02 Q45 HID Ballast Question - Suggestions Please

[dvorkink]

My 02 Q45 has been having issues with the passenger low beam HID light not working. At first it would flicker. Now it just doesn't turn on unless I am driving for more than 10-15 minutes. The longer I drive the car if I turn the headlights on and off while waiting a few seconds before turning them on again the passenger light will fire up occasionally. Sometimes like tonight it stays on for an entire trip (30 minutes after lighting) other times it will die again after staying on for a minute or two.

I have checked all the fuses and they are working fine.

I tried replacing the bulb and that didn't do anything.

I now have a new bulb in the driver side and the fully functioning bulb from the driver side in the passenger side. The passenger side HID light does not have the aluminum jacket surrounding the connector that hooks on to the back of the bulb while the driver side does. Could that make a difference?

Based on these symptoms is it the ballast that needs to be replaced or could it be something else? Is there some simple test or tests I can run to definitively determine the issue?

It just seems quite odd to me that the light works once the car has been running for a while but never when the car is just started up. Could it be the amount of current getting to the light?

Please let me know your thoughts. Thanks.

[dvorkink]

Does anyone have any suggestions/tests/steps to ensure the ballast is the problem?

I took out both headlight assemblies last weekend and tested the bulbs (installed new ones) and tested the fuses. Fuses and bulbs work fine.

Its something in the wiring/electrical system of the passenger side HID system/headlight assembly. All of the other passenger side headlight assembly lights work except for the HID light. I am confused because the HID light works occasionally when the car has been running for a while.

Does it have to be the ballast or can it be something else? Short of installing a new ballast is there any way to isolate the ballast as the issue? I just don't want to spend the money for another ballast without knowing that is the problem.

Please, Please, Please let me know your thoughts. Thanks.

P.S. I have already read all previous posts and threads about this issue. Thanks.

[fairplay]

Identical problems. Had my Infiniti dealer change out the:

bulb = no changeballast = no change

worked ok for a week and back to the same situation.

He is going to check out "grounding" on the circuit.Bought my ballast from http://tinyurl.com/ybvr2aqEbay brand new for $59.00 vs dealer prices. Got to mention e-bay to get that price otherwise $123.00 shipped. http://stores.ebay.com/Wholesa...Store

Will be taking car in on Wednesday. Will post my results. My 2002 Q45 has 115,000 miles and still drives like new. I would say this is my first problem.

[fairplay]

Oh! My faulty HID is on the driver's side.

[dvorkink]

Thanks for the response.

Did you replace your factory ballast with the aftermarket one you linked?

Thanks.

[dvorkink]

Has anyone else experienced HID issues that were not resolved by replacing the bulb or ballast?

Thanks.

[Q451990]

This thread has a video that might be helpful.

zerothread?id=354586

[dvorkink]

Thanks for the link.

That is the video I used as a how to guide to replace the bulbs and check all of the fuses last weekend.

Based on our conversation it seems like the only way for me to effectively check the ballast is to swap out the ballast from the functioning HID light to the non functioning side and if replacing the ballast makes the HID function properly again you have proved the ballast is the issue. If not its something else. I wish I had enough time to do that last weekend when I had both light assemblies pulled out.

Thanks again.

[fairplay]

Yes I did. cost me 59.00 for the part and 75 to install it.

[LethalQ]

I had the same issue with my HID's on my 2002 Q and one day they just started working again (still going strong 10 months later) after I tried the same thing you did with the new bulbs. I have spoken to the dealer about it and they seem to think its the headlight module (not ballasts).

[dvorkink]

Spent 5 hours today taking out both headlight assemblies.

I purchased an OEM ballast from another nicoclub member (thanks Mike). The plastic piece which connects directly to the bulb was slightly damaged during shipping. I glued the connector together again and secured it in place with some electrical tape. I then removed the old ballast (not easy as the connector is a tight fit through the headlight assembly and it took 20 + minutes to force through). Then I took the new connector and guided it through the assembly. I then connected it all back together including connecting it to the car power source and flipped the switch = nothing. The light didn't come on.

I then removed the driver side assembly and connected it to the passenger side. It lit up perfectly. That eliminated the fuses and the wires to the headlight assembly as the issue. I then got a voltage tester and checked the wire that connected to the ballast on the passenger headlight assembly when connected to the car. It tested fine. Power was getting to the ballast. I was stumped since the ballast had been tested before it was shipped to me.

I then decided to try one more thing before giving up and either heading to an auto electric shop or the dealer. I took the undamaged connector off of my old ballast, removed the glued and taped together connector from the new ballast and put it all back together for one last try.

It worked. What a pain in the butt. If the connector hadn't been damaged in shipping my day would have gone a whole lot smoother.

Thanks for all of the help.

[Q451990]

Glad to hear you got it fixed!

Heath

[jamm220]

Spent 5 hours today taking out both headlight assemblies.

I purchased an OEM ballast from another nicoclub member (thanks Mike). The plastic piece which connects directly to the bulb was slightly damaged during shipping. I glued the connector together again and secured it in place with some electrical tape. I then removed the old ballast (not easy as the connector is a tight fit through the headlight assembly and it took 20 + minutes to force through). Then I took the new connector and guided it through the assembly. I then connected it all back together including connecting it to the car power source and flipped the switch = nothing. The light didn't come on.

I then removed the driver side assembly and connected it to the passenger side. It lit up perfectly. That eliminated the fuses and the wires to the headlight assembly as the issue. I then got a voltage tester and checked the wire that connected to the ballast on the passenger headlight assembly when connected to the car. It tested fine. Power was getting to the ballast. I was stumped since the ballast had been tested before it was shipped to me.

I then decided to try one more thing before giving up and either heading to an auto electric shop or the dealer. I took the undamaged connector off of my old ballast, removed the glued and taped together connector from the new ballast and put it all back together for one last try.

It worked. What a pain in the butt. If the connector hadn't been damaged in shipping my day would have gone a whole lot smoother.

Thanks for all of the help.

no problem man glad it all worked out

[MichelG]

I am having the same issue. Discovered front right low beam is out. High beam still works. Nissan dealer says it is an electrical ballast issue which will cost about $2600 to fix!!! That sounds insane. I'm calling around to other dealers/independent shops to figure this out. Any final thoughts?

[maxnix]

I am having the same issue. Discovered front right low beam is out. High beam still works. Nissan dealer says it is an electrical ballast issue which will cost about $2600 to fix!!! That sounds insane. I'm calling around to other dealers/independent shops to figure this out. Any final thoughts?

Do it yourself and read your trunk!

[qship96]

I am beginning to learn to like the simplicity of old fashioned halogen bulbs and their cheap $20-30 price!!!! Simple bulb and 2 wires complete the circuit!!!!

[fairplay]

This is where I got my Ballast:http://www.hidxenonlights.com/

Their prices from e-bay is 59.00 USDFrom their website it is about 100USDJust tell them you saw their sales on e-bay and they will honor the price.