitsu 3000GT Spyder
'77 MB 450SL
Trending Topics
you'll like them. i had mine in for a few weeks prior to selling my car and i loved them compared to the oem bulbs. now that you changed your headlight bulb, you're gonna want to change the other bulbs to match in color lol
fyi when changing the bulb. make sure you pay attention to tabs on the bulb when you pull out the stock one so you can install the garax bulb. i just pulled out my drivers side one and forgot to look. took me almost 30 minutes to put the new one in because i couldnt get the other side of the spring clip to clip in. passenger side took 1 minute lol.
fyi when changing the bulb. make sure you pay attention to tabs on the bulb when you pull out the stock one so you can install the garax bulb. i just pulled out my drivers side one and forgot to look. took me almost 30 minutes to put the new one in because i couldnt get the other side of the spring clip to clip in. passenger side took 1 minute lol.
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you can do that. check out HIDXtra, or any of the lighting vendors in the marketplace. you can get a HID replacement kit for roughly 50 or 60 bucks for your high beams and the same for fog lights. 6000k is a pretty standard output temp. you can also check out something like PIAA for direct replacement bulbs in the same temp, if you do not want to go the HID route. VLED will have anything you need for your parking light replacement needs, and you can also get them in 6000k. keep in mind that the DRL (daytime running lights) are our high beams running on low wattage. if you get a HID kit, the light may filcker due to the ballast trying to kick on. your dealer can turn these off. if you use the PIAA's, then the color may not be correct until the high beams are used, due to the low wattage. hopefully i did not confuse.
welcome, and good luck.
lights are always the first thing i do on a new car, as they have the most direct impact on daily driving for me....
here is a pic of 6000k lows, fogs, and parking lights. the one pic of both color temps (stock and 6000k) is of the high beam. all are HID, except for the parking light which is LED.
welcome, and good luck.
lights are always the first thing i do on a new car, as they have the most direct impact on daily driving for me....
here is a pic of 6000k lows, fogs, and parking lights. the one pic of both color temps (stock and 6000k) is of the high beam. all are HID, except for the parking light which is LED.
Last edited by ryan78; Dec 15, 2011 at 08:34 AM. Reason: pictures
Thread Starter
Driver School Candidate
Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 31
Likes: 0
From: OH
Seriously - I love this forum! Thanks SO much for all the information guys - it is very appreciated. I will mostly likely wait until after Christmas to tackle the rest of the lights. I like the pic, Ryan78 - looks good!
Leigh Anne
'06 GS300
'95 Mitsu 3000GT Spyder
'77 MB 450SL
Leigh Anne
'06 GS300
'95 Mitsu 3000GT Spyder
'77 MB 450SL
