Types of xenon ignition units, causes of their malfunctions and repairs at home.

Date: 04/09/2020 | Category: Xenon, Light

The factory service life of xenon lamps in a car often differs from actual performance during operation. Many motorists experience breakdowns when devices burn out prematurely. A simple solution to this problem is the usual replacement with new ones. However, real car enthusiasts will definitely begin to understand the real causes of premature breakdown. After all, if you do not eliminate the root of the problem, then any subsequent replacement of components will be a waste of money.

Why do car xenon lamps burn out?

In practice, the service life of a xenon lamp in a car is completely different and depends directly on the quality of workmanship. Cheap components from unknown manufacturers often fail at the most inopportune moment. Manufacturers guarantee full functionality of light bulbs and units over a service life of 3000-4000 hours under average operating conditions. However, in addition to poor quality, xenon lamps can burn out for the following reasons:

• incorrect installation in the headlight
• short circuit in the wiring;
• mechanical defects;
• overheating of the lamp in the headlight;
• significant voltage drops;
• violation of tightness.

If the listed symptoms are present, the service life of branded xenon lamps for a car is significantly reduced. The frequency of use of devices also affects the total resource. The longer the lamps in the vehicle's optics burn, the faster they will exhaust their service life. The main reasons include installation errors. Unqualified connection and installation sharply reduce the service life. Any impacts to the bulb during installation work negatively affect its performance in the future. If oils get on the lamp glass, it will lead to almost immediate failure.

Which lamps are better to choose when purchasing?

When choosing xenon lamps, the following parameters should be taken into account:

1. Lamp base. For each make and model of car, it is necessary to select the correct lamp base, without having to resort to altering the standard system. As a rule, the size of the plinth is indicated in the description of the vehicle. If there is no such information, then you can use the table located on the website of the VipFara auto store at the link - https://www.vipfara ru/page/podbor-tsokolya-lamp;
2. The optimal color of the lamp is selected, which depends on the temperature measured in Kelvin (indicated on the packaging or the lamp itself):
   

   3000K - the resulting light is yellow	It is recommended to install such lamps in fog lamps
   4300K ​​– milky white	This light is as close as possible to daylight and has the highest brightness levels. Lamps with this parameter are most often installed by the manufacturer in standard xenon
   5000K – white	lamps with this parameter are also installed for low and high beam
   6000K and above	as a rule, they are not used in vehicle lighting equipment, since there is a high probability of creating an emergency situation due to blinding of the driver of an oncoming car

• The company is a lamp manufacturer. This parameter is also of significant importance, since the duration of use of the lamp and its compliance with the declared parameters depend on the manufacturer. It is recommended to purchase lamps from the following companies (according to popular ratings):
  

  Philips (Germany)	the cost of lamps from 2,000 rubles is fully justified by the quality of the product and the length of use. The lamp warranty is up to 24 months depending on the model
  Sho-me (Korea)	You can purchase lamps for a price of 400 rubles. According to users, the lamps are reliable, but unlike the previous brand they work for a shorter time (about 2,000 hours)
  MTF Light (Russia)	the cost of a lamp starts from 950 rubles and above. The warranty period is 1 year. Russian xenon lamps occupy third place in the popular rating, as they are characterized by low cost and proper quality
  Optima (China)	You can buy lamps for as little as 350 rubles. Product quality is guaranteed by the manufacturer. Manufacturer's warranty is 12 months from the date of purchase
  MaxLight (Korea)	the low cost of lamps (from 350 rubles) and the ability to operate for more than 2,000 hours have led to the popularity of this brand among consumers

When installing xenon on a car, if the headlights are not provided by the manufacturer, it is necessary to undergo a legalization procedure, that is, re-equipment of the vehicle.

For using “collective farm” (not legalized) xenon, the owner of a vehicle may be subject to administrative punishment in the form of deprivation of rights for a period of 6 to 12 months.

How to check the xenon ignition unit?

The overall service life of powerful and expensive xenon lamps in a car directly depends on the performance of the ignition unit itself. The module must produce a stable voltage regardless of fluctuations in the main network. The main function of the unit is automatic adjustment of the current supply. Often motorists encounter it breaking down. At the same time, checking the module is sometimes problematic without special equipment. However, before purchasing a new device, you should use the following recommendations:

1. Checking with headlights - each headlight has its own ignition unit, which supplies power directly to the contacts. To check, just swap the modules and try to turn on the lighting equipment.
2. Testing with a multimeter - you need to turn off the headlight and measure the voltage at the supply contacts by connecting the tester plugs to the red and black wires.
3. Testing with an oscilloscope is a professional method that can be offered at service stations. The equipment is capable of measuring voltage, current, pulses and other characteristics.
4. Complete replacement - connecting a new, working ignition module will help you find out the real cause of the malfunction and extend its service life.

