HID replacement bulb issues
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Pole Position
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 244
Likes: 1
From: WA
HID replacement bulb issues
So I put in new D2R 6000k bulbs I bought to replace my old stock 4300k in my '98 GS and last night when I went to drive it seems like all the light is pointing up toward the trees.....and not much makes it to the ground. This is great if I'm ever looking to spy on the neighborhood birds but not so good for night time driving. 
In fact, when I was driving on the highway the cars next to me w/stock halogen lights were brighter than me!! Just for fun I found that I can sit in the driver seat with a flashlight and have more light hit the ground than the headlight!
It was a relatively easy install (5 mins) and I didn't touch anything other than removing the covers to get to the bulbs. Is it possible that I some how put the bulbs in upside down? Because when I turn on the headlights and look directly at them there is absolutely NO light coming out of the bottom 1/2 of the headlight. Do I just need to rotate the bulbs to get the light to aim properly?
The D2R bulbs have a kind of shield around part of them and I'm wondering if I have the bulb shield facing the wrong direction.
Thanks for any suggestions...
In fact, when I was driving on the highway the cars next to me w/stock halogen lights were brighter than me!! Just for fun I found that I can sit in the driver seat with a flashlight and have more light hit the ground than the headlight!It was a relatively easy install (5 mins) and I didn't touch anything other than removing the covers to get to the bulbs. Is it possible that I some how put the bulbs in upside down? Because when I turn on the headlights and look directly at them there is absolutely NO light coming out of the bottom 1/2 of the headlight. Do I just need to rotate the bulbs to get the light to aim properly?
The D2R bulbs have a kind of shield around part of them and I'm wondering if I have the bulb shield facing the wrong direction.
Thanks for any suggestions...
Just make sure that the grooves on the base of the bulb are fitted correctly, it should be snugged and wouldn't be able to rotate anymore. Typically when you change a bulb, you make sure the lights are still aligned because not all bulbs are the same. If everything seems fine with the bulb in its place, just adjust your lights manually.
Thread Starter
Pole Position
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 244
Likes: 1
From: WA
^^^^Okay thank you. I thought the bulbs only fit one way and that you'd know that when they'd fit snuggly (which they do right now). I think I'm going to take everything apart again and just see if maybe I've put the bulbs in upside down...it's a quick way to find out!
Thread Starter
Pole Position
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 244
Likes: 1
From: WA
well, I played around w/the bulb placement and nothing changes....there is still no light coming out of the bottom 1/2 of the headlight and is still lighting up the trees. It's not dark yet so I can't tell for certain but it looks no different than before I started playing around with them this morning.
On another note, I was looking at my leveler for the auto-leveling motors and neither one of them is at "0". Does that seem right?? I've never paid attention to them before so I don't know what they were reading before I changed bulbs, and I didn't touch anything that would've changed the setting anyway.
HELP!
On another note, I was looking at my leveler for the auto-leveling motors and neither one of them is at "0". Does that seem right?? I've never paid attention to them before so I don't know what they were reading before I changed bulbs, and I didn't touch anything that would've changed the setting anyway.
HELP!
Do you have a pic of some sort, too? When you took the old D2R bulbs out did you take note of the sheild facing down or up? I'm pretty sure it should be facing down (someone correct me if I'm wrong). I'm not too sure about the numerical settings as on the 2IS you have to count how many turns.
Thread Starter
Pole Position
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 244
Likes: 1
From: WA
I haven't been able to take any pics yet and we had more snow fall yesterday. I'll try to take pics of the bulbs and the light output and see if that can provide some insight into my problem.
Thread Starter
Pole Position
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 244
Likes: 1
From: WA
Okay, so here's the best pic I could get of the headlight showcasing the light output. I couldn't get any pics straight on b/c of the glare, but you can see the top 1/2 of the headlight is emitting all of the light and the bottom 1/2 is in a kind of "shadow" (i.e. no light hitting the road.....only the trees!).
I checked both bulbs and on both sides the "shield" is at the top of the bulb, and it seems that is the only position that the bulb fits into the headlight snugly. It's also the only position that the harness will plug into.
Also, when I'm on a flat surface the leveler is reading "0" which is what it should read I imagine. I'm currently parked on a slight incline which is why I thought my leveler wasn't reading properly!!
I found a PDF of how to level headlights so I'm prepared to make the adjustment manually if I need to, but I'm confused as to why my headlights are stuck in this position ever since I swapped out the bulbs. I didn't have this problem before and it's like my leveling motors don't work.
ANy thoughts, suggestions, or opinions????
I checked both bulbs and on both sides the "shield" is at the top of the bulb, and it seems that is the only position that the bulb fits into the headlight snugly. It's also the only position that the harness will plug into.
Also, when I'm on a flat surface the leveler is reading "0" which is what it should read I imagine. I'm currently parked on a slight incline which is why I thought my leveler wasn't reading properly!!
I found a PDF of how to level headlights so I'm prepared to make the adjustment manually if I need to, but I'm confused as to why my headlights are stuck in this position ever since I swapped out the bulbs. I didn't have this problem before and it's like my leveling motors don't work.
ANy thoughts, suggestions, or opinions????
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Hmm that seems really strange that the light would be shootin up like that. Have you tried swapping the old bulbs back in? If it shoots up like that also then you probably need to adjust your headlamps.
Thread Starter
Pole Position
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 244
Likes: 1
From: WA
I'm waiting for a break in the weather (it's dumping rain right now w/strong winds) and then I'm going to do just that....try swapping the OEM Phillips bulbs back in and see if that makes any difference. I'll update after I do that....
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terror83
ES - 1st to 6th Gen (1990-2018)
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Jan 29, 2019 02:21 PM
bulb, bulbs, d2r, facing, ga, headlights, hid, how, issue, istallation, level, red, replacement, upside
