FACTORY HIDS . have a 04 xjr and passanger side headlight started flicking about a year ago. about a month ago it went out. bought 2 new bulbs. cost about $140. replaced both and they worked for a day. swapped them from side to side. both bulbs didnt work even on the side that was working. thought i burned them up. bought 2 more and now both sides not working. have almost $300 in bulbs and cant get them to work. maybe a fuse? if so what fuse is it ? help plz.. help

 

Step 1 for Troubleshooting:

Your probably already aware, but just in case.... when handling an HID bulb your never supposed to touch the outer glass shell, as oils from your fingers will cause the bulb to burn out.

If being installed correctly, not sure what else it could be.

 

yes i know this.never toch the bulb. checked the engine fuse box and fuse 8 and 9 looked good. it did say they suppose to be yellow 20amp and one is a 30amp blue. does this matter? dont understand.

 

Have a look at the ground point behind the headlamp with the problem. (UK=earth), can corrode badly and cause all kinds of electrical problems.

Other thing that can fail is the ballast unit in the headlamp unit that starts the bulb. These can be expensive, unfortunately.

 

Have you used a voltmeter to check voltages at the bulb sockets? Certainly poor ground connections can be troublesome and they can be checked with a voltmeter as well. It is surprising that both bulbs are failing at the same time.

 

Had the same problems on my VDP for several months, purchased new bulbs and replaced them last night. Wow, what a difference in light output! While replacing the right bulb, my finger pulled on the ground wires and snap, the ground broke. I replaced/reposition the wires to a ground and checked the HIDs, no flickering and almost twice as bright as the old bulbs! The corroded ground terminal had to be the main problem but I wanted to verify the bulbs so I swapped out the new bulbs with the old bulbs. The flickering was back and so was the low light output. OK, I switched out the bulbs again and the HIDs are normal.
Last November, I ordered replacement HID cables that are a little longer so that I am able to pull the bulb/cable out from the housing and easily replace the bulbs. Took about 5 minutes for both sides!

 

Sorry to jump in here, I'm thinking about picking up an 04-06 XJ8 in the next few months. If the stock ballasts fail can't the whole system be replaced with an aftermarket set-up?

I own a 97 Lincoln Mark VIII LSC, and it's the same way with our HID lights. To replace with stock ballasts and lights cost way too much - so we simply switch to aftermarket ballasts and bulbs. We usually go with 35w ballasts and 6000k HID bulbs, and the aftermarket wiring simply can plug into the stock wiring. Far less expensive, especially when found on the 'Bay from the right seller with the highest ratings and the best feedback. I did the same with my wife's 2005 Ford Freestar Limited - the lenses were already crystal clear but the stock bulbs cast an almost yellowish light. These new aftermarket HIDs now shine bright white with an ever-so-slight blue tinge and she can now see better at night.

I'm sure the same can be done with the XJ8?

 

The stock HID Low Beams/Ballast may be replaced if you don’t mind cutting the wiring harness and disabling the Auto-leveling-Low beam function. According to the Maint Manual and Electrical Guide, the Auto-Leveling operates though the Ballast (Jaguar list the ballast as the "Headlamp leveling Module", what were they thinking?). I have tried to figure out a way to bypass the LAD5G Ballast to use the new "Slim Type ballast, nothing yet) Even thought about cutting into just the wiring for the Low Beams (leaving the Ballast in place) and using an aftermarket kit.

I also replaced the factory "4300k" bulbs with "6000k" bulbs, both ballast burnt out the next day.

Currently no company produces a "Plug-and-Play Kit for the 2004-2008 XJ8s.

I am sure an ET out there can come up with a way to by-pass the LAD5G Ballast?

 

<< .....disabling the Auto-leveling-Low beam function >>

Is this feature an absolute necessity? I never even knew this existed. Can the bulbs be left in one position and then wire in an aftermarket HID system, with cutting and splicing?

Just thinking ahead for when I get mine next year!

 

I think this might work; connect the Pos wire (Aftermarket Kit) to EC57-4 and connect the Neg wire to EC57-3. Remove the D1S bulb cable and route the new cable though the housing (location is own preference) and connect to the factory D1S Bulb or replace with a higher temp bulb.
Can we have a certified ET verify this?
As far as disabling the Auto-Leveling Function, need to ask a Jag ET on what might happen if anything.

I might start searching for 6000k or 8000k kit to test on, wish I could locate a very cheap Headlight Assy to do the testing.


(By the way, you have a very nice Mark VIII!)

 

thx for replys . reyesl you are saying if the ballast is bad then the lights will not go up and down? bulbs will not come on but both light are moving up and down when lights are turned on. so i am thinking a ground then. have not drivin car in almost 2 months because of this issue.

 

Sorry for the confusion; the auto-leveling function will still operate if the ballast is in place. I tested that on my VDP last year. I was planning on removing the ballast and installing an aftermarket set but halted my plans when I checked the electrical schematic and found that the auto-leveling operates through the ballast.

In the process, I used 3 ballast for testing ($$$) and settled-on longer "Ballast-to-Bulb" cables which makes it so very much easier to change.
During this time, one of my headlights were operational (I kept switching sides for the test) and I drove my VDP during daylight hours only.

 

im pretty irritated right now. dont know what to do? what do you think?

 

..and I thought I was going nuts! I was having this issue with the right side. On one particular morning my low beams went out; only had high beams. I pulled off road, shut down car and restarted, and voila, I had both beams. This sounds like the ground issue stated in this thread. Thanks for the lead. I will attempt to check this out once the 5" of snow clears out!

Thank you.

 

the leveling system still works with no lights. is the the ballast? when i turn the light switch on the lights go up and no lights. does this mean the ballast good? if i buy new ballast and they still dont work , i will be out the money for ballast. what dou think?

 

They're not that expensive, you should try the ballast IF the bulbs are good, and you're fuses and relays have been checked already.

 

Please tell me where you got the extended cables.
Thanks!

 

Got the cables from eBay:

Audi A4 S4 Cadillac cts SRX Valeo Ballast HID D1S Wire | eBay



There are others that will fit, just verify that the ends are the same type.