right dipped headlight warning

[jonsaudi]

It's my first time seeing this so... I got a warning saying "right dipped headlight". I read somewhere that it can mean a few different things. The right bulb is out, does it most likely mean I just need to replace the bulb? (OEM HID's btw)

[kwimberly]

yeah - if your bulb is out, then that's the error message - the "dipped" bulb is the low beam IIRC.

(EDIT: I have halogen bulbs, so I'm not sure about how the error relates to a ballast or something else)

[eurogruppe]

i have the same issue right now, i was hoping it was only the bulb but it ended up being a fried ballast, $200 used :(

[jonsaudi]

Okay. I made a few trips just now and to my surprise, both lights work with no warning. Just on my way home after a third trip, the right light would work sporadically, then a bulb out warning is lit in the display. I turn the headlight switch on and off and sometimes the light goes on sometimes it doesn't. Does this sound like a fried ballast??

[jonsaudi]

bump

[B6JoeS4]

i get the "right dipped headlight" warning probably once a week. its has been going on for about 3 months. i have a 2002 with original xenon's so i think my bulbs are just going bad. im just awaiting my ecodes and then ill get some 600k's off ebay

[Monkey77]

I had the same issue, and it ended up being my ballast was just shot. I had less than 1000 hrs on the bulb, so I ruled that out. Replaced the ballast and no more issues.

[Mike02A4]

I've gotten that twice in the past week where it said left bulb dipped and had a bulb out warning. Everything works fine, I attribute it to the cold weather but who knows.

[jonsaudi]

Thanks for those who replied so far. At least I'm getting ideas on what I should repair. So I've made a couple more trips since earlier when the light was turning on and off sporadically. The light bulb is finally out with the warning on consistently. Could it possibly be the ballast for sure??

[jonsaudi]

oh btw, it's been rainy and cold lately, a bit of moisture is in the headlights. Could that have any effect on the connections/wiring/etc??

[jonsaudi]

bumpty bump

[dannyvox]

iv had the same problem the right headlight constantly turns on and off

tried replacing the bulb but it didnt do anything

i called audi and set up a service

[sean1.8t]

iv had the same problem the right headlight constantly turns on and off

tried replacing the bulb but it didnt do anything

i called audi and set up a service

[220013047]

Same here, It must be the cold weather.

[boy412]

Cold weather seems to make my headlamps act up as well (one of my D1S bulbs is on the way out)...but my guess would be the bulb. If you can borrow a known-good bulb you can test and see if its a bulb or ballast issue.

[jonsaudi]

Ok so I decided to check the ballast and see if the right side ballast is really the problem. To do this, I figured I switch the ballasts and test it. But to my surprise, they are two different kinds?!?!



Apparently one on the right side headlight ballast was made in 2002 and the left one was made in 2003. The previous owner of this vehicle obviously replaced one of the headlights...hhmmm how about an S4 bi-xenon upgrade. A new ballast for these 2002 headlight cost $200 anyway?....

[czero]

I'm having this same problem, but left side, then my left headlight went out =/
Really don't feel like having to buy a new set of bulbs either. I should be able to swap the right and left ballast to see if that's the issue right?

[jonsaudi]

I'm having this same problem, but left side, then my left headlight went out =/
Really don't feel like having to buy a new set of bulbs either. I should be able to swap the right and left ballast to see if that's the issue right?

swap out should be ok as long as you have the same design of ballast..not like in my case

[sean1.8t]

if you don't want to pay $200 for one OEM ballast. then just spend half of that on a brand new aftermarket set of HID's. you'll get new ballasts, bulbs, ignitors, everthing. it'll just most likely take a little bit of fanagling to get the ballast to fit somewhere clean

[jonsaudi]

if you don't want to pay $200 for one OEM ballast. then just spend half of that on a brand new aftermarket set of HID's. you'll get new ballasts, bulbs, ignitors, everthing. it'll just most likely take a little bit of fanagling to get the ballast to fit somewhere clean

Yeah I kinda thought of that but I think I'll stick with OE. Anyone here have S4/bi-xenons or 2003 OEM HID headlight (right) available for sale??

[dezhammer16]

my 03 a4 just started the right dipped headlight too... so from the little bit of searching i've done it seems it's probably the ballast and not just the bulb. in that case wouldn't it just be better to go with a set of aftermarket lights rather than the same stock junk?

[czero]

my 03 a4 just started the right dipped headlight too... so from the little bit of searching i've done it seems it's probably the ballast and not just the bulb. in that case wouldn't it just be better to go with a set of aftermarket lights rather than the same stock junk?

I ended up having D2S bulbs luckily, since they're cheaper. Just bought a pair from DDM tuning for 49 bucks shipped.
When I took out my old bulb it was black instead of clear. Prolly not too good of a sign haha. On another note my right bulb was apparently replaced very recently. Guess previous owner or dealership went cheap and only bought one.

[jonsaudi]

Problem solved...replaced ballast and all's well. I got a used one from eBaY for $150 and a connector adapter for $35. I replaced the 5G type ballast(thicker one) to a more up to date 5GL type (thinner). Hence the need for a connector adapter for 5G to 5GL conversion. Picked up the adapter from LLTEK good product but bad service and shipping took way too long than promised....

