Volkswagen Passat '97, User Manual

Page: 103 / 122

56
Electrics
A gas discharge headlight comprises:
l headlight housing,
l gas discharge lamp ballast J426/J427
and
l headlight range control actuator V48/V49.
The gas discharge lamp requires a high-voltage
pulse of several thousand volts to ignite the elec-
tric arc. The voltage is produced in the ballast.
After ignition, an increased electric current is
applied to the gas discharge lamp for approx. 3
seconds. As a result, the lamp achieves its maxi-
mum brightness with a minimum delay of 0.3
seconds.
This slight delay is also the reason why the main
headlight is still equipped with a halogen lamp
which is connected to the headlight as required.
Once the gas discharge lamp has reached its
nominal brightness, the ballast regulates the lamp
power output tio the lamp.
Ballast
Electrical connection
Headlight range control actuator
Gas discharge headlight
SSP 192/078
Gas discharge lamp
SSP 192/122
A repair solution is available for the headlight housing.
During minor accidents, the securing pin on the headlight housing can shear off. With regard to
the gas discharge headlight, this may result in disproportionately high repair costs.
Our repair solution, which involves renewing the securing pin and eccentric, allows all headlight
housings to be renewed inexpensively.