xenon or HID headlamps

My Vectra CDx has developed a fault with the drivers side HID lamp.
A new bulb didn't fix it. (£ouch). As it does not light up and the fuse
is OK, has anyone got any experience of getting the headlamp out and
checking the wiring and/or igniter/ballast unit? I'm aware of how they
work and that they can bite (4KV igniter pulse and 85V to maintain the
spark).
Are they replaceable seperatley and at what sort of cost?

Dave

 

Best thing would be to take the headlight out and plug it in the other
side - take the front bumper off to get to the lower bolt.

 

I've already tried two bulbs, first was taken back because it was
thought to be faulty. As the bulbs are £100 each I don't want two duff
bulbs!
Is there no shortcut to removing the headlight?
Am I correct in assuming that the igniter and ballast are inside the
headlamp?
Dave

 

The control unit is bolted to the head light underneath so you need light
out to swap them over - ignition and lights off and take out fuses 6 and 24
to save yourself a shock.

 

oo - might be wrong there - might only have one control unit that feeds both
lights - can you see with out taking them out?

 

one for left hand headlight is fastened to the light and I think one for
right light is fastened to the wing - should still be able to swap them -
sorry if I am misleading you but been ages since I messed with one.
Hope this helps.

 

The circuit diagram in the haynes manual shows that the igniter is
inside the RH headlamp and that the control unit is outside.
So - - I need to have a d*m good look in the morning. If it's outside
the protection of the lamp casing it might have been damaged by water
ingress, bad earth or any of a myriad things.
Any idea exactly where it's located? Is it inside the wing?
Unfortunately the haynes manual is not a lot of help in identifying the
*exact* location of the control unit.
Dave

 

I would expect it to be under the bonnet not far from the light.

 

So would I, but I can't see it. I *think* it's under the headlamp behind
the bumper. There's no way one can touch it, so I'll be off to get
quotes to fix it. £ouch or ££OUCH I wonder?
Thanks for the help so far.
Dave

 

Take your bumper off and have a look - only 15mins tops to get it off - be a
lot cheaper if you swap boxes over and that is the problem - just price of
parts then.

 

The control unit is £175 + vat. eek! No returns so I'm not buying it on
spec.
Booked into my local dealers next week for an initial check.
Dave

 

Quick question, how do you set the headlight aim as one on ours is much
higher than the other.

 

There is an adjustment on the headlamp (at least on the Bosch lamps).
Think it's mentioned in the handbook.
Check that the hight leveling motors are working and that one light is
not stuck high.
Dave

 

Cheers Dave, the motors are working OK, its the basic setting.

Niel.

 

If you look from the top at the back of the headlight you will see 2 allen
key holes (6mm I think). One near the wing does left and right and one near
the middle of the light does up and down.

 

Oh - just check the bulb and holder has been fitted correctly first - easy
to not engage the top lug on the holder so the bulb is at an angle giving
high or low beam.

 

me140 is right, I just had a look at mine. When I picked up the Vectra
the dipped beam was far too low. I re-adjusted it and it's been through
2 mot since then with no problem.
Be careful handling the bulbs, they cost £100 each. Don't put any
fingerprints on the glass. As I've found to my cost, bulbs don't fail,
the electronic control unit does!
Dave

 

Right, adjusted aim and ok, but now motor doesn't move it, I suspect its
been apart and isn't right, still it'll do for now....