HID Headlamp replacement

[ST.George]

G'day STriders,

Just a quick Q for those that have changed their headlight bulbs to HID. After 2 years my right-side HID bulb has gone and in attempting to replace it I have struck an obstacle. The pic below shows the lamp socket after it has been unplugged from the headlight assembly by squeezing my hand in the space created by turning the handlebars to the right.



The problem now is 2 get the bulb out. After pushing, twisting etc for quite a while, I could not remove it from the socket. Took it to the Honda STealer - couldn't get it out; To auto electrician - no good; to Repco - no-one even game to try. What puzzles me the most is that to try and get it out at all requires handling of the bulb itself - a definite no-no when installing a new bulb. I must b missing something that should be obvious but isn't.

The other quick Q is where is a good value source 2 buy these HIDs. The Repco guy said their cheapest HID was $150. Suffering Guineafowls - that's not cheap, cheap, cheap!

Anyway, in anticipation, if anyone has an HID setup like this I would appreciate your feedback.

[ST2UP]

I don't believe the bulb does come out.....you need to purchase the bulb WITH the holder that then plugs into the ballast....

[ST2UP]

I should add that its more likely to be your ballast that has failed not the bulb....although if you have touched the bulb with your fingers it will most likely need replacement anyway 

[pault]

looks like a H4 hid bulb to me, what you have is the bulb with the coil on the end to work the high low beam function. therewill be 2 sets of wires from it. thicker to the ballast, the rectangular thing and thinner to the relay setup.
As mr st2up says its probably the ballast.
search ebay for 35w H4 HID and you will find everything. ebay is just one option.

[ST.George]

Thanx ST2up and Pault,


So, the base (socket) of the setup controls high/low beam:





So where is the ballast located (somewhere in the fairing?)?- where the cable is leading to?





I will search ebay for the 35W setup.

[tj189]

I would be replacing both lights, the chances of you picking up a single HID light to match your other one would be pretty slim.

The question of is it the ballast? is a fair question, so be prepared to replace the ballast.  The check would be to hook the suspect light to the other ballast to see if it lights up.