If the above methods have no effect on the situation, then the car owner is recommended to check the electrical wiring, namely the wires that are suitable for the lighting equipment. It is also necessary to evaluate the condition of the fuses. If you do not have the skills to work with electrical systems, it is best to contact specialized specialists.

What it is

A xenon lamp is a car lighting device that consists of a durable glass bulb completely filled with the gas of the same name.

This device is different:

• obtaining lighting of a higher level, which allows you to use the car not only at night, but also in conditions of poor visibility on the road;
• duration of use. Compared to conventional halogen bulbs, which can last no more than 400 hours, xenon bulbs can last more than 3,000 hours;
• the ability to receive daylight, which has a less negative impact on the driver’s vision;
• low power consumption.

The main disadvantages of xenon lamps are the high cost and the need to install additional equipment - an ignition unit.

The ignition unit is a small device that consists of a process that controls the operation of the system, a transistor and additional elements.

For correct operation of lighting devices on a car, the device must be connected:

• to the battery through a special power relay;
• to the lamp through the car starter.

Increased service life

To increase the service life of xenon lamps for a car, you must follow some recommendations. First of all, you should purchase only proven components from reputable manufacturers. It is also recommended to combine halogen bulbs with xenon bulbs. For example, you can put halogen on the low beam, and xenon on the high beam. Thus, it is possible to reduce the load on parts. The main ways to extend service should be highlighted:

• eliminate “blinking” of head lighting equipment;
• turn off the optics until the vehicle’s internal combustion engine stops;
• monitor the insulation of the flask;
• avoid switching on/off too frequently;
• purchase parts from trusted stores.

To increase service life, it is necessary to turn on xenon headlights only 5-10 seconds after starting the car engine. After all, at the moment of start-up, a sharp drop in voltage is observed in the system, which “kills” the ignition modules and negatively affects the lighting equipment. You can also increase service life by using appropriate connectors and sockets.

How to distinguish good xenon lamps for a car from defective ones?

Manufacturers systematically warn motorists about the presence of a large number of counterfeits on the domestic market. Defective and low-quality specimens can only imitate the supply of bright light. Original products always have factory markings. The plastic part on the base may have 2 slots. In this case, the flask is installed perfectly level, and there are no chips or cracks on the glass surface. Official products are always packaged with instructions inside or on the box. Automotive components cannot be sold without the appropriate stickers and quality marks, which are applied by laser.

It is worth paying attention to secondary factors. Some motorists evaluate the quality of devices after connection. Often, due to poor contact, automotive xenon changes color flow during operation. This phenomenon indicates the need to check all connections. For this reason, car enthusiasts spend a lot of money trying to fix the problem by buying a new pair of light bulbs. Often the cause of weak light can be a leak in the headlight, which leads to contamination and failure of the reflectors. Professional headlight repair or replacement will help here.

Therefore, before using lighting devices, it is recommended to carefully familiarize yourself with the features of their operation and installation. If you lack knowledge, it is better to contact specialists.

Reasons for failure of the ignition unit

Practice shows that the key causes of failure are:

1. Moisture gets into the middle of the block.
2. Wiring faults causing a short circuit.
3. Lack of contact in the connection.

Reason #1: water

Any fogging of the headlight is an alarming signal for the car owner. Depressurization allows water to fill the headlight niche itself, which leads to moisture entering the block. The connection itself suffers. Up to a certain point, the circuits hold the load, but over time, high voltage and contact with water lead to breakdown.

Read more: Electronic PTS

With such a breakdown, only replacing the unit will not help. It is best to dry the headlight and seal it. Specialists can carry out this process. If the headlight has significant damage to its integrity, it will have to be completely replaced.

It is possible that the unit has only partially failed due to oxidation of the contacts. After drying the block and blowing out the inside, you can check it and install it again.

Reason #2: wiring faults

Wiring defects can only be diagnosed by a professional. Independent attempts to get into a high-voltage system can lead to tragic consequences for life and health. If the problem is really in the electrical supply wires, then most likely it is better to replace them.

Reason" No. 3: lack of contact

An auto electrician, first of all, will definitely check all approaches to the headlight. Sometimes it happens that simple oxidation of contacts or their disconnection leads to the headlight turning off.

If the problem is truly oxidation, then the block has been exposed to moisture. This means that it is necessary to check the places where water can enter the main space. The problem of headlight depressurization is described above. It may be necessary to check the rubber of the hood lid.