Lighting Element - High Intensity Discharge - Removal
LIGHTING ELEMENT - HIGH INTENSITY DISCHARGE
WARNING: To avoid serious or fatal injury when working on the High Intensity Discharge (HID) headlamp system, be certain to take the proper precautions. The headlamp switch must be in the OFF position. Disconnect and isolate the battery negative cable. There is a risk of death caused by contact with high voltage used in the HID headlamps. There is a risk of explosion or fire caused by highly flammable materials in the vicinity of damaged HID lighting elements. There is a risk of injury caused by exposure to Ultra Violet (UV) light, a risk of burns caused by high component operating temperatures, a risk of mercury poisoning through glass splinters produced by bursting HID lighting elements. There is also a risk of poisoning caused by inhalation of mercury vapors and by toxic salts and mercury compounds being ingested or coming into contact with the skin. Do not come into contact with parts that are under high voltage. Persons with active electronic implants (e.g. heart pacemakers) must never work on HID headlamps. Wear insulated safety shoes, safety glasses and protective gloves. Remove flammable materials and ensure sufficient ventilation in the working area.
CAUTION: Do not contaminate the lighting element glass by touching it with your fingers or by allowing it to contact other oily surfaces. Shortened lighting element life will result.
1. Disconnect and isolate the battery negative cable.
2. Remove the HID front lamp unit from the vehicle. Front Lamp Unit - Removal
3. Place the front lamp unit on a suitable work surface. Be certain to use the appropriate precautions to protect the lamp lens from cosmetic damage.
4. Grasp the tab (3) at the bottom of the rubber boot seal and pull it off of the lighting element and igniter opening (1) on the back of the lamp housing.
5. Disconnect the high tension cable connector (3) from the connector receptacle integral to the igniter.
WARNING: Use care not to cut your fingers on the sharp edges of the spring steel igniter retainer.
6. Grasp the tabs (4) of the spring steel igniter retainer (1), one at a time, and pull them toward the side and away from the igniter connector far enough to disengage the retainer from the latch feature on each side of the igniter receptacle (2).
7. With the latch feature on each side of the igniter retainer disengaged, remove the retainer from the igniter receptacle.
CAUTION: Use care not to lose and be certain to retrieve the coiled metal grounding ring (2) that must be positioned around the insulator at the base of the lighting element during reinstallation.
8. Pull the igniter (3) and lighting element (1) unit straight out of the igniter receptacle.
9. After removing the igniter and lighting element from the igniter receptacle, carefully inspect them to be certain the coiled metal grounding ring is still engaged on the insulator at the base of the lighting element. If it is not engaged on the lighting element, retrieve the grounding ring (1) from the igniter receptacle (2).