How to check the xenon ignition unit with a multimeter video

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Such a system cannot operate from the standard electrical circuit of the car, which leads to the need to install additional equipment, namely an ignition unit.

What is an ignition unit and how can you check the functionality of the device, read on.

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.

The design and principle of operation of a xenon headlight

Xenon lighting involves the use of not only an appropriate lamp, but also an ignition unit (IBU), which ensures the normal operation of the entire system. Its purpose is to generate a current of a certain strength so that the gas in the flask begins to burn and subsequently shines with constant power. The standard electrical equipment of the car cannot produce the required voltage, which predetermined the use of the unit. It also automatically adjusts the level of light flux depending on the level of road illumination.

What is it for?

The ignition unit performs the following functions:

• supplies high voltage to the lamp installed in the headlight to ignite the gas in the bulb. No vehicle equipment is capable of delivering, even briefly, a current of such strength that the xenon lights begin to burn and provide the necessary lighting;
• maintains the current necessary for correct operation of the lamp.

Depending on the visibility conditions on the roadway, the ignition control unit is capable of independently increasing or decreasing the current supplied to the lamp, which will lead to an increase or decrease in headlight light, respectively.

On standard xenon installed directly at the vehicle manufacturer, ignition units are included in the lighting equipment system.

When installing xenon headlights yourself, the devices must be purchased and installed additionally.

Xenon lamps do not turn on the first time - reasons

In fact, there are quite a few reasons for the incorrect operation of gas-discharge lamps, which undoubtedly complicates the search. So, let's look at different situations.

1. Xenon does not light up in two headlights at the same time. As a rule, the cause of this is a fuse that needs to be checked. This is done as follows: disconnect the “-” terminal of the battery, after which we take out the fuse that is responsible for the light of the headlights you need. A blown fuse can be determined by eye in most cases, so if the cause is confirmed, we change the fuse and try again.

1. The fuse is ok, but the xenon does not turn on. If you still cannot understand why the xenon does not light up
   , I recommend checking the contacts. As a rule, such problems are extremely rare with standard xenon; this kind of “sores” occurs in those who. Checking the contacts involves inspecting them for oxidation or burning. If oxides are still found, they must be eliminated using a special liquid or, in extreme cases, WD-40. After this, the contacts themselves are treated with antioxidant grease and, if possible, sealed.

1. One xenon lamp does not light up periodically
   . In this case, you need to pay attention to the ignition unit, as well as the lamp itself. To check the unit and the lamp it heats, you must do the following. Remove the lamp and install it on another unit; if it lights up, then the problem is not in it, but possibly in the ignition unit. If the lamp does not light even with another unit, then most likely it is faulty and needs to be replaced. Also, a xenon bulb very often has a pink glow that is visible to the naked eye.

1. The xenon does not turn on the first time
   , but the light bulbs and ignition units are working. In this case, the cause should be sought in the wiring. I’ll say right away that finding a broken xenon wiring on your own is not an easy task, so I would recommend contacting an experienced electrician. Using a tester and his own skills, he can easily find a broken or problematic wire and help fix your problem.

If the reason has not been established, and you could not understand why the xenon sometimes turns on, sometimes it doesn’t, my advice to you is to find a good electrician or a service station that specializes in installing xenon. There is a 99% guarantee that your problem will be solved there in a matter of minutes. That’s all I have, thank you for your attention, I hope you were able to find the answer to your question and your problem was successfully resolved. All the best and see you again on .

Instructions

If there is no headlight washer and automatic leveling, check the matching of the headlight and lamp. When installing a xenon lamp, it is imperative that you have a corresponding headlight. This is confirmed by special markings. Carefully inspect the entire headlight glass. If you don’t see signs on it that correspond to the designation of xenon, then carefully examine the headlight housing, having first opened the hood. The first letter D on the marking indicates that this is a headlight for a xenon lamp. If you see the letter H, this means that the headlight is made for a halogen lamp and cannot be used for xenon.

To check the functionality of the xenon lamp, temporarily move the ignition unit from the working one to the one that has gone out. If the headlight lights up again, then everything is fine with it, but the ignition unit is faulty. If it doesn’t light up, you’ll have to buy a new one.

Helpful advice

Please note that when purchasing a car with conventional headlights, which have xenon lamps installed inside, it is necessary to bring everything into compliance, i.e. install regular lamps instead of xenon. Because when checked by a traffic police inspector, you may be fined or even deprived of your license for up to a year.

