I had my 2008 G35x at my dealer this am, 70K miles for oil change tire rotation. Service adviser called me that my right high beam was out and that the bulb was $180 and the bumper needed to be removed to access the assembly for a total of $310 to replace a bulb.
Caught me off guard with that $$$.

I did a little research on line and from what I read, the 2011 and up have solenoid flaps for a single HID bulb but cannot find anything about the 2007-8.

I can use some guidance here.

Thanks!!

 

There is no "high beam" on our HID bulb, it's a solenoid that triggers a shield to move up/down as you've said.

 

So if that is the case is replacing the HID bulb going to fix the problem or is the high beam solenoid a whole different issue??

 

Could it be the high beam relay/ fuse in the IPDM?? Would hate to spend that chunk of change on the bulb or worse, if it's a fuse

 

No, changing the bulb will solve nothing

If the solenoid is bad, you will either have to buy a new headlamp assembly, or if you have the know-how, you can buy the HID projector assembly and swap it yourself. Of course that involves opening up the light, but it's a lot cheaper.

 

So this goes back to my original question about my dealer telling me that it was the bulb. Now my trust of my dealership goes down the tubes because maybe they just knocked out a fuse to get me to pay $300 for so-called bulb. Or, maybe they just don't know what they're talking about.

 

This is very simple. If you don't see any light coming from that side the bulb is out. If the solenoid is bad you'll be able to see the light regardless.

 

My low beams are working just fine, which now confirms that my dealer doesn't know what they're talking about. Especially since my service advisor thought that I had a separate high and low bulb in the headlight assembly.
And still, nobody commented on my thought that maybe there was a fuse out...

 

If the fuse was dead both headlights will be off.

 

This kind of problem will be sort of complicated to diagnose.

Replacing the whole headlight assembly (Infiniti doesn't repair anything in the headlight, they just replace the assembly) may not fix the issue if the problem is elsewhere.

It could also be your IPDM/BCM/wiring harness being problematic. The dealer would have to test those to make sure the signal going to the solenoid for high beams is working correctly.

 

Lexus assemblies cost over $2k each lol...

Anyhow, you could always find the part used from a junkyard or elsewhere or take a good one apart and replace the solenoid yourself.

Most of the time the problems are with the ballast, which is easily swappable with a new one from the same manufacturer (Matsushita) bought from theretrofitsource. ($170 for 2.)

 

From what I researched : "The fuse is the labeled either right or left for low beam or high beam. There are 4 fuses and they are all located in the IPDM which is located behind the battery." There was a schematic of the IPDM showing the 4 headlight fuses.
If this is the case the right high beam fuse in the IPDM may be out.

Is what I read not fact?

 

If you read that from the Infiniti G35 FSM exl (external lighting section) then that is correct. Your first step should be checking fuses/relays in the IPDM and see if they're working. You can also use a multimeter and test the connection to your headlights to see if the high beams have the proper signal. If it does, then your headlight assembly has to be replaced.

That's what I meant by checking the IPDM in my earlier post. Like I said, there could also be a BCM issue (connection from BCM to IPDM,) or wiring harness. These are probably not as likely.

You will have to remove the windshield cowl and the battery to open the IPDM box.

 

That is pretty much what I expected to have to do. Being up here in the northeast with this horrible winter I will have to wait for the weather to warm up a little bit then I'll be able to take everything apart and take a good look. Hopefully it's just a fuse or relay and I will be all set.
This all certainly doesn't seem to bode very well for my dealer told me all I needed was a bulb...

 

Yeah I have issues with my headlights too....it is too cold right now to diagnose but my headlights would sometimes flicker.

I suspect sometimes since we live in the harsh cold weather that water and salt have gotten into the headlights and caused damage to my ballast or some electrical connection. it could also rust a lot of the components in there.