problem with HID. Ballast?
Thread Starter
Teching In
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 33
Likes: 0
problem with HID. Ballast? Having more and more problems with my drivers side light. I bought the car with an aftermarket HID kit and it worked fine until about a month ago.
At first, the light would come on normally and then go out if I made a sharp turn. Then it started going out very soon after I turned the lights on and now immediately. The light flicks on and then immediately turns off.
Today I had a chance to look at it a little further. It's not the bulb as I switched them and the passenger bulb had the same issues when I switched but works perfectly on the original side. I pulled the bulb out of the housing and tried to narrow down the issue today, but was unsuccessful. Most times the bulb will go out immediately after I turned on the lights, sometimes it will flicker for 3-4 seconds before going out and once every 20 times or so it would turn on normally and then go out after I moved it at all.
Seems to me that it is a wiring issue inside the ballast and replacing it should solve the problem, but just wanted to solicit any other input before I order new a new ballast.
Thanks guys.
At first, the light would come on normally and then go out if I made a sharp turn. Then it started going out very soon after I turned the lights on and now immediately. The light flicks on and then immediately turns off.
Today I had a chance to look at it a little further. It's not the bulb as I switched them and the passenger bulb had the same issues when I switched but works perfectly on the original side. I pulled the bulb out of the housing and tried to narrow down the issue today, but was unsuccessful. Most times the bulb will go out immediately after I turned on the lights, sometimes it will flicker for 3-4 seconds before going out and once every 20 times or so it would turn on normally and then go out after I moved it at all.
Seems to me that it is a wiring issue inside the ballast and replacing it should solve the problem, but just wanted to solicit any other input before I order new a new ballast.
Thanks guys.
Had same problem with some cheaper eBay HIDs. The ballasts grounds are not very good. Redid the grounds, but they started doin the same things couple of months later. Better off buying better quality HIDs. Switched to some Kensuns off Amazon ($50-60), which had good reviews and are sold here in US. Been a few months now, still doin great so far.
Sounds like a bad ballast if you swapped the lamps from side to side and problem stayed on the same side of the car. I would double check all connections, pins in connectors, etc. Make sure the ballast is mounted securely or try to isolate it from the car since vibrations can cause issues.
TECH Junkie
Joined: Nov 2013
Posts: 3,913
Likes: 366
From: White Bear, Mn
I have also had good luck with my ballasts in both vehicles, fogs only, in my beater they are bouncing around, in my t/a they are secured, both have been in the same amount of time, I'm just saying it's not a bad idea to secure them
Trending Topics
Thread Starter
Teching In
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 33
Likes: 0
It's been bouncing around for a while. I secured it but I feel like the damage may have already been done. Pass side is secured and no problems so far. Guess I'll start with a new ballast and make sure its grounded well.
Thanks guys.
Thanks guys.
LS1 Tech Stories
The Best V8 Stories One Small Block at Time
6 Common C5 Corvette Failures and What's Involved In Repairing Them
Pouria Savadkouei
Retro Modern Bandit Pontiac Trans AM Comes With Burt Reynolds' Autograph
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Greatest Cadillac V Series Performance Models Ever, Ranked
Pouria Savadkouei
Top 10 Most Powerful Chevy Trucks Ever Made!
Hennessey's New Supercharged Silverado ZR2 Has 700 HP
Verdad Gallardo
Coachbuilt N2A Anteros Is an LS2-Powered C6 Corvette In Italian Clothes
Verdad Gallardo
Awesome K5 Blazer Restomod Comes With C7 Corvette Power
Verdad Gallardo
10 Camaros You Should Never Buy
