Headlight problem on 2007 GranTurismo

Thatch

Member
Messages
232
After buying the car 2 months ago with the Offside headlight not working, I though - "not a problem, should be able to sort that myself".

How wrong I was!

- Initial investigation by garage traced it to the Ballast unit, which I sourced new unit on ebay (£140) plus all the investigation work and fitting (£300).
- garage advised me that the adaptive feature was not working (hence warning light on dash), and that the light unit was damaged (previously) so letting in condensation. I accepted that, as I was too shocked to splash out £1500 for a complete new unit (Northern boy!)
- However, after the recent spell of wet weather last week, the condensation began to re-appear, and then last night I discover the light is not working again!!!

My questions are:
- has anyone else experienced similar issues?
- could it simply be a loose electrical connection? (the rear parking sensors don't currently work, and the headlight warning message is not always displayed) I also noticed that sometimes when parked and off, the light bulb housing was facing to the right by about 20/30 degs, and sometimes straight!
- could the dampness in the light unit be temporarily shorting, and/or blowing the ballast?

The thing is, I have it booked into my paint shop (different garage to the above) at the end of the month to get the bonnet and front bumper resprayed, so ideal time to get at the light unit looked at. So should I bite the bullet and order a new unit, or get the original garage to see if they can 'fettle' it (which will be difficult without the car).

Thanks for any advice in advanced!
 

safrane

Member
Messages
16,747
If the light is damaged and blowing bulbs and ballasts I would just get a new one or ask eurospares or breaker only to send a used one.
 

Thatch

Member
Messages
232
If the light is damaged and blowing bulbs and ballasts I would just get a new one or ask eurospares or breaker only to send a used one.
Will be looking for a cheap replacement, but the thing is I don't know for sure it is the condensation causing the problem.

Would hate to spend £1500 + fitting for the problem to still be there because of some other electrical problem!
 

CatmanV2

Member
Messages
48,543
Are they sealed? The bulbs and ballasts are easy and cheap on ebay. If the light is on, is it just the adaptive feature?

Nice colour BTW :D

C
 

Thatch

Member
Messages
232
Are they sealed? The bulbs and ballasts are easy and cheap on ebay. If the light is on, is it just the adaptive feature?

Nice colour BTW :D

C
Is what sealed Catman? If you mean the light, then I think not, as the dampness/condensation must be getting in from somewhere.

It was just the ‘adaptive' feature that wasn't working, but now the light has stopped working. Which originally turned out to be the ballast not the bulb. But I don't know which it is this time.
 

CatmanV2

Member
Messages
48,543
I meant the unit.

So if the light has stopped it's cheap enough to buy another ballast and bulb and get lights back. The adaptive bit might be a problem but I'd suggest getting another dealer.....

C
 

todea20

Junior Member
Messages
198
I might just have the same problem on mine.How do i know which ballast do i need?
 

AaronE

Junior Member
Messages
156
the ballast is also the "computer". most bulbs are direct wire (i.e. you don't need the silver box - they're directly connected to a pin on the harness) but the silver ballast also controls (at least) the highbeam deflector actuator.

they should be a dime a dozen on eBay. I wouldn't pay more than like $50 or so. they attach with three phillips screws.

note I have heard that they need to be "coded" to the car with an SD3 for the turning function to work, though the lights will without it.
 

Thatch

Member
Messages
232
Replacement ballast and headlight unit on ebay

https://m.ebay.co.uk/itm/Maserati-G...663cffe9a174&_mwBanner=1&_rdt=1&ul_noapp=true

Fitting tab has been repaired. The other side is available as well. 1/3 of the price of new dealer part.

Cheers.

Saw this, but mine is silver finish not black.

Thing is - still worried that replacing is not necessarily going to fix the problem - but dont think there is an alternative! (i.e. not sure if condensation in the light unit would cause the ballast to blow so regularly)
 
Last edited:

spkennyuk

Member
Messages
5,930
The ballast sits under the headlight rather than being inside it. Unless the condensation in the headlight unit is shorting the bulb then i would suspect that condensation isnt causing the ballast to blow.

Unless a member has a spare unit you can try then there isnt really much option. 2nd hand part on sale or return possibly ?
 

Thatch

Member
Messages
232
The ballast sits under the headlight rather than being inside it. Unless the condensation in the headlight unit is shorting the bulb then i would suspect that condensation isnt causing the ballast to blow.

This is what has been nagging me. £1500 will cure the condensation issue, and probably the ‘adaptive’ feature, but will probably not sort out why the light keeps failing. (Assuming it is the ballast that has failed again).

Alternatively I could have been unlucky with the last ballast I bought.

Looks like I will buy a new light and hope to goodness that something else isn’t blowing ballast units.
 

Thatch

Member
Messages
232
UPDATE: Took the car into Barr-Tech today to see why the light failed again, and it is definitely the new ballast that has blown/failed, and caused by the condensation in the headlight. (You could see the corrosion 'inside' the sealed connector!)

So confident that a 'new' unit, with coded ballast should fix the light and the adaptive feature for good.

Thanks for everyone's advice in helping me to root cause the problem, and if anyone knows of a brand new unit going cheap, let me know!;)
 

Thatch

Member
Messages
232
Does anyone know if the new style GT headlights (containing logo) 2018, can be fitted to a 2007 car?