HID emergency

XanderWiFi · 07-15-2010, 08:27 PM

So my HIDs have been working fine. Great in fact. Until today. I washed my car, and driving with the fiance I flicked the lights on and saw that only one came on. "Shite" I thought-"more loose wires." But I get home, check it all out: bulb looks good, wires secured. Something just died. I work 12s the next two days and leave on Sunday and need to figure this out asap.

Suggestions PLEASE!

Ryan from Ohio · 07-15-2010, 08:43 PM

This sounds bad.

Do you have a digital multi meter?

If so its probably best to unhook each bulb then check for continuity. If they have continuity then they are likely good.

May be a faulty ballast. Remember my kits have a lifetime ballast warranty. If its the ballast just toss it in a box and send it to me. I will get you a replacement ASAP.

On a side note if you do this send me a PM on it. I will contact my distributor then and get this resolved.

In the mean time if you truly need your lights unhook the HID system and plug you old bulbs back in. Better to be safe than sorry!

jabartram · 07-15-2010, 08:48 PM

check the main plug going into the headlight, you may have burnt a terminal, thats what happened to both of my headlight plugs.

XanderWiFi · 07-15-2010, 09:05 PM

Thanks for the support Ryan. What would a burnt terminal look like by chance? And is this the terminal going into the new headlight or the stock plug that connects back to the ballast?

Unfortunately, I do not have any meter equipment to check charges. Not good.

Update: adjusted some of the wiring. Unplugged and replugged the stock cable into the ballast cable and on it comes....just really touchy wiring I guess.

Ryan from Ohio · 07-15-2010, 09:53 PM

Do you have any dielectric grease?

I wonder if you are getting moisture in there or just a bad connection...

XanderWiFi · 07-15-2010, 10:33 PM

When I bought a new turn signal bulb the autozone guy threw in a little packet of something or another...said it stops corrosion yada yada yada...of course, I threw it away today dammit. Something like that?

heineck · 07-15-2010, 11:03 PM

yepp thats it

Ryan from Ohio · 07-16-2010, 06:34 AM

I bought a big azz tube of it for like $6. Use it on spark plug wires and any connections under the hood. It displaces moisture, stops corrosion, and stops rubber from sticking to the plugs...

Gr1m · 07-16-2010, 11:13 AM

i would check to make sure the relay for the actual ballasts did not get wet and is shorting something out, that happened to me back in the day when i put in my first set of HIDs

lonnie · 07-16-2010, 11:48 AM

It's allot easier to troubleshoot with a DMM. Even a cheap one in this case that way you can start to see if you are getting the correct voltage or voltage at all to the ballast or from. Good Luck!

Ryan from Ohio · 07-16-2010, 01:17 PM

DMM's can be had at Harbor Freight for $3-5...

Work good enough.

XanderWiFi · 07-16-2010, 10:10 PM

I don't know...but it went out again.

Ryan from Ohio · 07-16-2010, 10:15 PM

When is this happening?

When its raining? Cold? Or just randomly?

Sounds like you have a bad connection somewhere.

JunkProwler · 07-16-2010, 11:19 PM

Try flicking your highbeams and if you can eventually get both bulbs lit, its because your wiring can't carry enough juice to light them both at first. Solution would be a wiring harness with thicker power wire to the battery (fused).

XanderWiFi · 07-17-2010, 10:55 AM

And they both were back on this morning! I think I need to find that grease...but I won't have time with my trip. I definitely think bad connection. Some of the plugs I had a hard time getting to completely latch but I am not sure where. Seems random.

Juice is not an issue. The ballasts charge up and the light charges up with them.

lonnie · 07-18-2010, 07:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by XanderWiFi

And they both were back on this morning! I think I need to find that grease...but I won't have time with my trip. I definitely think bad connection. Some of the plugs I had a hard time getting to completely latch but I am not sure where. Seems random.

Juice is not an issue. The ballasts charge up and the light charges up with them.

If you could test the leads when it is going crazy you could narrow down which connection it is.

XanderWiFi · 07-18-2010, 01:14 PM

Yeah...I just lack that testing ability right now.

Silentalero · 07-18-2010, 01:53 PM

It could still be a faulty ballast, I had 2 ballasts go out on the 240. (hl and fogs) Even after they go off the ballast could be faulty and flicker back on for a little bit. Check the warranty and replace it if needed. Not really an emergency, just a quick swap

XanderWiFi · 07-30-2010, 07:49 PM

Now it seems that one is off color from the other. Or it does not shine has "sharply" so to speak.