The question of choosing a headlight lamp arises before almost every driver. It is especially important to carefully select lamps if the vehicle is driven in inclement weather conditions, at dusk, in the evening or at night, or off-road. The better the road is lit, the fewer dangers await the driver on it.

You will need

• Instructions for using various types of automotive lamps.

Instructions

There are gas-filled or halogen lamps, which come in the following varieties: standard, high power, high light output, pseudo-xenon, all-weather. More recently, xenon lamps with high power and favorable quality characteristics have appeared on the market of automobile accessories and spare parts. However, most xenon lamp models are designed for installation in optical headlights

.
Installing inexpensive xenon lamps in reflector headlights
will cause great difficulty in adjusting the light output. Some manufacturers produce special xenon lamps for reflector headlights, but please note that they are relatively expensive (from $400).

A wide variety of types of lamps for car headlights allows you to select lighting for the specific goals that the car driver sets for himself. Evaluate the characteristics of your driving at dusk, taking into account that you may be faced with bad weather, rainy or dry climates, unpaved or smooth asphalt roads, short or long distances. Depending on your driving conditions, select a product brand.

Choose the qualities of automotive lamps that are your priority: low power consumption and low heating or increased light emission, high power, as well as standard or non-standard headlight shapes, geometric configuration and other parameters. In addition, note what is more important to you, the low cost of the lamps or their high quality.

If you want to install the same lamps that you had when you bought your new car, then you should choose standard halogen lamps. Most automobile manufacturing companies install these types of headlights

with a power of 55-60W. Check out the range of car lamps at the car service center where you decided to purchase the product, and buy the option that best suits your needs. If you are in doubt whether the selected lamp will fit your headlights, ask a car dealership consultant to help you with your choice.

Video on the topic

Xenon, or xenon lamp, is one of the types of gas-discharge lamps. It is a quartz glass flask filled with gas under high pressure (up to 30 atm). Xenon may not light for two reasons: the lamp has deteriorated or
ignition
unit .

Instructions

The set of xenon lamps includes
ignition
unit and the lamp itself.
ignition
unit is necessary to supply a high-voltage (25,000 volt) pulse to the lamp, as a result of which
xenon
and the lamp begins to flare up. In combustion mode, the lighting device requires little power - about 35 watts.

Connect the wire block

and
ignition
to another working xenon lamp.
If the lamp lights up, then the problem is most likely in the lamp. If the lamp does not light, it means ignition
unit and will have to be replaced.
The block is a special microcircuit sealed in an iron case.
the fourth generation unit is considered the most common and reliable

Do not forget that you must touch the xenon lamp carefully, using a napkin or wearing rubber gloves. The flask is quite fragile, and grease from your hands can lead to a change in the spectrum of the glow.

It should also be remembered that when installing xenon headlights, you should also install a system for automatically adjusting the angle of their tilt and a headlight washer, so as not to blind drivers driving in the opposite direction with oncoming light.

note

Xenon lamps have many advantages over other lamps used in car headlights, including halogen ones. They are several times brighter and more durable than their analogues, reliable, economical, and do not overheat. The disadvantages of xenon include the speed of their activation (several seconds), high cost, and the impossibility of a single replacement. Replacing xenon headlights is only possible in pairs, otherwise the color of one headlight will be different from the other.

Currently, xenon lamps are increasingly used in car exterior lighting systems. Even though they are more expensive than regular halogen ones, they have many advantages. Xenon lamps shine much brighter, they are economical and reliable. An integral part of the xenon lighting system is
ignition
unit , which, like any other equipment, can fail.

You will need

• - screwdriver;
• — working xenon lamp;
• — new ignition unit (if necessary).

Instructions

Disconnect the negative wire from the battery. Check the fuse corresponding to the vehicle's exterior lighting system. If necessary, replace it with a new one.

Check the connections of the wires coming from the ignition unit, as well as the fastening of the contacts, which may become loose during vehicle operation. If your car has non-standard xenon*, then most likely the headlights have adapters from the socket for halogen lamps to xenon lamps. Rule out their malfunction. * - car enthusiasts call non-standard xenon xenon lighting installed independently; standard xenon is installed by the manufacturer.

