Headlight not turning on

Zboy89 · 08-19-2015, 11:41 PM

Hey guys....quick question. I'm sure many of you will know the answer on top of your heads.

I have a 09 370z. For the past couple of days when I turn the lights on, the driver's side headlight doesn't turn on. It is only after various tries that the headlamp finally turns on. Indicator works fine. What's going on?

FairladyZ40th · 08-20-2015, 08:22 AM

It's your ballast man. If it turns on after some tries and then shuts off again as it warms up then it's the ballast if it doesn't turn on at all then most likely the bulb. But I'd definitely say it's the ballast, I just had to switch mine like 3 months ago.

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SouthArk370Z · 08-20-2015, 09:49 AM

As per FairladyZ40th, when it works sometimes and sometimes it doesn't, it's usually the ballast.

Zboy89 · 08-20-2015, 10:18 AM

Alright that was quick . Thanks guys . I'll look into it

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FairladyZ40th · 08-20-2015, 10:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SouthArk370Z

As per FairladyZ40th, when it works sometimes and sometimes it doesn't, it's usually the ballast.

Exactly!
Try find good ballasts too, usually aftermarket ones won't last long and you'll end up with the same issue brotha.

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Zboy89 · 08-20-2015, 11:37 AM

OEM ballasts from ebay?

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FairladyZ40th · 08-20-2015, 11:59 AM

As long as they're they're og. The good ones will be the ones with silver looking cables on them should look something like this. Saw them on eBay too. I got mine at the stealership but my mechanic hooked it up.

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DIGItonium · 08-20-2015, 01:41 PM

If you're still running stock bulbs and never replaced them, that's the first thing you can do. My bulbs started to flicker or become intermittent, and it's just fine now after replacing the bulbs. Plus, brightness is restored with the new bulbs. I hit up The Retrofit Source for new Morimoto bulbs for $50.

FairladyZ40th · 08-20-2015, 02:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DIGItonium

If you're still running stock bulbs and never replaced them, that's the first thing you can do. My bulbs started to flicker or become intermittent, and it's just fine now after replacing the bulbs. Plus, brightness is restored with the new bulbs. I hit up The Retrofit Source for new Morimoto bulbs for $50.

That's a freaking deal yo

I've bought these ******* things from auto shops for like $200 each -.- now I feel like an idiot.

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DIGItonium · 08-20-2015, 03:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FairladyZ40th

That's a freaking deal yo

I've bought these ******* things from auto shops for like $200 each -.- now I feel like an idiot.

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It's okay. My 1st replacement bulbs for the 350Z were the Philips bulbs for about $200. Then I found TRS and tried out the Morimoto 5500K bulbs for the 370Z, and after over 4 years I'm on the 2nd set (new XB series). The output is way better than my 1st set.

In the clearance section is a pair of LED projectors from the new Murano... so tempting, it's a lot of work to retrofit.

FairladyZ40th · 08-20-2015, 04:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DIGItonium

It's okay. My 1st replacement bulbs for the 350Z were the Philips bulbs for about $200. Then I found TRS and tried out the Morimoto 5500K bulbs for the 370Z, and after over 4 years I'm on the 2nd set (new XB series). The output is way better than my 1st set.

In the clearance section is a pair of LED projectors from the new Murano... so tempting, it's a lot of work to retrofit.

Nice, is it just a single LED? Pictures?

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DIGItonium · 08-20-2015, 04:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FairladyZ40th

Nice, is it just a single LED? Pictures?

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There's a separate reflector for the high beam part. The same for Q60 as well.
2015 Murano LED Projector System - Closeouts
Infiniti Q50 LED Projectors w/ LED DRL - Closeouts

Pretty sick, though.

Zboy89 · 08-20-2015, 09:24 PM

My light's pretty bright though. How different are the Morimoto bulbs going to be?

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DIGItonium · 08-21-2015, 10:30 AM

If your bulbs were never replaced on your '09, then it doesn't hurt to try new bulbs. I honestly haven't had a ballast fail on me.

vtec to vvel · 08-30-2015, 10:42 PM

for those that have replaced their bulbs, i'm reading of horror stories about bulbs not functioning properly. A few people have stated that their bulbs will light up, but then shut off after a few seconds or they have a constant flicker. Something about our OEM ballasts not liking aftermarket bulbs? And Morimoto was one of the brands mentioned. Granted these are older threads, but I wanted to get some input on this?

