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Help! Brand new headlight will not turn on, it only flickers!

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Old 05-31-2006, 04:37 PM
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Help! Brand new headlight will not turn on, it only flickers!

I just had a new headlight installed on my CL. I can see the Xenon bulb trying to fire up every 3 or 4 seconds...but it never actually stays on....it just keeps trying. What could the problem be??
Old 05-31-2006, 05:52 PM
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05 ML350, 85 300D
Bad burner, bad ignitor, bad control unit- they all come on the new headlamp.
Old 05-31-2006, 07:01 PM
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Yes, but this issue was there even before the headlight was changed....
Old 05-31-2006, 08:06 PM
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Ahhh..you didn't say that!! I would look for a bad ground, or a possible SAM issue. With out the right equipment, diagnosing these lights are a guess, and actually could be dangerous, with the voltage involved.
Old 06-01-2006, 12:42 PM
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Ignitor and ballast is all in one unit.
I assume that is one one headligh doing that, right?
Switch the bulbs, elliminate that possibility.
check the wiring in the dark when your headlight tried to start. There is very high voltage there..
is that stock units or aftermarket?
Old 06-01-2006, 01:55 PM
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has nothing to do with the ballast or the bulb. From what i've been told you would have to take it to the dealership to let them re-program it into the car. Did your car originally come with xenons? My car does the same thing...bought after market HID kit..i will be taking it to the dealership my friend works at soon. As of now, before you start your car turn on the headlights, then start the car..that should help you out until u get it fixed
Old 06-02-2006, 11:57 AM
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And what exactly do you think they going to program? Voltage on headlight socket? It could be a case if that car has daytime running lights. Daytime running light use lower voltage to preserve bulb life.
If HID not fired up when headlights actually turned on then it is problem with igniter/ballast.
Old 06-02-2006, 12:12 PM
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Originally Posted by Vic_E55_2001
And what exactly do you think they going to program? Voltage on headlight socket? It could be a case if that car has daytime running lights. Daytime running light use lower voltage to preserve bulb life.
If HID not fired up when headlights actually turned on then it is problem with igniter/ballast.
hey, im only going by what i heard and what a technician at mercedes benz of greenwich told me...its funny because the same thing happened to me
Old 06-02-2006, 12:16 PM
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my headlights flicker when i turn them on. But like i said, whenever i turn them on before i start the car they dont flicker at all and stay still as they normally would. So from what i think...it doesent have to do with the bulb or the ballast...cuz if it did, they would still be flickering even if i turned them on before i started the car. Just have to see if mjr24 tried it out
Old 06-02-2006, 12:24 PM
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What is the brand of your aftermarket HID kit? and you car has daytime running lights? correct?
Old 06-02-2006, 01:08 PM
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Originally Posted by Vic_E55_2001
What is the brand of your aftermarket HID kit? and you car has daytime running lights? correct?
no...my car doesent have day time running lamps...i have philips D2S bulbs and ballast.
Old 06-02-2006, 06:58 PM
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Originally Posted by Bipasha493
no...my car doesent have day time running lamps...i have philips D2S bulbs and ballast.
I c.
Old 06-04-2006, 08:51 PM
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You need a new control unit for that headlight.
Old 06-05-2006, 08:41 AM
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The bi xenon headlights can be installed in your car BUT you will have to get the car coded to XENON PRESENT as the lights will only FLICKER when they aren't coded right...besides the missing auto levelling feature and headlight washer system (another feature that comes from factory on cars with bi xenons) it is all possible without too much problems.

this is quoted from the man himself, steve....

i knew i was right..

Vic e55 2001?????????????????
Old 01-01-2024, 03:02 PM
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2014 C300 4MATIC Sport
Low beam issues

My driver-side aftermarket low beam keeps going out ~10 seconds after turning the car on. I switched the bulbs, replaced the ballast, switched the fuses, and added dielectric grease on all the connections and the driver-side light keeps going out. Any ideas for what I should try next?

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