Headlight Flicker

[mtech91]

Hi Guys,

Has anyone had any trouble with flickering headlights. My passenger side will flicker then sometimes die but comes on again if I turn the lights on and off. I have changed the bulb and it still happens. normally I get the headlight warning when i hot a bump in the road.
Anyone else experienced this and found the problem? I've checked the connections but it all seems fine!

Thanks!

[Type_Audi]

Hi Guys,

Has anyone had any trouble with flickering headlights. My passenger side will flicker then sometimes die but comes on again if I turn the lights on and off. I have changed the bulb and it still happens. normally I get the headlight warning when i hot a bump in the road.
Anyone else experienced this and found the problem? I've checked the connections but it all seems fine!

Thanks!

Do you get a "Headlight dipped" message on your information center? Occasionally (say once a month) this happens to my right HID (06 S4). Bulb looks to be burning the right color so it shouldn't need replaced, although it seems you proved that by replacing. When mine does it, there really isn't any specific situation that seems to trigger it. I could be driving slowly around town, or on the interstate. I'm baffled by this one as well...

What year is your car? Does it have the dynamic cornering lights?

[DTMOOOO]

Happens to me all the time on the passenger side as well, I have to keep turning my lights on and off till it finally stays on. Mainly happens when making a turn and the surface Isnt completely flat. I asked audi during my last visit and they said it was normal and there's nothing wrong with it. So annoying

[imola s4]

same thing used to happen to me. replaced the ballast and hasn't happened since

[mtech91]

I thought it might be the ballast, It happens on any occasion and after turning it on and off a couple times it seems good for the rest of the trip, mostly happening at the start.

The car is a 06 and has the cornering lights. I think Imola has got it sorted. Change the ballast. How much did it cost you?

[imola s4]

I took it to my indy shop and Im not sure exactly how a ballast works but it ran me about 200 bucks (not completely sure on that number either id have to look it up in the records) and he said he only had to replace part of the ballast (thats the part I didn't understand) and since then I haven't had any flicker or dip in that light. My other light is starting to dip every now and then

[Xyber]

Have you got D1S or D2S bulbs?

D1S have built in igniters, D2S have the igniters on the ballast. I've got D1S and I think the igniters are screwed as they light during the hi voltage warmup but the die on the step down.

That'll teach me for buying cheap bulbs

[peterk81]

I recently had the same issue and replaced the d1s bulbs which seems to have fixed the flickering and "dipped headlight" issues.
On a side note, I decided to change the color of bulbs and have a set of sonic tuning 4300 bulbs new in package if anyone is interested. I also have the oem philips bulb that wasn't flickering. Cheap!

[DTMOOOO]

Peter what bulbs did you end up putting in, I am thinking about replacing the bulbs first in mine to see if it solves the issue

[MDRracing13]

I'm having the same problem.. pretty frustrating. ^^ let us know if replacing the bulbs solves your issue

[peterk81]

Its been a few days since ive had the flickering and dipped headlight warning. I wish that I had done it sooner. It was embarassing driving with the constant flickering and at times, blinking.

DTM- I'm sure most would recommend oe quality bulbs like osram, sylvania or philips but sonic seems to be very popular on az. I decided to use one of first three manufacturers.

[diaftia]

Usually you start with swapping the bulbs (or replacing them). If the flicker goes to the other headlight its the bulb. If it flickers on the same light its the ballast. Since you have replaced your bulbs its most likely the ballast. There is a possibility that if your headlights still flicker after the ballast is changed that the faulty ballast damaged your bulb. Generally you want to change both bulbs together BTW, since they change color as they age.

[diaftia]

Peter what bulbs did you end up putting in, I am thinking about replacing the bulbs first in mine to see if it solves the issue

I used the sylvania CBI's (66144CBI). They are 5K vs the 4300 Stock. Whiter without turning blue compared than the standard yellowish color of the stock HID's. They are more expensive than the regular bulbs though. The big thing is to make sure you get genuine OSRAM bulbs and not chinese knockoffs. You can email Matt@theretrofitsource.com to get some good ones if he has them in stock. The Retrofit Source online: headlight upgrades for all applications (they are not listed on his site since he only occasionally gets them).

Here is how to spot fake Chinese knockoff bulbs http://www.hidbulbzrus.com/vs.pdf Oddly enough when I replaced my bulbs the one that was flickering was a Chinese knockoff. So one thing to consider is that you replaced a cheap or even failing bulb with a cheap bulb.