My daughter owns a 2013 CX-5 GT Edition with AFS head lights. The right head light will occasionally go dark. She's found that she can manually turn the lights off and back on again and the head light will work for hours or days, totally random, but the frequency of failure is increasing. I figured that it would be an easy repair. Not so much.

On the back side of the head lamp assembly are 1) a large diameter cap that can be unlocked and removed with about a quarter turn and 2) what looks like a regular head light bulb with cooling fins and the electrical connector. I can twist (2) to release it, but it will only pull out part way as something inside the housing prevents it from full removal. Funny thing, the headlight will illuminate with the wires disconnected. That leads me to believe the the larger cap covers the area where I need to focus my attention. Its almost as if I have to remove the RF wheel and the fender well shroud to gain access.

I've attached a photo for reference. The large cap (1) has been removed. Revealing an electrical device with a lightning bolt. Area (2) is just below and left with the electrical connection.



Any advice or words of wisdom?

Thanks in advance.

 

Be very very careful. make sure you disconnect the battery before touching anything on the headlight. You risk a 25,000v electric shock.

Discharge Headlight Service Warnings

• When replacing a discharge headlight bulb, performing the servicing with the negative battery cable connected or in a wet work area could result in electrocution. When replacing a discharge headlight bulb, perform the servicing under the following conditions:― Switch the ignition to off and disconnect the negative battery cable.
― Perform the servicing out of the rain and in a dry work area.
― Thoroughly dry your hands.• Because the discharge headlight bulb connector instantly produces approx. 25,000 V of high voltage, inserting a finger or a tester probe could result in electrocution. When turning the light switch on, do not insert a finger or tester probe into the discharge headlight bulb connector.ac5wzw00000168
• If a discharge headlight bulb is illuminated before completely assembling the discharge headlight related parts to a front combination light, it could result in electrocution. Before illuminating the discharge headlights, completely assemble the discharge headlight related parts to the front combination lights and install the front combination lights to the veh

 

You need to confirm if its the Bulb, the ignitor, the control module or a internal wiring fault that's causing the issue.