My lights work every other time I start the car...

[bearded_ed]

So yes, as ridiculous as it sounds one of my headlights will only work every other time I start the car.
I have a HID kit installed and honestly it was a damn faff for a small amount of light boost.

What happens is the passenger side lamp will work perfectly the first time. Then I get to where I'm going, lock the car. I then come back however long later and the lamp won't work and I'll have a bulb error.

The fix for this is to take key out the ignition, open drivers door. Close drivers door. Lock car. Unlock car. Open and close drivers door. Start car. Light will work.

And this honestly happens exactly every other time I get in the car. Just turning the lights off and on or the ignition on and off doesn't solve it. But the faff with the lock unlock sequence does.

Any one got any suggestions? Because its really starting to get annoying!

 

[Jakg]

You need to code out the bulb warning system for the dipped beam.
I also find that if i crank the car with them on the same thing happens, so I just turn them on once the engine is on.

 

[bearded_ed]

You need to code out the bulb warning system for the dipped beam.
I also find that if i crank the car with them on the same thing happens, so I just turn them on once the engine is on.

Will the bulb warning system also cause it not to work? I actually tend to just leave my lights on Auto. Maybe I'll try turning them off.

 

[Jakg]

You need to code out the bulb warning system for the dipped beam.
I also find that if i crank the car with them on the same thing happens, so I just turn them on once the engine is on.

Will the bulb warning system also cause it not to work? I actually tend to just leave my lights on Auto. Maybe I'll try turning them off.

Yes - I think the car tries to see if the bulb is "ok" and if not it seems to turn off the supply or something. I'm not clear on the specifics but had the same problem and this has helped a lot.

You need to turn off both "hot" and "cold" monitoring.

If you google "E46 flicking HID" or similar you'll find a lot more information.