[Geo Star]

I am trying to help out my girlfriend. Shortly after she purchased her 2017 QX30, i felt like the output of the headlights was low and that they were pointing down, so that anything more than 15 feet was not illuminated. She took it to the dealer and they said it was fine. Unsatisfied, i ended up adjusting them up with the screws on the lamp assemblies, as i learned on this forum. Better, but not as bright as my 2017 VW GTI. Month later the right highbeam stopped working. I removed the tire and could not see any bulbs through the small hatch. I assumed they were LED's and not easily replaced. That was a while ago, and my girlfriend tolerated it.

Last week she told me that she had a message " check left low beam". When i finally saw her, it appears that only the day running lights are operating.

Questions.....Are the LED's prone to failure? How do you replace them? Seem like the service hatch in the wheel well it too small. Does the headlamp assembly need to be removed and the bumper skin?

Seems like a great car to me with the exception of the headlights. She is more tolerant than I am.

 

[p07r0457]

Some QX30's have LED headlamps and some have only halogens. The LED headlamps are not serviceable, and if they have failed you'd need to replace the entire assembly. The halogen headlamps are serviceable, and the bulbs may be replaced. You access them via the hatch in the wheel well, and then there is a cap that must be unscrewed to expose the bulb.

Can you post a picture of the headlamps you have? That will help identify which you have.

 

[Geo Star]

thanks for the reply P07 penguin.

I attached some pics. I am pretty certain they are the LED's. I removed a wheel well hatch and couldn't see any bulbs. I just ordered the service manual to understand the process of removal of the headlight assy. I am hoping that i can disassemble and trouble shoot what is wrong with the assembly, and buy some aftermarket parts. A service manager at a local dealer though the headlight assembly was around $1,000. That seems outrageous.

 

[Bartos Bartos]

It is not LED

 

[Geo Star]

thanks for the good news. It seems that the LED headlight assembly is $1,500.

I guess i was fooled by not being able to see the bulbs and the Ribbon Cable connector, when looking in the wheel well hatch.

 

[alexmed2002]

thanks for the good news. It seems that the LED headlight assembly is $1,500.

I guess i was fooled by not being able to see the bulbs and the Ribbon Cable connector, when looking in the wheel well hatch.

If you want brighter bulbs, I'd recommend getting either Philips CrystalVision Ultra Bright White bulbs or Hella Optiplux White bulbs. I've had really good luck with these two sets of bulbs in the past on other vehicles.

 

[p07r0457]

As @Bartos Bartos said, those are halogen and not LED headlamps. The bulbs can be accessed via the hatch in the wheel well. Behind the hatch you can access the socket cover (part #4 in diagram). The socket cover can be removed to access the bulb.

 

[Geo Star]

thanks for the replies.

I purchased some new halogen bulbs only to find that they were there were Hikari LED's installed. The one on the drivers side was not working and when i juggled the connector it lit, but then went out again. Unhappy with the lighting on this car, i am now considing a new set of Hikari LED's. Mine seem like an older version. Hoping the output is improved.

My new qusstion is....... It seen like this halogen lamp assembly has only one Headlight bulb per side. I was thinking it was two. one for low and one for higbeam. How is highbeam accomplished? the Hikari LED conversion bulbs say dual beam, but the connector is two wire. I'm confused. Is there a motor in the assembly that tilts the beam up for highbeam?

George

 

[alexmed2002]

My new qusstion is....... It seen like this halogen lamp assembly has only one Headlight bulb per side. I was thinking it was two. one for low and one for higbeam. How is highbeam accomplished? the Hikari LED conversion bulbs say dual beam, but the connector is two wire. I'm confused. Is there a motor in the assembly that tilts the beam up for highbeam?

The single bulb on each side does both the low beam and high beam. It runs at a certain brightness with low beams on, and when you activate high beams it makes the bulbs run brighter.

 

[Geo Star]

The single bulb on each side does both the low beam and high beam. It runs at a certain brightness with low beams on, and when you activate high beams it makes the bulbs run brighter.

this is a little confusing for me. For a two pin connection at the bulb connector, the voltage would need to be varied to control Brightness. I measured voltate at the bulb connector when the lights were on and it showed 14V. I am 90% sure I didn't have the high beam activated for this measurement.

I saw a used Halogen headlight assembly on ebay and it said servo motor not included. Are you sure that the headlight high beam is not performed with a motor that tilts the projector housing?

George

 

[p07r0457]

this is a little confusing for me. For a two pin connection at the bulb connector, the voltage would need to be varied to control Brightness. I measured voltate at the bulb connector when the lights were on and it showed 14V. I am 90% sure I didn't have the high beam activated for this measurement.

I saw a used Halogen headlight assembly on ebay and it said servo motor not included. Are you sure that the headlight high beam is not performed with a motor that tilts the projector housing?

I believe it's a combination of PWM (pulse-width modulation) as well as a servo. The servo moves a piece that changes the beam cutoff, but there is a different wattage in HIGH vs LOW operation, so the bulb is also being operated at a different brightness.

 

[Geo Star]

thanks p07,

That makes sense. If i can find an oscilloscope to use, I with check your thought on PWM. i ordered a set of Hikari Future lights. these seems to be insane bright at
30,000 lms The electronics and the fan on this LED assembly seem longer than the earlier versions sold by Hikari, If they don't fit behind the plastic socket cover, i plan to put a bump out on the cover.

Hikari offers a 30% coupon for and when upgrading their earlier versions. It seems like they need a purchase receipt, which i don't have, because my girffriend bought this QX30 used.

George

 

[randal63]

On Hikari, you need to position the bulb vertically using an Allen key. You buy a six-sided design on Amazon and you don't have to spin anything. Safe 80W power and good cooling due to the use of copper that dissipates heat better. It is best to remove the wheels when replacing (easier access) and you will replace everything in 15 minutes. The LED bulb type is 9012 HIR2. I've had them for two years and they're fine.
https://www.amazon.com/Headlight-Li...ight+bulb&qid=1677214572&sprefix=9012+HQIR2%2 8-88&th=1