Lighting - Color/Brightness Difference Between Headlamps

NUMBER: 08-029-07

GROUP: Electrical

DATE: December 5, 2007

SUBJECT:
Color And/Or Brightness Difference On HID Replacement Headlamp Bulbs

MODELS:

2004 - 2008 (CS) Pacifica

2005 - 2008 (LX) 300//Magnum/Charger

2007 - 2008 (LE) 300C/300C Touring (International Markets)

2007 (L2) 300 (China)

2008 (WK) Grand Cherokee

2008 (WH) Grand Cherokee (International Markets)

2008 (RI) Town & Country/Grand Caravan/Grand
Voyager (U.S. and International Markets)

2003 - 2008 ZB Viper

DISCUSSION:

When an HID (Xenon/High Intensity discharge) headlamp bulb is replaced, there may be a visible color difference between the new lamp and the one that has been in the vehicle for some time.

An HID headlamp has a very bluish/white light spectrum. A new HID bulb will tend to have a color temperature at approximately 4150K, an HID bulb with operational time and age will shift color temperature towards a slightly higher value of approximately 4300K. If you have an existing HID headlamp on one side of the vehicle and a replacement HID headlamp on the other side of the vehicle, the headlamp with the new bulb will appear more yellowish/white, while the headlamp with the existing bulb will appear more bluish/white when on. Due to the physical properties of HID headlamp, the color of the bulb will change within the first 200 hours of operation about 150 - 200K (color shift). Once this breaking-in period has passed, the color appearance becomes more bluish/white and resembles the original bulb, so that the perceived color difference is small.

Do not replace a working headlamp bulbs for this condition and advised the customer that this is a normal occurrence and the color will change.

POLICY:
Information Only

Disclaimer:
This bulletin is supplied as technical information only and is not an authorization for repair.