saabthusiast

Hello all. I Have a q bout my 2003 9-3. The SID reports a low beam malfunction. I thought it was the bulb except I noticed as the car is started, the headlight comes on for a split second then shuts off. Is this a ballast problem? I thought since it turns on for a split second that it probabaly was not the bulb (Damn things are $200). Any help would be appreciated and if anyone else has experienced the same problem, what costs are we looking at? Thank you all in advance!

Roto

are the HIDs stock or are they an aftermarket addition?

saabthusiast

They Are the stock.

Roto

Sounds like ballast...I was toying with HIDs today and had that same problem with a set of stock infinity HIDs....swapped balasts and it worked...what happens when you actually turn on the headlights? DOes one side come on?

saabthusiast

Yes one side does and the other does not. Have checked the fuses. How long do the HID's last anyway? This is the first time i have had them. Thanks for the reply btw Roto! I figured it might have been the ballast. BTW is it a dealer only part?

Roto

well....it's not a dealer part only, but I would get one from the dealer...but that is coming from a person who never dealt with saab HIDs...I'm surethey use something common in other cars, I just never seen what exactly...I know that OEMHID systems easily last 7 years without replacement...

saabthusiast

So here is another Question. Now the other HID is turning purple instead of the bright blue. What does this mean? Is this light going out or does it relate to a drop in voltage somehow and the full potential of the bulb is not being utilized? Thank god for tax returns. Not the way I wanted to spend them though.

saabthusiast

So after all that, I found out it was both bulbs. Expensive!