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headlights only turn on sometimes now

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Old 05-06-2010 | 12:18 AM
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headlights only turn on sometimes now

i have the hpa 6000k bulbs I bought last year and tonight I noticed one of them was out, so I turned the lights on and off and they magically turned on. Seems to happen when I first turn on the lights after the car has been sitting for atleast 5 mins; but I can correct it by turning the lights on and off again....

so, bad bulbs? loose connection? I know I should probably just check the connection but I have no time until the weekend so figure I ask the guru's here. I have not touched the connections in over a year and both bulbs look the same color ( i know hid's start to change color when they are about to blow)

thanks!!
Old 05-06-2010 | 12:22 AM
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it is probably the connection. I had the same thing happening with my fogs where the passenger one would only come on sometimes unless I turned them on/off like you describe. low and behold the connection was loose
Old 05-06-2010 | 12:25 AM
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To be honest, it's just crap quality bulbs. I had the same problems with my EliteEVs as well as my HPA... In the process of getting Ultinons.
Old 05-06-2010 | 12:27 AM
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yea from hearing everything about hpa, I figured these bulbs might be crapping out soon. I will try to check the connection anyway
Old 05-06-2010 | 01:08 AM
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since I cant sleep when I cant figure out whats wrong with my car, i went outside with a flashlight and checked the connection nothing like taking your wheel and fender line off at midnight.

anyway, the connection was solid. disconnected and reconnected the bulb and still flickers. case closed. time to get some new QUALITY bulbs.
Old 05-06-2010 | 03:27 PM
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Bad bulbs. But you already know that
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Old 05-06-2010 | 04:58 PM
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what new bulbs are you planning to get? which brand? 5000k, 6000k? post pics please
Old 05-06-2010 | 05:09 PM
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I am probably going to order from vleds.com - i believe their quality is decent and only costs $50 for a pair. unless anyone wants to steer me to a different company ...

it would be great if hpa didnt vanish off the planet ..then I could use the warranty that came with the bulbs
Old 05-07-2010 | 11:07 AM
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You can try 6000K from Lou@amplified. It was offered with life time warranty when I got mine.
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Old 05-07-2010 | 01:50 PM
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does anyone know if this is def. a bulb problem? sometimes it will turn on right away then turn off like 3 minutes later, but when I turn the lights off and on, they come back on..they bulbs do flicker for a few seconds when first turning them on too

i'm assuming the bulb since I have never messed with the headlight connections ...
Old 05-07-2010 | 02:44 PM
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Nope. No one knows for sure. The connection could be loose, but I don't see how the HID connecter could be loose, it's a snap on all the way or not at all kind of mechanism. Unless something's wrong in the wiring or accidental shorting somewhere.

Bulb seems to be more likely cause, especially if it's a cheap set.
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Old 05-07-2010 | 03:07 PM
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yea I checked the connection and it was solid. gotta be the bulbs
Old 05-10-2010 | 08:58 AM
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I had 6k HIDs from HPA and was having a same problem. Try switching sides with your current bulb and see if you are still having a same issue. I thought it was my bulb at first but even after switching them out, my right side kept going out. I ended up taking it to the infiniti dealership and they replaced the right ballast under warranty last week...

Hope this helps...
Old 05-10-2010 | 11:30 AM
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I looked at the actually bulb and it was very cloudy and def. looked like it blew. I swapped the bulbs right to left anyway and it is def. the bulb. warranty means nothing if the vendor is mia
Old 05-10-2010 | 11:46 AM
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Yeup,its the bulb. Had the same exact problem after a year with eBay bulbs.

I should be expecting this again soon because I've since replaced the eBay bulbs with HPA 8k's!



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