Replace the xenon lamp in the headlight with a new one; perhaps the reason lies in its burnout. If you have checked and corrected all possible problems in the external lighting system, but the headlight still does not light, it means that the xenon ignition unit is faulty. It hardly makes sense to spend time disassembling it and troubleshooting it, since the unit is sealed, the electronic board inside it is soldered into resin. Therefore, simply purchase and install a new ignition unit.

Securely secure the new ignition unit with the mounting bracket and self-tapping screws. Connect the power wire, observing the polarity, and then the wires coming from the ignition unit to the xenon lamps. Secure the wiring harness. Connect the negative cable to the battery. Turn on the headlights. If one of the headlights does not light even after replacing the ignition unit, you need to look for the cause of the problem in the wiring.

note

Helpful advice

Before starting the car engine, turn off the xenon lighting, otherwise the system may malfunction.

Sources:

• About xenon

More and more often in the press you can find articles about installing xenon bulbs on a car. And this event took on a completely new meaning in the eyes of traffic police officers. In this article we will consider whether it is worth installing a xenon lighting system on your car.

Possible causes of failure

If the lights do not work when starting the car, the causes of the malfunction may be:

• lamp failure;
• inoperability of the ignition unit.

If the lamps installed in the headlights of a car fail, the problem can be solved by a simple replacement, which you can do on your own.

Malfunctions of the ignition unit are more significant problems, but in most cases they can be solved without contacting specialists.

Most often, the ignition unit for xenon lamps breaks down for the following reasons:

1. Insufficient level of tightness of the device housing. As a rule, when the tightness decreases, the lamp first blinks and only then stops working completely. Troubleshooting is done visually. To fix the problem, you can use any sealant that is applied to damaged surfaces.
2. Formation of corrosion on the housing or inside the device. The reason for the formation of rust is the low tightness of the housing, as a result of which moisture gets inside the device. Corrosion can damage the elements of the unit or cause components to fall out. How to check a xenon ignition unit without a lamp for corrosion? Just as in the previous case, it is determined by inspecting the device. To eliminate it, you can use alcohol.
3. No signal to the control controller. The reason may be a consequence of depressurization of the housing or moisture ingress, as well as a malfunction of the wiring connecting the unit to the battery.
4. Failure of a transformer, transistor or other device necessary for the correct operation of the unit. How to check if the xenon ignition unit is working if the internal elements are faulty? To carry out this operation, special tools are required.

In practice, there may be other causes of unit malfunction. However, almost all of them are a consequence of those mentioned earlier.

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.

How to check the xenon ignition unit at home

Is it possible to check the performance of the unit at home or in the garage? You can identify faults and repair units on your own, if you have special tools and know the procedure for carrying out work.

Test devices

The most common instruments used to check the functionality of the ignition unit are:

The multimeter consists of a control unit, complemented by a screen and wires that are connected to the equipment being examined.

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.

General information

The xenon lighting system is quite complex and consists of slightly different parts than other types of standard lighting.

Despite the fact that the main element remains the xenon-filled bulb, there are no less important technical devices, the main one of which is the ignition unit.

It comes in a variety of powers that can be combined with certain lamps, but the specific choice depends on the driver's needs and the expected brightness of the devices.

Basically, concern about the ignition unit occurs when a motorist wants to change the standard light, which shines poorly and does not meet the driver’s expectations.

Thus, he must understand what devices will be needed for this, and what specific power should be selected to ensure maximum performance.

The ignition unit itself, which makes the lamps work, is technically complex and also consists of many devices that together provide the proper result.

Initial data

To ensure the operation of automobile lighting, an ignition unit is simply necessary, because only it can produce a voltage of 25 thousand volts necessary to ignite the lamp, but it does this for a couple of seconds, and then simply maintains a stable voltage of 80 volts.

But the peak starting energy supply must be coupled with a high level of safety, and the developers of the ignition units have provided all possible options, and even if the light bulb is removed during operation, the unit will recognize this and will not try to ignite again, so as not to harm the user.

Safety precautions before turning on

It is necessary to start the procedure for turning on the ignition unit only when the lamp is connected to it.

Moreover, the block itself is placed on a surface with a non-conductive coating, as well as as far as possible from objects that can easily catch fire.

Under no circumstances should you touch the unit with your hands when starting work, since the voltage in it at the moment of ignition is from 20 to 30 thousand volts, and this can cause fatal harm to a person, although in terms of power it is similar to the impact of a stun gun.

