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Headlamp swap from Xenon to Halogen

Stevearcade

Stevearcade

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2003 Accord CM2
Ok well the part I need to get my auto levelling headlamps working is not available from any authorised avenue of any sort until July now... I've had no news back from over 20 breakers who I've emailed. Seems this really is an obscure part.

I need my car to pass its MOT retest a week Friday. I'm looking at getting some normal Halogen bulbs, but apparently the fitments are different for the bulbs and it's not a case of plug and play as I was hoping. I'm therefore looking at my options...

One option is, for the sake of the test, change my headlamps with those meant for halogens, not xenons. Then the fittings will be correct and I only need to do a little fiddling to bypass the HID transformer right?

Anyone got any thoughts or advice before I go ahead and buy the necessary bits from eBay?

Thanks.
 
Ok, some further info:

Here's my headlamp as is:
B__0800.jpg


Here's what I'd be looking to replace it with:
B__0800.jpg


Can anyone foresee any issues, ***uming I replace the whole unit?

Thanks
 
Not much help Steven, but can you manually adjust the lights after bypassing the HID setup?

I know on my 6th gen as most cars, you can manually adjust depending on the load on the rear. Is this also essential for the MOT do you know?

I guess what I am asking is, do cars that don't auto-level still need the manual adjustment option on ordinary bulbs and if so do you have it available?

Good luck anyway mate...


Andy
 
the connector blocks look different on the control unit? or whatever the seperate box is. Am guessing thats going to be the issue.

Martyn
 
Also the headlamp adjuster unit blocks look different? sorry if im missing something. If those are both interchangeable from one lens body to the other it may work but not sure of the ins and outs.
 
Yeah, I wondered that also. So I'd need to have the little 3-way switch in the cabin that allows me to adjust the angle myself should I wish? Hmmm, this seems almost as complicated as finding a replacement part for my HIDs.
 
the thing is if you still want the height adjuster to work inside the car. If they auto adjust im guessing so. Its going to have to be connected into the headlamp as it stabilises the lense will wobble around and so throw out your beam adjustment. my concern would be the 2 connectors going onto that unit for each of the headlights look different according to the parts diagram( which arent always right). Which will be a different block on the wiring loom. Whats the actual fault with the current lights that have cause them to fail the mot? Martyn
 
I don't know if you need manual headlight adjustment on a car with halogen bulbs, but I'm inclined to say no provided they weren't factory fitted. My Golf, Scirocco, 3rd Gen Accord and 4th Gen Prelude all are without in cabin adjustment.

Might be worth phoning the dealership to ask one of their MOT testers before you commit?
 
Ok, so this is where I'm at:

- Fit hallogen bulb lights (can do this fairly cheaply through eBay)
- Get adjustors for the halogen lights from eBay also (breakers most likely)
- The connectors are different for the dipped beam. I can work around this I'm sure, get some different connectors, some solder, heat shrink and I should be ok. Do that kind of thing a lot in sound engineering

Then I'll have stable lights that can be aimed at least, if nothing else. This I can see as being fairly doable.

The in-cabin adjustment (***uming it needs doing):

- Get a switch and mount in a spare switch space in my cabin - can do this easily I reckon
- But then what? Surely something goes between the switch and adjustors to interpret the switch setting and send the correct signal to the adjustors. It's figuring this out that I'd need to do. If I have all the parts in front of me, I can sort it no worries. But it's getting the parts and finding the time!!!

Seriously, if I can't get this sorted I'll have to take the car off the road until I can source the parts in July :eek: !
 
nuts

i think you are better off getting it done properly, and get the xenons fixed.

messing with halogens seems just a big no to me.

can you get a car to keep you going till then?

my car passed the mot monday but no idea about the auto level thing, never got a chance to speak with anyone.
 
I'm not worried about the electrics. I'm no stranger to making electrical things work. I'm more comfortable with electrics than mechanics :lol: .

Once I can get the part I'll be getting the Xenons working with auto-levelling. It's all about getting the part! Hopefully I'll hear something back from the 30 or so breakers I've emailed today :unsure: .

But in the mean time, I need to get the car through the MOT :( .
 
This is a nightmare Steve and don't no what to say. What i will say is that i looked into stock HID on my car and it would cost a fortune.So like wise in your case going the other way might be a costly solution.
Hopefully the breakers will turn out something.Have the dealers come up with a solution because the parts are not available.
What i mean is there a kind of waver if you cant get parts or another solution to get the car through the MOT.
For instance can they set the lights up correctly pending on delivery of the new unit.
 
Hi Steve - only getting this far down now.

The head-lamp casing for the Halogen and HIDs are the same. Internally the project lens though is different, so the side-lamp, head and indicator bulbs are the same. To switch to Halogens you would need:

1. A Halogen projector
2. The correct cabling loom

Also bear in mind you would need to upgrade the fuse to support the extra current draw (2 x 35w versus 2 x 55w). Seems a messy job.

Where I've seen HIDs levelling fail is:

1. The levelling motors
2. The levelling sensors on the front/rear of the car

I've not seen an ECU failure yet.

In the event that the ECU detects an error its sets the adjusters to the lowest level and doesn't attempt to self-level until the error is fixed.

If you need to get past the MOT, could you:

1. Disconnect the levelling motor power/feed (plug it out)
2. Manually adjust the HIDs
 
FWIW - this guy seems to be breaking a 2.4 with HIDs.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/HONDA-ACCORD-I-VTEC-2-4-AUTO-2006-O-S-WING-MIRROR-BREAKING-PARTS-/360647365019?pt=UK_CarsParts_Vehicles_CarParts_SM&hash=item53f842119b
 
Yep, messaged him. It's recently become MOT rules that self levelling must work if HIDs are fitted.

I hear what you're saying about the job being messy, but I'm prepared to do it if it keeps me legally on the road.

I know what you're saying about the sensors/adjustors should usually be at fault. It's interesting what you said about the system setting them low and staying there. I had a faulty adjustor that you sent me a replacement for some time ago. It's possible that tripped the system some how. Maybe it needs to be reset in some way (if that's an option, I don't know?).
 
Stevearcade said:
I know what you're saying about the sensors/adjustors should usually be at fault. It's interesting what you said about the system setting them low and staying there. I had a faulty adjustor that you sent me a replacement for some time ago. It's possible that tripped the system some how. Maybe it needs to be reset in some way (if that's an option, I don't know?).
Click to expand...

The system can be reset by the HDS - in the absence of the HDS disconnect the battery and re-connect, the levelling ECU doesn't hold any static data really.

FWIW, if you're handy with electrics I'd check the resistance level of the sensors at each wheel and ensure that this change with an up-down movement of the arm. From there, check the continuity back to the ECU. From the ECU see it it's attempting to adjust the motors (i.e. applying power). I.e. start probing - this is an electrical problem so there's a sensor missing something somewhere.
 
The mechanic claims to have tested the sensors and they're fine. Tested the adjustors with whatever they use to plug in and test with. Says all seems to be working, but the ECU is having none of it...?

Anyway, I'm pretty sure I'm not going to attempt to retro fit Halogens, so we can take this discussion back over here.
 
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