HID Light problem

Hey guys,

Just wondering if anyone is experiencing the same problem as me. Its probably not EP3 specific but since its on a EP3 ill keep it to this thread.

I just recently purchased an EP3, its a 2002 model with the facelift headlights.

They are HIDs and when i turn them on, the right side sometimes doesnt turn on. I have to flick it a couple of times to turn them on. I only notice it when i stop at a set of lights and can see the reflection.

question is, is it the wiring or do i have to change the bulb or converter?

keen to know this aswell, as i have the same problem.

i know the ballast on the left headlight is mounted to chassis. where as my right ballast is mounted on some plastic near the abs unit.

thinking it might be a grounding problem, cbf playing around with it

Hey I found this, probably should have googled before i posted

Help! My HID lights are not working. 4 things may have gone wrong.


The headlights are very important. Without working headlights, you won’t be able to drive at night. When your HID lights fail, there are 4 things that may have gone wrong. General symptoms prior to complete failure include:
1. The ballast

• This is the weak link for an HID system. This should be the first component you test.
• No symptoms prior to failure, ie, works perfectly until you switch it on one day and it doesn’t turn on
• Bulb flickers and then dies during startup
• Have to turn on and off the lights multiple times to get the HID lights to fire up
• No sound emitting from the ballast
• Warning! In any event, do not touch the ballast, especially a faulty one because extremely high voltages are generated in the ballast. Make sure you’ve switched off your lights before proceeding with any connection/disconnection of any HID components.

2. The bulb

• Bulb colour changes (Usually the colour change is very obvious and you should be able to tell without comparing it to a HID light without a problem)
• Bulb flickers during operation
• Bulb suddenly turns off
• Bulb flickers and then dies during startup
• Have to turn on and off the lights multiple times to get the HID lights to fire up

3. Wiring

• HID bulb flickers when you drive over bumps
• HID bulb turns on and off intermittently

4. Fuse

• Both lights are not working
• Other headlights are not working (Most cars have all headlights sharing the same fuse)

The following diagnostics would determine which component caused the failure:

• Check integrity of wiring condition (If the high voltage ballast wires are compromised, take caution and unplug the ballast after you have turned off your lights. Do not do further tests on the ballast. You would need a new ballast. This usually happens when something gnaws on the wiring.
• Check that all connectors are plugged in securely (If unsecured, unplug and replug securely. Then test to make sure that the HID system works)
• Plug non-working HID bulb to the ballast on the side that is working (If it works, then it’s the ballast that is causing the problem)
• Plug the working HID bulb to the ballast on the side that is not working (If it works, then it’s not the ballast that is causing the problem)
• Check that the fuse for your headlights are still intact

hmm since I know its a ballast problem, it would probably be better if i replace it all.

My headlights is the updated headlights on the EP3, does anyone know what size it will be to fit it into the headlights?