HID problem/defect. Bad ballast?

[patricksheehy]

I just bought the H11 4300k Xtreme Xenon HID Conversion Kit from XenonDepot through KBCarstuff.com. The install went relatively easy, save for the rubber grommets used to 'seal' the bulb in the housing. These grommets are useless because the plug built to connect to the factory headlight housing comes through the bottom next to the HID bulb, meaning that you can't create a solid seal.. at all.

But ANYWAYS, upon first ignite, the drivers side headlight is beautiful, the passenger headlight...is pink. I originally thought maybe I received an incorrect bulb or ballast. After further inspection, I found that the light out of the pink passenger side was flickering/shaking. Both ballasts were humming audibly and I assume that is normal. After igniting them a second time and for every subsequent attempt, the bulb ignites the CORRECT color, but quickly just cuts off. I'd say it stays on for a maximum of about 3-4 seconds.

So. Anyone have/have had/heard of these issues? I'd love any help I can get. I know someone from the XenonDepot is on here pretty regularly so hopefully he'll be able to provide some more information.

Thanks for the help and happy holidays!

For the time being I guess I'll plasti-dip my wheels..

 

[fvalentin]

I have the same exact kit from Xenon Depot also and mine works perfectly fine and I've had the unit for a few months now. I would call them up and send it back immediately. They probably sent you a defective unit, things like that can happen from time to time. I would send back the entire kit though not just the passenger side and have them send you a fresh kit.

 

[CookieRoe]

As for the grommets, don't sweat it, my HID bulbs are not COMPLETELY sealed and I have YET to have a problem. I've driven in bad downpours going 65mph and nothing! Unless you plan on fording a river, I wouldn't worry too much about it. About the color and flickering: Sounds like a bad ballast, send it back!

Happy Holidays!

 

[V8PoWer]

Bad ballast. Swap ballast but keep same bulbs in on each side. Loud humming is a good thing which is most likely AC current ballast

 

[alex56]

throw in a battery relay, it will make your system last much longer especially with auto-on lights

 

[honda_nos]

Alex why do you think the relay kit will extend the life?

 

[alex56]

I have a "In" with the guys at plasma garage, which is where i buy all my H.I.D kits from, (im not sure how much you know, so ill just explain in case others wanna read). The relay they offer, ive also seen them on other sites... What it does is takes the stress off the ballast when starting. So say for instance its dark out and your H.I.D's are on "auto". The power is comming from the factory wiring harness to fire up that ballast, and as some have said above it takes a while to "acquire the right color/ flickers" etc. This simply is because the power just isnt getting there, and this happens in many vehicles that do not already come with H.I.D. because the factory wireing isnt made for it. So what the battery relay (all plug and play as well), connects + and - to your battery, one end goes into the factory wiring harness (for the signal), and the rest goes to the other ballast, Plug and play wires get hooked up. The relay insures your ballasts are getting prime power from your batery upon start up and they will fire right up because of the factory wiring bypass. When the ballast has to work harder pulling from the factory wiring, it will not last as long as the stress just burns it up. We figured this out on my Chevy as we kept burning through ballasts, once we installed the relay, we have not had problem for 2 years now. I have also never had a problem on my runner and i have seperate relay's run to my headlights and my fogs for the last 4 years, hope that helps ill also incclude a pic of the diagram.

 

[honda_nos]

Thanks Alex for the detailed comment and picture. I get the lower resistance from the battery will provide a more consistent and higher voltage part. I don't get how this is making the ballast work worker per se.

I believe the ballasts' job is to provide the required resistance after the bulbs have fired because hids like LEDs have very low resistance once they are on. When they are not, they require the full voltage to "ignite" so to speak.

I have never taken the ballast apart but I am electrical engineer albeit an wireless and dsp focus and not analog. With that said, I do run relays on my 4300k xenon depot volts. My problem is that even with the relay and direct battery connection, I still get a periodical fail to ignite after the engine cranks.

Any other insights?

 

[patricksheehy]

So I switched the bulbs (left and right got swapped) to see if the problem followed the bulbs or if it indeed lied in the ballast. The result: the bulb. Upon turning it on the first time after switching the bulbs, the drivers side was indeed pink like the passenger side was before. Looks like I'll be calling up xenon depot today and getting that replacement. Thanks for all the help guys.

I'll definitely look into the batter relay as well @alex56

 

[honda_nos]

Patrick, you can order that harness separate from xenon depot as well. Steve at xd helped me with that.

 

[patricksheehy]

What harness do you mean? @honda_nos I called XD earlier and they are shipping me a replacement bulb.

 

[FRT]

Just an FYI, info on the ballasts and what they do. One of the main things is the high voltage they put out.
EBD: HID Ballast Overview

 

[honda_nos]

The relay harness. i.e. the red circled part in alex's photo. This allows you to connect the power source to the battery and just use the factory headlight harness as a switching means.

What harness do you mean? @honda_nos I called XD earlier and they are shipping me a replacement bulb.

 

[Macro2212]

Hid lights

Hey guys,
New to the forum but had a quick question. Have a set of HID lights. Been working fine for over a year, all of a sudden they both stopped working. If I flick them on and off a few times they used to come on eventually. Now they don’t turn on what so ever. Replaced both ballast yesterday and still the same thing. Next thing I was gonna try is the relay? Any suggestions? Thanks!

 

[riceandpho]

Hey guys,
New to the forum but had a quick question. Have a set of HID lights. Been working fine for over a year, all of a sudden they both stopped working. If I flick them on and off a few times they used to come on eventually. Now they don’t turn on what so ever. Replaced both ballast yesterday and still the same thing. Next thing I was gonna try is the relay? Any suggestions? Thanks!

if ballast is new , it maybe your bulbs.

also verify the power, if you suspect the harness, check the power and ground. and the fuse in the harness.

specify what is installed, too many things i need to think up to help you solve your problem.

 

[Ventil8]

My 1st projector HID kit, Morimoto D2S 5.0

I'll be installing a projector retrofit HID kit soon. I bought TYC headlights and will take my time doing this. Didn't want to take the headlights off the Runner and have to hurry with this project. I think the biggest pain will be the electrical wiring which is not my strongest area. I ordered the entire kit from The Retrofit Source. Wish me luck.

 

[riceandpho]

I'll be installing a projector retrofit HID kit soon. I bought TYC headlights and will take my time doing this. Didn't want to take the headlights off the Runner and have to hurry with this project. I think the biggest pain will be the electrical wiring which is not my strongest area. I ordered the entire kit from The Retrofit Source. Wish me luck.

its easy, just follow the picture guides. make sure the ground is good, bare metal is a must. also the positive connection be good and clean also, all it takes is a weak or bad connection to cause all sorts of problem, make sure the battery has good voltage too.