headlight Low beam stop working sometimes, is it the bulb or the ballast?
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Driver School Candidate
Joined: Mar 2015
Posts: 7
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From: CA
headlight Low beam stop working sometimes, is it the bulb or the ballast?
The low beam on right side of our 2002 LS430 would only light up occasionally these days, when it doesn't light up, the bulb will have a very faint orange glow, instead of being completely dark.
When it does light up, it could fail to light up again if I switch the light off and turn it on again.
I replaced both low beam bulbs a few months ago for this problem, it worked for a while then problem came back again.
I read somewhere that those HID bulbs usually don't go bad, they dime over time to a point that needs replacement.
Also the fact the bulb works sometimes suggest the ballast is bad and not able to ignite the bulb properly.
Anyone can confirm whether this symptom shows the ballast is bad or is it the bulb gone bad again?
Also, if it's the ballast, is there a guide on how to replace it?
When it does light up, it could fail to light up again if I switch the light off and turn it on again.
I replaced both low beam bulbs a few months ago for this problem, it worked for a while then problem came back again.
I read somewhere that those HID bulbs usually don't go bad, they dime over time to a point that needs replacement.
Also the fact the bulb works sometimes suggest the ballast is bad and not able to ignite the bulb properly.
Anyone can confirm whether this symptom shows the ballast is bad or is it the bulb gone bad again?
Also, if it's the ballast, is there a guide on how to replace it?
Thread Starter
Driver School Candidate
Joined: Mar 2015
Posts: 7
Likes: 0
From: CA
Reply myself after doing some more research:
Replacing ballast seems easy if I take out the whole headlight assembly, and lucky me has a 2002, which doesn't need to take off bumper to do that.
Found a video here:
https://www.clublexus.com/forums/ls-...l#post10125982
2004 and later would need to loosen the bumper to get access to another bolt:
https://www.clublexus.com/forums/ls-...l#post10237345
Still could use some suggestion on whether my ballast is bad though.
Replacing ballast seems easy if I take out the whole headlight assembly, and lucky me has a 2002, which doesn't need to take off bumper to do that.
Found a video here:
https://www.clublexus.com/forums/ls-...l#post10125982
2004 and later would need to loosen the bumper to get access to another bolt:
https://www.clublexus.com/forums/ls-...l#post10237345
Still could use some suggestion on whether my ballast is bad though.
Advanced
Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 566
Likes: 26
From: MD
sorry i can't help you in figuring out what's wrong. i replaced my ballast on my car after replacing the HID bulb and finding it still didn't work. on the 04 & up style, removing the ballast was a nightmare. in a compartment under the headlight & the cable fishes up through the headlight assembly to hook to the bulb. took forever getting it from the bottom to the back of the bulb.
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Lexasaurus
IS - 2nd Gen (2006-2013)
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Jun 26, 2009 10:28 AM
