Driver Side Headlight turns off (Litronics)

[chaudanova]

Hi, I have an 02 Boxster with Litronic headlights, and occasionally when driving through a rough street or hitting a bump in the road, I notice that the driver's side headlight turns off. The parking light, and sidemarkers stay on, along with all the lights of the passenger side still working. The only one that shuts off is the driver's side low beam.

When that happens, I just turn the light switch off, and back on, and everything lights back up like normal.

Occasionally, this seems to happen out of the blue while driving, or perhaps again due to a bumpy road... But turning the lights off, and then back on always does the trick to get them all back on, so I have ruled out a faulty bulb.

I've replaced the headlight switch about 6 months ago already, and because the fact that this happens to only one side, and then the lights come back on if I turn them off/on, I'm guessing that it is not the switch.

Additionally, I have removed the headlamp assemblies from both sides and re-seated/reinstalled them on a few occasions (thinking it might have been a loose connection), but the problem still occurs.

Does anyone have any idea what else it could be?

[usaf-lt-g]

Hi, I have an 02 Boxster with Litronic headlights, and occasionally when driving through a rough street or hitting a bump in the road, I notice that the driver's side headlight turns off. The parking light, and sidemarkers stay on, along with all the lights of the passenger side still working. The only one that shuts off is the driver's side low beam.

When that happens, I just turn the light switch off, and back on, and everything lights back up like normal.

Occasionally, this seems to happen out of the blue while driving, or perhaps again due to a bumpy road... But turning the lights off, and then back on always does the trick to get them all back on, so I have ruled out a faulty bulb.

I've replaced the headlight switch about 6 months ago already, and because the fact that this happens to only one side, and then the lights come back on if I turn them off/on, I'm guessing that it is not the switch.

Additionally, I have removed the headlamp assemblies from both sides and re-seated/reinstalled them on a few occasions (thinking it might have been a loose connection), but the problem still occurs.

Does anyone have any idea what else it could be?

I had this issue a few times when I upgraded to the Litronics. I found that the actual issue was that the driver's side headlamp wasn't actually "locked" into place. I was using the factory headlamp tool to lock it, however, that tool tends to get rounded around the edges and wasn't really locking the light, even though I thought it was. I just used one of my ratchets with an extension and attached one of my sockets to do the trick (I think 5mm, but maybe i'm wrong). You have to turn it extra hard (I actually thought I was going to break it), but then it finally locks and snaps it in place.

[Glyn]

Classic sign of the bulb failing.

You will also get what appears to be the occasional flash when night driving - it all happens so fast you know something has happened but not quite sure what - when you check the lights you find they are both still on, The bulb ages and the Arc that produces the light extinguishes - the ballast reignites it - all done very quickly.

Drop a couple of new D2s bulbs in and all will be fine (yes change both sides at the same time to ensure the same colour temperature.

Standard bulbs are 4300K, 6K have a slight tinge of blue, 8K have deep blue and 10K purple

[chaudanova]

Hi, I have an 02 Boxster with Litronic headlights, and occasionally when driving through a rough street or hitting a bump in the road, I notice that the driver's side headlight turns off. The parking light, and sidemarkers stay on, along with all the lights of the passenger side still working. The only one that shuts off is the driver's side low beam.

When that happens, I just turn the light switch off, and back on, and everything lights back up like normal.

Occasionally, this seems to happen out of the blue while driving, or perhaps again due to a bumpy road... But turning the lights off, and then back on always does the trick to get them all back on, so I have ruled out a faulty bulb.

I've replaced the headlight switch about 6 months ago already, and because the fact that this happens to only one side, and then the lights come back on if I turn them off/on, I'm guessing that it is not the switch.

Additionally, I have removed the headlamp assemblies from both sides and re-seated/reinstalled them on a few occasions (thinking it might have been a loose connection), but the problem still occurs.

Does anyone have any idea what else it could be?

