2001 Infiniti QX4 Low Beams Not Working

[Fosty]

I posted this in another section before finding this QX4 forum, so I'm sorry about the repost.

I recently bought a QX4 from a dude on Craigslist the other day and like an idiot I forgot to check a few things.
One of those was the headlights.

So when I turn the headlights on, I get a flicker from the right one (from my point of view) and the left one does nothing.
Sometimes the right one stays on for a moment but if I wiggle the headlight switch just a little it will turn off.

My high beams work fine, and the fog lights.

Here's what's going on:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UGajfhw ... e=youtu.be

[AlanAZ]

First thing. Need to determine if it's xenons or regular halogens, because it could be this: HID headlight flickers, then nothing...

[AlanAZ]

From this thread, it appears that all the QX4 use HID. So far, the Philips bulb I bought off Ebay (as described in this thread) has lasted well -- my GF runs the headlights during the day as DRLs.

[Fosty]

I checked fuses and switched the headlight relays around and the same thing is happening.
I feel like if it isn't the bulbs, then it's the wiring because the one that flickers will hold on for a while if I hold the headlight switch in the right place.

I guess I'll spend the next couple days trying to figure out how to change the bulbs first.

[EdBwoy]

I think you have a bad headlight switch.

However, for the sake of thoroughness, I would switch the headlight bulbs themselves first, left to right.

• If the flicker stays with the bulb that is now on the left, possibly a bulb situation
• If the flicker stays at the right side, possibly a circuit situation, hence my suspicion of the headlamp stalk

I posted this in another section before finding this QX4 forum, so I'm sorry about the repost.
...

No worries, it's handled. Welcome to NICOclub

[Fosty]

However, for the sake of thoroughness, I would switch the headlight bulbs themselves first, left to right.

I'm trying but it's driving me nuts. There's so many wires and there doesn't seem to be an easy way to disconnect them. I managed to pull the bulb back enough for me to see it but the wires prevented me from doing much more.

I'm going to try again tomorrow.

[AlanAZ]

Are you removing the airbox and battery? Difficult to do without that.

[Fosty]

I ended up just taking the whole light out of the car and I gained access to it but the bulb is still hard to get out.
Anyway I managed to swap the bulbs and now neither of them work.

So I either broke the bulbs or the wiring is busted.

I think I should just take it to a mechanic.

EDIT:
BREAKTHROUGH!

So I went back out because one of the fuses is 15a when they are both supposed to be 20. So I grabbed a 20 and put it in and now the passenger side works (but it starts out blue then turns yellow). However, the drivers side bulb doesn't do anything.

So it seems that everything is fine on the passenger side now, and I guess the bulb in the drivers side, and the wiring or whatever is bad too.
I guess I'll need to buy new bulbs, but I need to figure out why the good bulb wasn't working in the drivers side.

This also means that my combination switch is fine.


So to sum up what I've got so far:
No blown fuses (one is 15a but I'll get a 20 later)
Relays are good (switched them and no difference)
Combination switch good
Passenger bulb (former driver bulb) is good.
Wires under the hood are good from what I've seen (but I know nothing about cars)

Could it be the drivers side ballast?

[Fosty]

Problem solved.
It was a bad ballast which I replaced.