Mine are xenon HID. I found an online source, AutoPartsWarehouse.com. $127.59 each, but I imagine that bests Infiniti by far. Trick now is if I can DIY (or DIM, LOL).
Halogen Headlights
- Thread starter DADoES
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Remove the bumper??
OY!
Ohhh, you mean remove the bumper on *your* car.
My luck, it'll be the same......
OY!
Ohhh, you mean remove the bumper on *your* car.
My luck, it'll be the same......
The halogen non-xenon high-beam bulbs are accessible from behind, the user manual even outlines how to change them. There's a plate covering access to the xenon low-beams, which is obstructed by the battery and a bit of the fender frame on one side, and the windshield washer tank on the other side. I made an appt for Monday. I probed the service rep on whether the bumper must be pulled (he said yes) and what it'll cost (he wouldn't say) and whether both bulbs should be changed (he said not necessarily).
Other than the fact that I need to go there anyway to take care of a "check engine" emissions system situation, this is highly irritating to say the least. And likely the *last* time I'll buy a car from an out-of-town dealer.
Other than the fact that I need to go there anyway to take care of a "check engine" emissions system situation, this is highly irritating to say the least. And likely the *last* time I'll buy a car from an out-of-town dealer.
westytoploader
Well-known member
- Joined
- Sep 4, 2004
- Messages
- 4,485
Speaking of the check engine or "Service Engine Soon" light on Infinitis...since you said it was emissions-system related, I wonder if you got into some bad gas? I used my dad's car yesterday, and out of curiosity, pulled it into the shop and hooked the scan tool up to see what was going on. It was idling fine by then, but the error code readout said the problem was in the catalytic converter, and after I reset it, the shop teacher advised me to pick up some injector cleaner and add it before filling the tank up. Makes me wonder if those coil packs really needed to be replaced or not...
Do you know for a fact if the fault is the bulb or the ballast? In theory, an HID bulb should last longer than 5 years. A color shift could mean the xenon mixture has changed, or the voltage of the ballast has shifted.
Lens and reflector design is much more complicated than one might think. For example, the DOT requires a minimum cutoff angle for both beams which you can see on a dark night in the country. Your light stretches far out ahead and to the right shoulder, but not to your left. (Export lamps for the UK are ground in reverse.) Additionally, factory projector beam setups and HIDs are mounted on gyros to account for load shifts and braking. If they're in proper order oncoming drivers shouldn't be blinded. Throw a pair of xenons in H4 mounts on your Honda and now you've got a hazard.
Lens and reflector design is much more complicated than one might think. For example, the DOT requires a minimum cutoff angle for both beams which you can see on a dark night in the country. Your light stretches far out ahead and to the right shoulder, but not to your left. (Export lamps for the UK are ground in reverse.) Additionally, factory projector beam setups and HIDs are mounted on gyros to account for load shifts and braking. If they're in proper order oncoming drivers shouldn't be blinded. Throw a pair of xenons in H4 mounts on your Honda and now you've got a hazard.
Austin, I can't say for sure about gas. This situation has been ongoing for the past 1.5 years or so, as you know. I took it in for a check back at the start, they reset the fault code, said come back right away if it happens again (being as the emissions system is warranted for 7 years). The "service engine soon" light comes on, stays on for several weeks, goes off for a few days, then the cycle repeats. At the moment, however, it is off and has been off much longer than usual. Come back "right away" has turned into more than a year being as I just don't have time to be running up to I10/Dairy Ashford every week, LOL.
Bulb or ballast, I can't say about that, either. The bad bulb comes on OK for a minute or so, then the color changes. Theories typically fall flat when they run into me.
Bulb or ballast, I can't say about that, either. The bad bulb comes on OK for a minute or so, then the color changes. Theories typically fall flat when they run into me.
Makes you want to sell the car...
...before the warranty runs out. Doesn't it?
I have the Xenon headlights and they are self leveling whatever the heck that means (or maybe they all do that I don't know). When I start the car and the lights come on they start out pointing down and in a couple of seconds kind of go up and down a little. Sorry for this highly technical description but cars are not my thing. I can't imagine what would be involved in changing those!! I don't know what these are like to the oncoming drivers but I don't recall any of them swerving off the road as they approahed me so I guess they don't bother them too much.
When it comes to cars, I just want to turn the key and go. If it doesn't work I want to pick up the phone. I don't have the patience to deal with all that mess. My dealer is about 25 miles from my house so I understand your situation. It's not really that far away but just far enough to be a real pain in the ass when you need to get to work, etc.
...before the warranty runs out. Doesn't it?
I have the Xenon headlights and they are self leveling whatever the heck that means (or maybe they all do that I don't know). When I start the car and the lights come on they start out pointing down and in a couple of seconds kind of go up and down a little. Sorry for this highly technical description but cars are not my thing. I can't imagine what would be involved in changing those!! I don't know what these are like to the oncoming drivers but I don't recall any of them swerving off the road as they approahed me so I guess they don't bother them too much.
When it comes to cars, I just want to turn the key and go. If it doesn't work I want to pick up the phone. I don't have the patience to deal with all that mess. My dealer is about 25 miles from my house so I understand your situation. It's not really that far away but just far enough to be a real pain in the ass when you need to get to work, etc.
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Replace one heated oxygen sensor.
Replace one bad xenon headlight bulb.
Replace cabin A/C filter (supposed to be done every 15K miles, 10K miles overdue, ha!)
Replace two engine belts (getting dried and cracked -- ugh, I know how they feel).
Replace wiper blade inserts.
Wheel alignment.
Complimentary car wash.
Cost? Four times more than total maintenance/repair (other than normal wear items) on my Mazda 626 for the entire nine years I owned it.
Replace one heated oxygen sensor.
Replace one bad xenon headlight bulb.
Replace cabin A/C filter (supposed to be done every 15K miles, 10K miles overdue, ha!)
Replace two engine belts (getting dried and cracked -- ugh, I know how they feel).
Replace wiper blade inserts.
Wheel alignment.
Complimentary car wash.
Cost? Four times more than total maintenance/repair (other than normal wear items) on my Mazda 626 for the entire nine years I owned it.
exploder3211
Well-known member
- Joined
- Dec 24, 2006
- Messages
- 1,664
Ughhh... I know the feeling sears charged me 3 times more than i felt it was worth to replace both front hubs at a cost of $900... But the front end is still not right.. Whenever i head home, i will take care of it further
Misfire CAN waste your catalyst eventually. But, the #1 reason for the check engine light is loose gas cap.
But check those bad coils - misfires can blow out your catalyst, and that's NOT cheap, especially since in many states, you need it to pass the state inspection.
Oh yeah, I'd look long and hard elsewhere before popping for an 02 sensor, unless it was cheap. They're SUPPOSED to last the life of a car.
Oh yes, and if it's recent enough, it may be warrenty covered - there's a special warrenty for emissions guts.
As for flashing the ECU? One better: Recent automatic transmission Hondas need the whole ECU replaced if you change the 3rd gear clutch. Guess what pops a lot on recent Hondas...
But check those bad coils - misfires can blow out your catalyst, and that's NOT cheap, especially since in many states, you need it to pass the state inspection.
Oh yeah, I'd look long and hard elsewhere before popping for an 02 sensor, unless it was cheap. They're SUPPOSED to last the life of a car.
Oh yes, and if it's recent enough, it may be warrenty covered - there's a special warrenty for emissions guts.
As for flashing the ECU? One better: Recent automatic transmission Hondas need the whole ECU replaced if you change the 3rd gear clutch. Guess what pops a lot on recent Hondas...