[setay]

good to know, this happened to me also awhile back. if anyone else has the need for a ballast pm me, i have a couple laying around somewhere.

sorry O.P., i saw the thread just a little too late... hah

[GrisAudiB6]

so how did you guys, who say it was the ballast, narrow it down to knowing it was the ballast and not the bulb?

im having this issues, but its random, and the bulb usually comes back on shortly after.. just now on the drive home from work it went off then came back on like 4 times in 3 minutes.. the right dipped headlight warning was on, i got out of the car,,, and the light was still on ????? wtf..? im guessing its the ballast too cause it to come back on and off, possibly a faulty/loose connection.. havent had a chance to look.

[DUBxEDITION]

I had this problem when I first got my car..brought it back to the dealership and because it was under warranty they replaced the xenon bulb...... so its deff. a faulty bulb

[jonsaudi]

so how did you guys, who say it was the ballast, narrow it down to knowing it was the ballast and not the bulb?

im having this issues, but its random, and the bulb usually comes back on shortly after.. just now on the drive home from work it went off then came back on like 4 times in 3 minutes.. the right dipped headlight warning was on, i got out of the car,,, and the light was still on ????? wtf..? im guessing its the ballast too cause it to come back on and off, possibly a faulty/loose connection.. havent had a chance to look.

I was in the same situation just when the ballast was going out...the light would turn on and off randomly then after a day or two the light was completely out. I checked the headlight bulbs and they seem to be ok, so my second guess was the ballast. The best thing you can do take your ballasts out and swap them to check for sure if you have a fried ballast; considering you have the same type ballasts..unlike in my situation(see above posts). I would also check on the year those ballasts where manufactured. If it's more than 5 yrs or so you have a good chance that the ballast need replacement...

[jcg05c]

ok i had right dipped headlight. Went to the shop and right light was burnt out. Replaced both sides with xenon, but it seems like the right light only have of the projector is lit up. If my ballast was bad wouldnt that mean no light would be coming out of the projector at all? I have no Dipped headlight message either anymore.

[woofster]

This is interesting. I just got the "right dipped headlight" warning for the first time ever this weekend too. I recall there also being a headlight bulb out warning as well. Without thinking much of what the "dipped headlight" meant, I simply popped out the bulb, put in a new one and all has been fine for a week.

[FLASHMSTRC]

I took my car to the dealer for some work, including a "left headlight dipped" warning. The bulb works on and off, when it does go off, it comes on and off three times, then stays off. I turn the lights off and back on and sometimes it stays on, sometimes it doesn't.

Of course when I took it to the dealership all was working fine and they couldn't troubleshoot the problem. However, the service advisor did say the bulb comes connected to the ballast and is all one piece at about $270 installed/bulb.

Is that true, or can I just replace the bulb or the ballast?

[hbodo08]

i had this issue to when i up graded to 8000k d1s bulbs they looked good for 10 minutes. then i turned off the can and turned it back on and to my surprise left dipped headlight was on my dash. i got it fixed it was a ballast

could the new 8000k d1s bulbs done this ?

[festerfm]

the bulb and ballast are 2 seperate things.. if you take out u'r headlight housing, the ballast is bolted on the bottom of the housing using 6 torx screws. the part that is connected to the bulb is the ignitor.. i upgraded to 8000k bulbs a few months ago and worked great for a few weeks then i got a right dipped warning and the pass lite was out. i swapped the bulbs and isolated it to the pass side.. and the new ballast from the dealer is about that price that was mentioned, like $250 and takes like 2 min to install. i went to omnixautosports.com and got an aftermarket d1s ballast http://www.omnixautosports.com/repla...allast-s/3.htm for a hundred and five bux shipped..

[hbodo08]

do you know what you got exactly so i can run my 8000k d1s bulbs? if you dont mind

[BARRY]

the bulb and ballast are 2 seperate things.. if you take out u'r headlight housing, the ballast is bolted on the bottom of the housing using 6 torx screws. the part that is connected to the bulb is the ignitor.. i upgraded to 8000k bulbs a few months ago and worked great for a few weeks then i got a right dipped warning and the pass lite was out. i swapped the bulbs and isolated it to the pass side.. and the new ballast from the dealer is about that price that was mentioned, like $250 and takes like 2 min to install. i went to omnixautosports.com and got an aftermarket d1s ballast http://www.omnixautosports.com/repla...allast-s/3.htm for a hundred and five bux shipped..

same connectors? which one D1S or D1R?

[afisher0204]

Where would you recommend I pick up a new 2003 HID Xenon headlight?

[rollerton]

This thread is a couple years old, all the original particpants are either dead or all grown up and moved on to a Subaru.

[Charles.waite]

All the names and places are fictional. Any relation to real world events is purely coincidental.

[rollerton]

All the names and places are fictional. Any relation to real world events is purely coincidental.

TOO LATE! I already got a lawyer! HIPPA violation! Too many revealing facts already.

[Charles.waite]

Order in the court!!

[n7plus1]

More often then not, its usually just the bulb. I dont care about how many hours are on the bulb. bulbs are cheaper than new ballasts...the bulb should be the first thing to replace anyway, imo.

Also, in the picture above, the right (bottom) ballast isnt even stamped with a "Valeo" logo...it looks like some cheap aftermarket piece after studying the bottom of it. Is the top of it the same?