Hi, I just bought my first Audi and so far so good. I had my drivers side HID light go out last night. It was working ok, then flashed really bright and went out. When I turn it off and back on it works for about 3 minutes then does the same. Is this a bulb, ballast or neither? I am new to the HID lighting thing so any help would be greatly appreciated.

 

It is quite possible that it is the igniter for your HID... it's a common problem.

search the forums and you'll find out how to replace this for a lot less than the stealership.

 

Im in the same boat..drove 500 miles home last night from Richmond without the right side. Replaced the bulb ($110 at parts shop..$189 at dealership). I've checked all fuses and connections, no luck. I'll search for DIY links on ignitor replacements.

 

Ok, where is the ignitor located at? Also, is there a way to check it to make sure that is what is wrong? How much should it run to replace? Thanks for all the help.

 

Try swapping the bulb from the good side to the bad side and see if that fixes it mine died the same way you described yours and it was just the bulb

 

Ok i will try that in a minute. Would the ignitor cause it to go out? It is my understanding that the ignitor just starts the bulb, not sustains it. I thought anyway that the ballast is what kept the bulb going. This is frustrating as I just bought the car like 2 days ago and after 100 miles the headlight goes out...

 

I swapped bulbs, was not the problem ($108 wasted). By the way, the old bulb has a whiteish crust, but still seems functional. I bought the replacement bulb because the looked like it had burned out.

Now I'm left with either ignitor, ballast or maybe both gone bad? How can you check to see what needs replacement? What are the best parts sources with good pricing? Any good DIY links with pics?

Anyone know if a VW dealership do do the repair and the cost? Closest Audi is 75 miles.

 

igniter fires the bulb, ballast powers it. most likely a ballast issue. There are 2 styles of ballast, one integrated with the headlight, one not. Check which you have before getting order happy.

 

OK well, i am new to the Audi line of vehicles so does anyone have any tips on getting the headlight assembly out to swap bulbs to the other side? I got it to the point where it was loose but would not come out. I have a 2005 with a 3.2 and quattro is you need that?

 

It's an '01, the silver alum box attached to the housing side isthe ballast right? The smaller gray plastic box with two red leads tothe bulb is the ignitor. With a good bulb on the bad side, nothing happens. That would be ballast?