HID problems

CamShaft · Mar 1, 2009, 04:29 PM

Hey there...its been a long time since I started a thread.

I bought some HID's, from a very reputable company. Installed them no problem, I am a tech.

Had them in for a month or so, now randomly (seems to do it more with time that the lights are on) the lights will start to flicker then shut off. I noticed it with the left light, then the right. It seems if I turn them off and wait a bit then turn them on its good. The connections are all good. It did come with a module to eliminate any ECU codes related to headlights out for the lower amps that they draw. I did not install these as it worked fine for a while.

I also notice with the car not running and the lights on that they will start to flicker after a few mins. I am figuring this is due to low voltage, but the battery should sustain them for more than 2 mins, no? I have not done a battery load test or alternator test...but then I would have more starting issues....

I have not put my multimeter on this to test so I don't know the exact voltages, but was thinking also running a snap-on scope to see if the voltage is fluctuating.

Any other ideas guys/gals?

Thanks

I Am God · Mar 1, 2009, 04:56 PM

did u do anything for the DRL's, cuz from what i know thats the cause of flickering.

evo_soul · Mar 1, 2009, 05:44 PM

You might want to do a few things to track down where the problem might be. But first if your having issues call the customer service of the HID Company you bought them from. They are pretty good with getting back to you and can walk you thru the process, when i have issues, I was able to figure it out no problem after talking to them.

1. Take off the Anti Flickers and see if they do the same thing.
2. If they keep doing the same thing, try just doing a test just with the car not started / not running and see if the bulbs flicker them selves off. In some cases some kits are smart enough to detect irregularities in your electrical system turn off the kit / bulbs in order to save the bulb life.
3. Take apart the kit and inspect piece by piece eletrical connections, if something is failing, you will start to see burn marks or signs of eletrical arcing . lol you should see what happend to my cable once, lol look at my blog.

http://www.evosoul.com/blog/?p=128

Good luck, I am sure you will figure it out

CamShaft · Mar 1, 2009, 09:04 PM

yes, I have fixed the DRL problem. I tried it with the inline connector for the ECU code eliminator thing (whatever it may be for) same thing tonight. They work for 10-30 mins no problem then one goes out. Turn the lights off for a split second then on and they work...for a bit. It seems to be happening to both, not just the left one now. Tried it with the car off, they would intermittently turn off and on (10 second intervals or so.) Turned it off for a bit, then on and the right on wouldn't come on, left it for a bit then they would work for a bit. Wierd. Nothing I can report on until I get it to my shop to check the voltages with the scope and multimeter... But thanks for the help guys.

kalpakiotis · Mar 2, 2009, 06:18 AM

You might want to try checking the Relays. I know with the HID kit I installed, all problems led back to the relays. Got so bad that they wouldn't even turn on. I figured it was just moisture shorting to ground cuz when I let the car sit in the sun, the HIDs would magically turn on. Now I have the relays chlling in an enclosure secured in the front left fender. Havn't had a problem since.

While were on the topic of flicker, i have a different symptom. This one is quite random and doesn't happen every time I use my lights. The last snowboarding trip i took, I noticed that my right low beam would flash (aka get brighter, emit more blue light, then come back to normal level). It did it a few times, so i tried killing the lights for a few seconds then turning them back on. Seemed to fix it for a while but then it just happens. I was thinking it could be a bad ground connection, but then all 3 kits are grounded at the same point, and only this one bulb does this. would it be a bad bulb?

CamShaft · Mar 2, 2009, 12:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kalpakiotis

You might want to try checking the Relays. I know with the HID kit I installed, all problems led back to the relays. Got so bad that they wouldn't even turn on. I figured it was just moisture shorting to ground cuz when I let the car sit in the sun, the HIDs would magically turn on. Now I have the relays chlling in an enclosure secured in the front left fender. Havn't had a problem since.

While were on the topic of flicker, i have a different symptom. This one is quite random and doesn't happen every time I use my lights. The last snowboarding trip i took, I noticed that my right low beam would flash (aka get brighter, emit more blue light, then come back to normal level). It did it a few times, so i tried killing the lights for a few seconds then turning them back on. Seemed to fix it for a while but then it just happens. I was thinking it could be a bad ground connection, but then all 3 kits are grounded at the same point, and only this one bulb does this. would it be a bad bulb?

my kit i bought does not have releys, its a plug and play system. I am in contact with the company: http://www.aluminaxenon.com/

Hopefully I will figure out the issue. I will post my finding once done. As for you problem kalpakiotis, I am new to the whole HID systems so I can't help you there...thus me asking on here for help

, cheers

CamShaft · Mar 4, 2009, 02:02 PM

turns out the ground I think is the issue. I believe it is controlled by the ECu and yesterday I tested it and I was getting 140 ohms on the right headlight ground wire and 45 ohms on the left, also with .014 V on the ground wire. So either I will have to run a dedicated ground or wire ing a relay for my HID's. Speaking of wiring in the relay, I could have just left the drl's :P instead of wiring them to the park lights.

I Am God · Mar 4, 2009, 02:45 PM

left ur drls? wouldnt u get flicker then?

Curt@MrLed · Mar 4, 2009, 03:15 PM

What kit are u using.

CamShaft · Mar 5, 2009, 02:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by I Am God

left ur drls? wouldnt u get flicker then?

I could have just left the DRL's with wiring in a relay having the drl or light violtage and ground controlling battery power in the relay to power up the HID's.

I am going to try running a dedicated ground and see how that works. Does anyone know the it is the 12V to your lights that shut off when you have the car off or open the door? or does the ECU drop the ground? I will find out...

Also I am using the aluminaxenon.com kit....see above post.

Curt@MrLed · Mar 5, 2009, 02:59 PM

Wish I could help more, sorry., but all the ones I have sold no one has this problem.

brandonbeeb · Mar 8, 2009, 03:16 PM

the ballast are both grounded to the battery ground.
i have the harness relay setup so its got the two triggers for the headlight turn on running to it. a lead from the battery to the relay and then a seperate ground on the relay itself to the battery and then the positive wires from the ballast run into the relay

CamShaft · Mar 12, 2009, 02:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by brandonbeeb

the ballast are both grounded to the battery ground.
i have the harness relay setup so its got the two triggers for the headlight turn on running to it. a lead from the battery to the relay and then a seperate ground on the relay itself to the battery and then the positive wires from the ballast run into the relay

Exactly what I did, but my wiring was probably more messy as I had 15 mins left until my shop closed up... I would like to buy a premade harness, because it saves me the work of finding weather proof relay connectors and looming everything ect...

But as for now they work, I just say F*ck the DRL's and turn my headlight on all the time before I drop the E-brake....