HID issues

[S_S]

I bought a "cheap" HID kit through a friend. I don't even know what the make if it was but its definitely one of those generic no-name china made type. Basically everyone i know advised i shouldn't install that crap in my car, but i did anyway!So 6 months later sure enough, it appears one of my bulbs is out. Took it apart last night, and just swapped the bulbs around to double check if it is in fact just a burnt bulb. Turns out the bulbs are fine. Now, I'm wondering if its this piece of crap kit. I have an 09 vibe, and everywhere i read on here, you guys mention that these kits don't like the "auto-low beam" lights. I know a bunch of you guys have gone the legit route with HID w/projectors, and i wonder if all you guys disabled that function? I realize the older vibes have the low beam/hi beam together so i figure you guys had to mess around with your DRL but did you disable the auto low-beam function as well? The kit only comes with one relay so i don't think that's the problem either. More like the ballast. Anyways i would appreciate your opinion.

[bull77]

Quote, originally posted by S_S »I realize the older vibes have the low beam/hi beam together so i figure you guys had to mess around with your DRL but did you disable the auto low-beam function as well?06 with 6k projectors -> i cut my drl but haven't set it up for only HI Beam. Running HI's all the time would be a PITA for other drivers on the road did you double check all your connections or try swapping them from the other side? I ran into an issue with mine when the controller got wet..

[S_S]

The 09's have the high beams/DRL on a separate bulb altogether. the only thing HID on my car are the low beams. I was just wondering if the reason my ballast blew is because of the auto-low beam function?

[Wolfman213]

oh, the sentinal side of things. That shouldn't have any effect on the ballast. Since your DRL is on the highs, no worries. DRL's are a ballast killer. The sentinal/auto-low is simply turning your lights on just as if you were turning them on manually.

[S_S]

i understand that, but here is my concern. these kits require a steady flow of 12V according to something i read over the net. At night, as soon as i turn on my car, literally not even a second later the HID low beams come on (or only one comes on at the moment;)). At the second my HID's are igniting or trying to ignite, my voltage should theoretically be lower then 12V because the alternator is recharging the battery. I was wondering if this was true or not and this could be the reason why one of my ballasts possibly died so soon. It does make sense although i am definitely no expert at this.

[Wolfman213]

I turn my lights (I'm running projectors) on immediately after starting my car and I've yet to have an issue with it. The lights turning on right away should not be the cause of your ballast issue. The electrical system should be up and running at 14.4V very quick. There are several that have even ran HIDs using them as DRLs even and have lasted longer than 6 months. So the few seconds that your ballast turn on and are waiting to get the 12V+ running is a drop in the bucket. Best bet is to just go ahead an get a new ballast and not worry about it. As you said, you got a cheap HID kit. Some are actually decent, but sounds like you got a bunk one.

[S_S]

Thanks for the advice, looks like that will be my only option as far as i can tell. Or just re-install my stock bulbs but then my 09 base model Vibe isn't as appealing to me!

[keithvibe]

if one bulb is out and you already checked it like you said, and it's working on the other side... there are only a few other things to check.1. ballast2. ground3. relay(if the kit has one) you would know because it would have a direct line running to the battery.4. inline fuse, if the kit has the additional wiring that would run direct from the battery5. Ground... yep i said it again... I can't stress enough how very very important a great ground is needed. 90% of the time this is your issue.As for your drl no worries there because your an 09 and it's on the highbeam.. I know you mentioned this I'm just repeating itYour auto lights won't cause an issue, quite frankly I wish they did it to the 03-08 vibes like they did with the 09's. and one last thing..........check your ground LOL

[06pvibe]

I have known several people to get the cheap, eBay kits and some have had premature ballast failure for no other reason than it was a cheap kit. Others had one or both ballasts bad right out of the box.Go to DDM Tuning and buy an Apexcone kit. Their prices are good and the APCs are known to be a very good reliable kit. I am running two of their kits in my Mazda3 for several years now w/no issues. (no DRL's or AHL) And together the kits were around $150 w/shipping for both. 1 kit is a 55w too. They were a little slow to ship though, but I was even sllower to install them.

[vibenvy]

Quote, originally posted by 06pvibe »I have known several people to get the cheap, eBay kits and some have had premature ballast failure for no other reason than it was a cheap kit. Others had one or both ballasts bad right out of the box.Go to DDM Tuning and buy an Apexcone kit. Their prices are good and the APCs are known to be a very good reliable kit. I am running two of their kits in my Mazda3 for several years now w/no issues. (no DRL's or AHL) And together the kits were around $150 w/shipping for both. 1 kit is a 55w too. They were a little slow to ship though, but I was even sllower to install them. Yes, I too would recommend DDM Tuning. I ordered four of their 35W 5000K slim ballast HID kits the other day for mine and my mom's '09 GTs (low beams and fog lights). The slim ballast kits are only $35.00 (they keep dropping the price on them). Replacement bulbs are only $10.00 a pair. I have heard nothing but great things about DDM from all different car owners. I am looking forward to them arriving this coming Tuesday so I can get them installed and see if they are as great as everyone says they are.

[S_S]

Really appreciate the advice! Very strange if it would be the ground since its only one light that goes out, but i will definitely check that out! One thing i forgot to mention about this faulty light. If i were to try to turn on my low beam HID's, both lights do actually ignite but after a split second the light in question goes out. Just wondering if anyone has experienced this.As for the DDM kits, they do seem like they are very well priced. Definitely something the wife wouldn't give me a heck of a lot of grief over! And even the replacement bulbs are dirt cheap too! Thanks again gentlemen!

[06pvibe]

Quote, originally posted by S_S »As for the DDM kits, they do seem like they are very well priced. Definitely something the wife wouldn't give me a heck of a lot of grief over! And even the replacement bulbs are dirt cheap too! Thanks again gentlemen! Oh! So you mean I'm not the only one w/that problem?Yeah, they're even cheaper now than when I bought mine and they were a good deal then.And be careful just who you're calling a gentleman.

[vibenvy]

Quote, originally posted by 06pvibe »And be careful just who you're calling a gentleman. Yes, not all of us on here are gentlemen .

[S_S]

Quote, originally posted by J_TO_ENVY »Yes, not all of us on here are gentlemen . My apologies! Thanks to EVERYONE for their help!

[06pvibe]

Well... OK. Just don't let it happen again.