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What type of headlight?

Tiny
JUSTINSTILL
  • MEMBER
  • 2004 NISSAN MAXIMA
I am looking online to buy a headlight assembly for my car. I have found some that are halogen or HID, or some that do not say. Does it make a difference which one I get? Are the bulbs interchangeable on these or do I have to get an assembly that states one or the other? My lights seem to shine as a light blue color so I am assuming that is the HID headlights.
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Saturday, June 2nd, 2012 AT 12:37 PM

13 Replies

Tiny
JUSTINSTILL
  • MEMBER
  • 58 POSTS
I am trying to order a headlight for my son's car and they have terms like halogen, HID, and xenon. I want to make sure I get the right one. How do you know the difference in what type your car needs?
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Saturday, June 2nd, 2012 AT 1:32 PM
Tiny
KHLOW2008
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You need to check the system used on your vehicle as same make and year models can come with different system.

Look at the headlights housing and around the area. There should be some indication what it is equipped with.

You want to order the bulb or the headlight assy?
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Saturday, June 2nd, 2012 AT 1:45 PM
Tiny
JUSTINSTILL
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  • 58 POSTS
I need to order the whole assembly. He had gotten in a wreck and the whole thing needs replacing. He told me to order one on ebay but I did not know which one it would take once I got to looking at them. What kind of indication am I looking for, some kind of symbol or words printed somewhere?
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Saturday, June 2nd, 2012 AT 1:49 PM
Tiny
JUSTINSTILL
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Most of the headlights I have seen all look the same, like what he needs, just wasn't sure if there was a difference in whether I got the halogen, HID, or xenon, as far as it fitting right in his car. I was thinking those maybe were just bulb types, but I guess you are saying for those type bulbs, the system would be different?
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Saturday, June 2nd, 2012 AT 2:01 PM
Tiny
KHLOW2008
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For the normal halogen type, the bulb wiring would be simple and goes into the headlight from the wireharness.

For HID/xenon, there would be a control module nearby and it could be under the headlight. There would be warning labels around it.

Checking the bulb would be the easiest indication.
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Saturday, June 2nd, 2012 AT 2:08 PM
Tiny
KHLOW2008
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Yup, HID and normal are different syatems and cannot be interchanged.
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Saturday, June 2nd, 2012 AT 2:26 PM
Tiny
JUSTINSTILL
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  • 58 POSTS
Ok, on D2S VOL. DOT Stanley P2640R. Would this be halogen?
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Saturday, June 2nd, 2012 AT 2:30 PM
Tiny
KHLOW2008
  • MECHANIC
  • 41,814 POSTS
Is this the number from the lens? I am not sure if it is any indication of the type of bulb system used.

Check the bulb wire connector. If it is a 3 pin then it is halogen.
2 pin would be HID.
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Saturday, June 2nd, 2012 AT 2:36 PM
Tiny
JUSTINSTILL
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On the bulb itself, I see D2S 35W 66040, and also there is a H9 located on the housing.
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Saturday, June 2nd, 2012 AT 2:51 PM
Tiny
JUSTINSTILL
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Also is says xenarc around the bulb.
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Saturday, June 2nd, 2012 AT 3:26 PM
Tiny
JUSTINSTILL
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  • 58 POSTS
The assembly looks good other than the lens being broken up. I still need to get the whole thing replaced, don't I? I believe it is the HID headlight. Do the new ones come with the ballast too?
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Saturday, June 2nd, 2012 AT 3:55 PM
Tiny
JUSTINSTILL
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  • 58 POSTS
I've noticed while looking through all these parts, can you buy just the housing for this light, and will it be compatible with either the halogen or the HID? The housing should be the same, just the connections different? I believe all the parts of the other light are still good.
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Saturday, June 2nd, 2012 AT 4:27 PM
Tiny
KHLOW2008
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HID and normal housing are different. Outside they may look the same but the lenses are different in construction. It would be illegal to install the Exnon bulbs into the normal lights as the glare would be different.

What you have is the Xenon bulb. The ballast says that all. You only need to get the housing, the bulbs and ballast can be reused if they are not damaged. They are rather pricey and care should be taken while handling them.
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Saturday, June 2nd, 2012 AT 5:58 PM

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