Headlight problem (HID)
Headlight problem (HID) Car has been down over two years as I did repairs and mods...including those cheapy HID kits from ebay. The setup is four ballasts, four bulbs, two relay harnesses direct to the battery. The problem: Turn lows on...no problem. Turn highs on....highs come on but lows go out. They never have come on together. I cant imagine it has anything to do with the ballasts as they all work at some point just not together...I wouldn't think its because of low power as I'm using a fresh battery and the volt meter is at 13ish. What could be the problem??
Correct me if I'm wrong, but don't the headlights function like that anyway? Highs on/lows off? I've never bothered to notice since my low HIDs are bright enough.
Edit: I believe there is a mod you can do under the fusebox to make them come on together. Don't quote me on that though.
Edit: I believe there is a mod you can do under the fusebox to make them come on together. Don't quote me on that though.
TECH Regular
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 465
Likes: 0
From: Pearl City, Hawaii
I would think they should come on together, my 97 does this but never noticed on a 98-newer. Is the car running or just off the battery? I wouldn't mess with it if it's not running and wait to see what happens at that point....
98 or newer that is how it is designed. Lows turn off when highs turn on.
Easy enough to change that however. I changed it on mine because I didn't want the HIDs to turn off when I turned on the halogen highs. That would be pointless
Plus it is harder on the HIDs, they don't like being turned on and off a lot (which is another reason why HID in the high beam isn't always a good idea, it'll kill 'em faster).
https://ls1tech.com/forums/stereo-el...same-time.html
Easy enough to change that however. I changed it on mine because I didn't want the HIDs to turn off when I turned on the halogen highs. That would be pointless
Plus it is harder on the HIDs, they don't like being turned on and off a lot (which is another reason why HID in the high beam isn't always a good idea, it'll kill 'em faster).https://ls1tech.com/forums/stereo-el...same-time.html
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I think were on the wrong track...the schematic shows both should be on at the same time (highs and lows). Turning on the highs allows the same power available to the lows to go through the switch to turn them on also. I'm leaning more to the current draw required to initially kick on the ballasts for the highs is preventing the low ballasts from keeping the bulbs going. Might have to try disconnecting just one high and see if I can get the lows and one high on. (after the downpour outside stops 
) If that doesn't work I'm grabbing standard bulbs to see how they operate. hmmmm
) If that doesn't work I'm grabbing standard bulbs to see how they operate. hmmmm LS1 Tech Stories
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TECH Junkie
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 3,551
Likes: 2
From: Rutherford, North Carolina
I had HID's in mine and i turned my high's on only to check if they still worked which was about once a month but even then my low's went off when I turned my high's on. Still does it even though I swapped out my HID's for stock looking lights since one of my HID's decided to go out.
now I'm very curious about the flip flopping highs and lows...so many have reported that as normal. I'm going to have to break out the multimeter and do a little detective work. Will report back what I find after a little analysis....
Copy & Paste Moderator
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 9,764
Likes: 208
From: Eastern MA
It is normal for the 1998 - 2002 Camaro.
I think the circuit diagram you have is for a 1998 - 2002 Firebird.
1998 - 2002 Camaro
Low Beam: low beam bulbs only
High Beam: high beam bulbs only
1998 - 2002 Firebird
Low Beam: low beam bulbs only
High Beam: both low & high beam bulbs
I think the circuit diagram you have is for a 1998 - 2002 Firebird.
1998 - 2002 Camaro
Low Beam: low beam bulbs only
High Beam: high beam bulbs only
1998 - 2002 Firebird
Low Beam: low beam bulbs only
High Beam: both low & high beam bulbs
TECH Junkie
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 3,551
Likes: 2
From: Rutherford, North Carolina
If your using HID's in both high's and low's, I would imagine it would be similar to LED's and that would be causing there to be some currency flowing through even though there off. I may be wrong but if you have or ever have messed with LED's even though they are off to you, if you'll look close enough to em or have them in a completely dark room, you'll notice that there not completely off. They are vaguely light. But like I said, I may be wrong but thats what I was thinking.
I think were on the wrong track...the schematic shows both should be on at the same time (highs and lows). Turning on the highs allows the same power available to the lows to go through the switch to turn them on also. I'm leaning more to the current draw required to initially kick on the ballasts for the highs is preventing the low ballasts from keeping the bulbs going. Might have to try disconnecting just one high and see if I can get the lows and one high on. (after the downpour outside stops ) If that doesn't work I'm grabbing standard bulbs to see how they operate. hmmmm
) If that doesn't work I'm grabbing standard bulbs to see how they operate. hmmmm98-02 Camaros have the low beams turn off when highs come on. That is how they are from the factory. But as shown in the link I gave, it is extremely easy to make the lows stay on when you hit the highs.
Bulb type will have no effect on whether the lows stay on or not with the highs.
That is the Firebird wiring.
98-02 Camaros have the low beams turn off when highs come on. That is how they are from the factory. But as shown in the link I gave, it is extremely easy to make the lows stay on when you hit the highs.
Bulb type will have no effect on whether the lows stay on or not with the highs.
That's because it IS normal
98-02 Camaros have the low beams turn off when highs come on. That is how they are from the factory. But as shown in the link I gave, it is extremely easy to make the lows stay on when you hit the highs.
Bulb type will have no effect on whether the lows stay on or not with the highs.
That's because it IS normal
This is funny...I'll have to get a better scan as it seems the dealer manual I have has the schematics backwards
lol The one I posted is labled as chevrolet and the other one that clearly shows the flip flop is labeled as pontiac. ^^ Ohh well, thats why I'm confused I guess 
whats the confusion?
https://ls1tech.com/forums/15019850-post13.html
https://ls1tech.com/forums/15019850-post13.html
It is normal for the 1998 - 2002 Camaro.
I think the circuit diagram you have is for a 1998 - 2002 Firebird.
1998 - 2002 Camaro
Low Beam: low beam bulbs only
High Beam: high beam bulbs only
1998 - 2002 Firebird
Low Beam: low beam bulbs only
High Beam: both low & high beam bulbs
I think the circuit diagram you have is for a 1998 - 2002 Firebird.
1998 - 2002 Camaro
Low Beam: low beam bulbs only
High Beam: high beam bulbs only
1998 - 2002 Firebird
Low Beam: low beam bulbs only
High Beam: both low & high beam bulbs
