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What happened to my headlight bulbs?!

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Old 12-24-2006, 10:47 AM
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d!abolic
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Default What happened to my headlight bulbs?!

I got a bit of moisture in my headlight and before I could have it replaced, the HID bulb stopped working. One day, when I turned the engine on, it just blinked and went out for good. A few days later, the same thing happened to the highbeam bulb. The new headlight is here now, but I'm curious as to what happened to the bulbs? When I put the new HID bulb in, is it going to work? Or was it the fuse and/or the circuit that was damaged and caused them to stop working?
Old 12-24-2006, 11:45 AM
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davidf
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Hopefully it did not short out the ballast.
Old 12-24-2006, 12:11 PM
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davidv
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a. Check the fuse.
b. If you have a continuity tester, see if the socket is getting power.
c. It may be time for a new ballast.
Old 12-24-2006, 12:13 PM
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HighwaySpeed
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^^^What he said^^^
Old 12-24-2006, 12:18 PM
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JonsilvZ
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I still have the original Xenon bulbs. Do they last long like the halogen?
Old 12-24-2006, 12:23 PM
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davidv
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Originally Posted by JonsilvZ
I still have the original Xenon bulbs. Do they last long like the halogen?
47,000 miles and my original bulbs are fine. I doubt that the root of this problem is related to the bulbs.
Old 12-24-2006, 12:30 PM
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HighwaySpeed
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Originally Posted by JonsilvZ
I still have the original Xenon bulbs. Do they last long like the halogen?
Yes.
Old 12-24-2006, 12:35 PM
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d!abolic
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Gonna check fuses right now. Where's the fusebox? Is it the steel box with 4 bolts underneath the steering wheel?
Old 12-24-2006, 02:42 PM
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ksj
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Originally Posted by d!abolic
Gonna check fuses right now. Where's the fusebox? Is it the steel box with 4 bolts underneath the steering wheel?
The owners manual is your friend.

If you don't have one you can get it here (go to the bottom of the page):

http://www.courtesyparts.com/350z/
Old 12-24-2006, 05:53 PM
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ouch1011
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HIDs use VERY high voltage. About the same voltage that your ignition coil uses, since the HID bulb creates its light by basically creating an arc similar to a welding arc inside the bulb. I wouldn't go poking around the HID bulb socket with a continuity tester unless you want a massive shock.
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