Factory Xenon Headlight fault

[Neil_burnside]

I have an issue with my factory fitted xenon headlights..

Last weekend I had a fault arise, "front right dipped beam faulty"

Bought an OEM bulb and replaced, no issues here. Stupidly forgot to refit the rain/dust cover afterwards. Worked fine for a few days until the rain came and obviously splashed some water up from a puddle. Again the warning light came on.

I have swapped both the bulb and ballast over to the passengers side and both work fine, obviously a power issue getting to the drivers side (note all other bulbs in the headlight work fine, drl, main beam, indicator etc)

I am at my wits end with this fault. I have checked all fuses and all are ok. Handbook shows 2 internal fuse boxes and 2 in engine bay. Anything that relates to dipped headlight xenon does not have a fuse in its place.

Thank you in advance

[r5gtt]

Try and get a hair dryer on it as it for 5 to 10 minutes?.

M

[Neil_burnside]

Tried the hair dryer, no joy :-(

[r5gtt]

Sorry it didn't help and I know it's a pain but maybe you need to take the light out and check inside for corrosion?.

It usually works for the audi tt mk1 guys but maybe you've had too much condensation inside the light or worse the igniter has failed.

M

[Neil_burnside]

Looks like a job for the weekend as its a bumper off job apparently !!! Will keep you posted with the outcome. Thanks

[r5gtt]

Hi, you do not have to remove complete bumper.

Just remove centre grill. all the screws under the arch x 4. three are 5-6 t25 torx screws underneath and you can pull the bumper away and wiggle the light out although a little tricky but can be done. 10 minute job as I did it the other day but took me 20 minutes as I wanted a look behind the bumper as I have an FMIC I'd like to fit on.

heres a link to help you 

Good luck

M

[Pashka]

Hi, you do not have to remove complete bumper.

Just remove centre grill. all the screws under the arch x 4. thwre are 5-6 t25 torx screws underneath and you can pull the bumper away and wiggle the light out although a little tricky but can be done. 10 minute job as I did it the other day but took me 20 minutes as I wanted a look behind the bunper as I have an FMIC I'd like to fit on.

heres a link to help you 

Good luck

M

10 min job? you are joking mate 

[r5gtt]

No I am not joking as I used a baby cordless with 2 torx bits and 1 philips driver without a ramp jack etc. one side can easily be taken out.
Sorry I meant to take one side of the bumper off and light out only.


 

[TAPPY]

 
[/quote]
10 min job? you are joking mate 
[/quote]
They are really easy to remove. I can remove a bumper on a mk5 in 5 mins

I do work in a bodyshop and have removed loads though, and have access to a ramp 

[r5gtt]

10 min job? you are joking mate 
[/quote]
They are really easy to remove. I can remove a bumper on a mk5 in 5 mins

I do work in a bodyshop and have removed loads though, and have access to a ramp 
[/quote]I used to remove my tt mk1 bumper in 15 minutes and it has over 26 torx and two 10 mm nuts behind the arch trims.

It's piss easy to remove a gti bumper even without a ramp  in comparison to the tt

[Neil_burnside]

Excellent, thanks guys. Will give it a go tomorrow weather permitting. Faulty headlight is doing my head right in !!!!

[r5gtt]

Hope you get it sorted as I had a thread on why my indicators aren't working but in the end sorted it out myself.

Wiring wasn't right.

Good luck

[Neil_burnside]

Found the fault, swapped headlights over and fault transferred over to the passenger side. When headlight was removed I noticed a control module under the headlight, turns out this is the xenon control ballast module. Rebuilt the car again and googled the part, average cost of £200 for this part. Off to try and find one in a breakers I think !!!!!

Thanks again for your help and advice r5gtt, very much appreciated

PS - bumper removed, headlights out and all reversed in less than 40 mins with all 4 wheels on the ground. Straight forward job, pity about the cold and wet !!!!

[r5gtt]

Glad you've found the fault  to help anyone that requires help 

So it was the ballast unit that is faulty. I thought you said you swooped both ballasts but never mind it's been found now 

70ish quid in ebay but if you find a breaker willing to part with it from the headlight then happy days.

I want to do an oil change but as you say too wet and gloomy and can't be asked.

Did my headlight swop and got a little wet the other afternoon and I'd rather not do that again   

M

[Neil_burnside]

I assumed the red/yellow device at back of the lamp was the ballast, this must only be the igniter to actually strike the lamp..............