If the driver is working on installing the unit, then before starting work the battery should be disconnected so that there is no possible false operation of the unit, which can cause damage.

It is necessary to provide insulation for all wires and check the connections so that the wires fit securely to the power poles.

You need to select a lamp for a specific ignition unit so that they match in power, otherwise these two devices may not work correctly with each other.

The legislative framework

The legislative framework does not stipulate which devices should be used and what characteristics, but it is very important to understand that in some sense the very use of xenon light is limited.

So, such lighting can only be used when standard headlights are intended for this, or a person has carried out a legal conversion, which is noted in the technical documents. Such standards are established by the Rules for the Operation of Vehicles.

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When xenon equipment is installed illegally in a car or the light bulb is simply built into a headlight that is not intended for this purpose, then the norms of the Code of Administrative Offenses of the Russian Federation come into force.

Its article 12.5, part 3 states that if a person has allowed improper operation of a car in terms of technical equipment, then certain sanctions may be applied to him, which consist of a ban on driving a car for a period of 6 months to a year, but the specific period depends on the circumstances .

Video: Checking the ignition unit for xenon lamps

Xenon lamps have taken automotive lighting to a completely different level. Every car enthusiast who has tried innovations can easily note the positive aspects of their use. Unfortunately, breakdowns occur with various parts of new lighting systems. It is worth considering each of them carefully, because standard solution methods may not give the desired result.

Let's consider one of the complex breakdowns that may require significant material costs. Its name is the failure of the xenon lamp ignition unit.

What is a xenon ignition unit?

The ignition unit for a xenon lamp is a complex electronic circuit that can power the lamp through a flash of a powerful pulse. The block is presented in the form of a metal rectangular box, which is fixed under the car headlight.

The block contains information about the manufacturer and the main characteristics of the product. In addition, there is a special socket for connecting a headlight and sensor. The connector is protected by a sealed rubber band.

How to determine that the xenon ignition unit has failed?

In a car equipped with functioning sensors, the on-board computer will report an error. “Check the low beam lamp”, “No low beam”, etc. Of course, immediately looking for a problem in the block is a mistake. Perhaps it's the lamp itself. To do this, you need to take it out and first check it visually.

If there is damage, then it is necessary to change it. It will also not be superfluous to rearrange the light bulb from a working headlight. If there is no response and the light does not come on, then the problem is really in the ignition unit.

In some brands, turning off fuses can lead to paralysis of specific body systems. In this case, a simple replacement will solve the problem.

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.

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.

If the device shorts, you need to pay attention to the fuses. Perhaps replacing the required element will return the headlight device to operation.

Reason #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.

Repair of the ignition unit

The ignition unit is a complex circuit in which hundreds of parts are connected. If you are a specialist in this field, then you can carry out the repairs yourself. To do this, we open the metal box, clean the parts, find damaged areas and clean and replace them.

Most experts are inclined to believe that repairing a burnt-out unit is a temporary measure. Statistics show that such a thing will not last long, and sometimes leads to more serious consequences.

The best solution is to replace the block. You can choose an original or universal part. Practice shows that original parts are made of higher quality material and will last longer.

You can always find and order a block through the official service or the Internet.

Standard and universal ignition units: differences

All devices are a step-up transformer enclosed in a housing. Their task is to convert impulses from the on-board network into voltages of up to 25 thousand volts. A powerful start makes the xenon glow. Subsequently, the unit produces 85 V, which is necessary to ensure that the gas does not go out.

We also recommend reading our specialist’s article, which talks about which xenon is better and how to choose it.

Products installed at the factory are characterized by high stability, reliability and long service life. All of them have special markings - OEM codes. They are needed to check the compatibility of the car, headlights and the ignition unit itself. The power supply voltage of the unit is 12 V for passenger cars, and 24 or 36 V for trucks or SUVs.

Universal (adaptive) ignition units are used to independently change the optics. Available in two versions.

1. DC. A device that operates with direct current. It is distinguished by the absence of a stabilization unit and its relatively low cost. However, lamps working with it flicker: combustion is not very stable.
2. AC. A device that operates with alternating current. Provides high-quality glow of lamps. The use of a stabilizing block guarantees an even voltage - there is no flicker. The downside is the higher cost.

There are no OEM codes on universal ignition units. All products are connected to a standard 12 V car on-board network, have a power of 35 W and produce a voltage of 23 thousand volts.