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Headlight Tab Broke!!

Old Oct 16, 2011 | 12:35 AM
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Headlight Tab Broke!!

So, I just recently got some 5000k bulbs to replace the stock bulbs. Swapped them out this evening in the driveway and ran into an issue. Only the poeple who have swapped or replaced their bulbs are going to know what I'm talking about.

Anyway, after you remove the ballast from the bulb, there is a "Y" spring that the two ends tuck behind a tab to keep tension on the bulb in the housing. You have to press lightly one at a time and move them around a tab to release the tension and remove the bulb. Simple. HOWEVER, on the passenger side, the one tab just fell off when I went to remove the tension. WTF. No force, nothing. It was like the metal was weak. It was hard to tell but it was some sort of cast I believe. The other side still "latches" but the bulb is slightly loose. Furthermore, the D2S bulb is grounded by it's base and the few tests turning the lights on, it doesn't always fire so I have to turn the lights on and off to get it going

Do you think I can get the housing assembly covered by warranty if I explain the situation? Or will they blame me for DIY?
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Old Oct 16, 2011 | 08:47 PM
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Nothing? ...anyway I'm thinking about putting the OEM bulbs back in and then take it in "clueless" stating my right headlight doesn't always want to come on and let them find the issue. I don't want to sound like a scammer, but I really did't do anything. The part had already been weak and just fell of. So, if I explain what happened I don't want room for them to blame me when I know it was a faulty piece.

Opinions?
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Old Oct 16, 2011 | 09:28 PM
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Originally Posted by Ibanez540r
Nothing? ...anyway I'm thinking about putting the OEM bulbs back in and then take it in "clueless" stating my right headlight doesn't always want to come on and let them find the issue. I don't want to sound like a scammer, but I really did't do anything. The part had already been weak and just fell of. So, if I explain what happened I don't want room for them to blame me when I know it was a faulty piece.

Opinions?
are you talking about the clip that clips onto the bulb? if so, it is impossible that would just break off by itself unless the screw was lose to begin with. did you unscrew it?
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Old Oct 17, 2011 | 01:03 AM
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how about a pic so we can visualize it.
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Old Oct 17, 2011 | 10:24 AM
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I'm talking about the part that the compression clip secures behind. The clip would be the piece that actually moves when you remover the headlight. When you pit the new one back in the clip secures behind a tab on the left and right to secure the bulb. Clip is fine, its the actual tab that the left side of the clip goes behind
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Old Oct 17, 2011 | 07:56 PM
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This happened to me as well when I was changing the D2S bulbs. The tab on the right broke. I drove the car with just one tab for 1.5 months without any problems, I didn't know how to fix it or how to remove the tab because it fell in the headlight assembly.

Anyway I painted my headlights so I glued it back together and attached a piece of garden wire to give it some support with some glue. I am not sure if it's possible to fix it without opening the headlight.

I'll see if I can get a picture for you.
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Old Oct 17, 2011 | 08:29 PM
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Yellow is where it broke.
Red is the garden wire.


Uploaded with ImageShack.us



Uploaded with ImageShack.us
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Old Oct 18, 2011 | 12:01 AM
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That's exactly what I'm talking about, except the piece that came off is gone.
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Old Oct 18, 2011 | 08:45 AM
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Originally Posted by Ibanez540r
That's exactly what I'm talking about, except the piece that came off is gone.
The piece should still be inside the headlight assembly, unless you took it out and dropped it somewhere.

The other option is to go to a junkyard and find another light, even if a light is damaged you just need the projector to swap out.
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Old Oct 18, 2011 | 03:55 PM
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i would throw the oem bulbs and go to the dealer with the wtf happened look.
srry dude, but that seems hard to fix unless you remove the assembly which isnt prolly worth your time.
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Old Oct 18, 2011 | 04:02 PM
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Just got done pulling the new bulbs and putting the OEM back in.
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