why would a litronic lamp go out while driving but restart just fine?

[stumpjumper]

my passenger side headlamp will ignite fine, but I'll be driving along and for no discernible reason it will go dim, the fog lamp, turn signal, and the little mini white lamp that fills in the white behind the xenon bulb all stay lit

then, I can switch the xenon bulbs off, and back on, and they'll both come on just fine

could my ballast be going? or maybe just a loose contact?

[RFM]

I hope for you that the problem is situated in a loose contact, but i think that the lamp is going bad.

[Westcoaster]

my passenger side headlamp will ignite fine, but I'll be driving along and for no discernible reason it will go dim, the fog lamp, turn signal, and the little mini white lamp that fills in the white behind the xenon bulb all stay lit

then, I can switch the xenon bulbs off, and back on, and they'll both come on just fine

could my ballast be going? or maybe just a loose contact?

It could be or as you suggested, or the lamp but they last for a LONG time...

[stumpjumper]

my passenger side headlamp will ignite fine, but I'll be driving along and for no discernible reason it will go dim, the fog lamp, turn signal, and the little mini white lamp that fills in the white behind the xenon bulb all stay lit

then, I can switch the xenon bulbs off, and back on, and they'll both come on just fine

could my ballast be going? or maybe just a loose contact?

It could be or as you suggested, or the lamp but they last for a LONG time...

... maybe I'll swap the bulbs from one side to the other to check the bulbs

[RFM]

Good idea.

[stumpjumper]

the problem followed the bulb, which anecdotally had a funny white buildup inside the arc chamber

dealer wanted $275 for the bulb so I went elsewhere

[niebyl2002]

Build up inside the bulb is ok. It could be white, yellow, red, etc. You can get bulbs really cheap on the ebay like $30 for both. Make sure you buy two bulbs from the same car. IMPORTANT

Bulbs with different hours life will have different color.

I bought just one bulb and to my suprise color did not match. 8 bulbs later finally bought used philips 85122+ from ebay for like $30.

And don't buy new ones not worth it.