I had this issue a few times when I upgraded to the Litronics. I found that the actual issue was that the driver's side headlamp wasn't actually "locked" into place. I was using the factory headlamp tool to lock it, however, that tool tends to get rounded around the edges and wasn't really locking the light, even though I thought it was. I just used one of my ratchets with an extension and attached one of my sockets to do the trick (I think 5mm, but maybe i'm wrong). You have to turn it extra hard (I actually thought I was going to break it), but then it finally locks and snaps it in place.

Yeah, my factory tool got rounded out as well, so I used a 5mm socket like you... But, unfortunately, I still get the same problem...

[chaudanova]

Classic sign of the bulb failing.

You will also get what appears to be the occasional flash when night driving - it all happens so fast you know something has happened but not quite sure what - when you check the lights you find they are both still on, The bulb ages and the Arc that produces the light extinguishes - the ballast reignites it - all done very quickly.

Drop a couple of new D2s bulbs in and all will be fine (yes change both sides at the same time to ensure the same colour temperature.

Standard bulbs are 4300K, 6K have a slight tinge of blue, 8K have deep blue and 10K purple

Hi Glyn, thanks for your reply... Hopefully this is the problem, as HID bulbs are fairly inexpensive these days to replace. I'd like to get some thoughts on this as well, as I spoke with a couple people that deal with aftermarket lighting.

I described my problem, and asked them if they suspect a bulb that needs replacement, but they figure that a bulb is a bulb and if it works, it will work fine, and if it is failing, it will simply not work at all, or it will flicker. They think that if the light is shutting off when I hit a bump or rough patch of road, that it is more likely a failing ballast.

With this logic, do you think it is the ballast, or more likely just a failing bulb?

[Glyn]

I think the shop you are going to have a vested interest in selling you ballasts - and of course you should buy two as the other side cant be far off gone either - then have a couple of bulbs just so that you have renewed everything - and made them a tidy profit because they wont be the cheapest supplier.

all ballony

It will be the bulbs - yes a bulb is a bulb and with a tungston bulb there is a filament that creates the light, it either works or it doesnt, With HIDs the ballast provides a high voltage to creat an arc - like an electric welder then 35 watts of power maintain the arc.

The bulbs do wear and what you describe is a classic symptom, If the shop was right and they think its a ballast then why does it reignite when you turn of and on?

As you say bulbs are cheap, and with any problem always go for the cheapest course of action to fix, two new bulbs and you will be sorted

[CarreraLicious]

I had this problem too, with my Litronics, except it was my pass. side litronic that exhibited those symptoms....when I hit a bump, sometimes the pass. side low beam litronic goes out. If I recycled the light switch, it would re-ignite. What I found after much research, was that it was not the ballast, not the bulb (I had spares), but actually that there is a receiving plug at the end of the headlamp housing tray (shown in the picture below as a white plug) that caused a problem. This plug has to mate with the female plug at the back side of the headlamp. If this mating between the two plugs is not fully secure, when you hit the bump, it will dislodge for a split second, and the light will go out, regardless of whether or not you have your headlamp correctly secured in place. That white plug in the picture (mine is blue colored), is held in place on that arm by a yellow plastic clip from behind it that inserts from the bottom up. Make sure that clip is in place good, and holds the plug totally secure without any play. The plug should not move up or down or forward or back when you try to move it with your hand. I ended up buying a new yellow clip and replacing the old one, and it is now secure.

The problem plagued me for over a year until I finally figured it out. If your plug is totally secure, then try spraying some electronics cleaner on it and also the backside of your headlamp plug, to make sure the connections are clean. I am still using the original bulbs on my headlamps and I no longer have this problem.

Edited July 30, 2009 by Boxtaboy

[Loren]

I have seen that plug cracked from someone shoving the headlight in too hard without lining it up first - several times.

[CarreraLicious]

I have seen that plug cracked from someone shoving the headlight in too hard without lining it up first - several times.

I've seen people snapping the arm off on the tray that holds that plug, from doing that too.

Edited July 30, 2009 by Boxtaboy

[juniinc]

Why not switch around your existing bulbs? that way your housing will be re-seated too.

both(clip+bulb) can be checked out that way,,,

[chaudanova]

Thanks everyone.... I replaced the bulbs with some new D2S bulbs, and it did the trick. Working great now!