08-19-2015, 11:41 PM	#1 (permalink)
Zboy89 Base Member Join Date: May 2015 Location: Houston Posts: 78 Drives: 2009 370z A Rep Power: 10	Headlight not turning on Hey guys....quick question. I'm sure many of you will know the answer on top of your heads. I have a 09 370z. For the past couple of days when I turn the lights on, the driver's side headlight doesn't turn on. It is only after various tries that the headlamp finally turns on. Indicator works fine. What's going on?

08-20-2015, 08:22 AM	#2 (permalink)
FairladyZ40th Enthusiast Member Join Date: Jul 2015 Location: San Diego Posts: 483 Drives: 2010 370z 40th 6MT Rep Power: 61	It's your ballast man. If it turns on after some tries and then shuts off again as it warms up then it's the ballast if it doesn't turn on at all then most likely the bulb. But I'd definitely say it's the ballast, I just had to switch mine like 3 months ago. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk SouthArk370Z and Zboy89 like this.

08-20-2015, 09:49 AM	#3 (permalink)
SouthArk370Z Premium Member Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: South Arkansas Posts: 8,435 Drives: 2014 Challenger Rep Power: 324198	As per FairladyZ40th, when it works sometimes and sometimes it doesn't, it's usually the ballast. Zboy89 likes this. __________________ Steering Lock Links - Search The370Z Bookmarklet - FSM @ NICOclub Mankind has progressed past the need for war but we haven't evolved that far. - NachoMahma

08-20-2015, 11:59 AM	#7 (permalink)
FairladyZ40th Enthusiast Member Join Date: Jul 2015 Location: San Diego Posts: 483 Drives: 2010 370z 40th 6MT Rep Power: 61	Headlight not turning on As long as they're they're og. The good ones will be the ones with silver looking cables on them should look something like this. Saw them on eBay too. I got mine at the stealership but my mechanic hooked it up. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Zboy89 likes this.

08-20-2015, 01:41 PM	#8 (permalink)
DIGItonium A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Kansas Posts: 3,800 Drives: 09 Z34-TT 6MT Rep Power: 42	If you're still running stock bulbs and never replaced them, that's the first thing you can do. My bulbs started to flicker or become intermittent, and it's just fine now after replacing the bulbs. Plus, brightness is restored with the new bulbs. I hit up The Retrofit Source for new Morimoto bulbs for $50. __________________

08-20-2015, 10:18 AM	#4 (permalink)
Zboy89 Base Member Join Date: May 2015 Location: Houston Posts: 78 Drives: 2009 370z A Rep Power: 10	Alright that was quick . Thanks guys . I'll look into it Sent from my SM-G920T using Tapatalk

08-20-2015, 11:37 AM	#6 (permalink)
Zboy89 Base Member Join Date: May 2015 Location: Houston Posts: 78 Drives: 2009 370z A Rep Power: 10	OEM ballasts from ebay? Sent from my SM-G920T using Tapatalk

08-20-2015, 09:24 PM	#13 (permalink)
Zboy89 Base Member Join Date: May 2015 Location: Houston Posts: 78 Drives: 2009 370z A Rep Power: 10	My light's pretty bright though. How different are the Morimoto bulbs going to be? Sent from my SM-G920T using Tapatalk

08-21-2015, 10:30 AM	#14 (permalink)
DIGItonium A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Kansas Posts: 3,800 Drives: 09 Z34-TT 6MT Rep Power: 42	If your bulbs were never replaced on your '09, then it doesn't hurt to try new bulbs. I honestly haven't had a ballast fail on me. __________________

08-30-2015, 10:42 PM	#15 (permalink)
vtec to vvel A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Feb 2015 Location: 813 Posts: 3,915 Drives: 13 Z Rep Power: 502909	for those that have replaced their bulbs, i'm reading of horror stories about bulbs not functioning properly. A few people have stated that their bulbs will light up, but then shut off after a few seconds or they have a constant flicker. Something about our OEM ballasts not liking aftermarket bulbs? And Morimoto was one of the brands mentioned. Granted these are older threads, but I wanted to get some input on this? __________________ Don't like what I post? Too bad. I really don't give a sh!t

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