Evasive loose HID connection
Thread Starter
Driver
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 193
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From: Nor*Cal
Evasive loose HID connection
I upgraded to HID lighting about 4 months ago, where the difference was incredible. I was sure that the SC was "supposed" to have HID lighting instead of Halogen by the drastically improved night apperance.
About 2 weeks ago, I noticed that one light stopped lighting up. Thought it was odd until it happended a couple of days later. I was able to trace a wire into the ingniter/ballast, shake it, and resume functionality. I quickly realized that this had to be done EVERY time I wanted to drive at night; unacceptable.
I removed the ballast to resolder the loose connection for what I thought would be a 20 minute session. It has been 6 hours, and it is still not working w/o shaking it.
The losse connection is on the "output" wires (2 wires) to HID bulb. I could not directly trace the wire to the PCB board since their is a containing mystery white box. I assumed that it was vacummed shut since it did not appear "openable". So instead a soldered a couple of wires to the back of the PCB, where I confirmed a connection to the outside connectors, and formed a T-Connection mid way to the outside connector wires. So, if the primary wire fails, then their will be an alternative route to power.
This shpuld have solved the problem, but didn't. Instead it got worst. I severed the new wires and it works in the same "jingle" way. Im pretty frustrated, so any help would help before tomorrow morning.
The ballast has won for today
Let me know what you guys think; dont wanna order an other since this is a geniune Phillips ballast.
About 2 weeks ago, I noticed that one light stopped lighting up. Thought it was odd until it happended a couple of days later. I was able to trace a wire into the ingniter/ballast, shake it, and resume functionality. I quickly realized that this had to be done EVERY time I wanted to drive at night; unacceptable.
I removed the ballast to resolder the loose connection for what I thought would be a 20 minute session. It has been 6 hours, and it is still not working w/o shaking it.
The losse connection is on the "output" wires (2 wires) to HID bulb. I could not directly trace the wire to the PCB board since their is a containing mystery white box. I assumed that it was vacummed shut since it did not appear "openable". So instead a soldered a couple of wires to the back of the PCB, where I confirmed a connection to the outside connectors, and formed a T-Connection mid way to the outside connector wires. So, if the primary wire fails, then their will be an alternative route to power.
This shpuld have solved the problem, but didn't. Instead it got worst. I severed the new wires and it works in the same "jingle" way. Im pretty frustrated, so any help would help before tomorrow morning.
The ballast has won for today
Let me know what you guys think; dont wanna order an other since this is a geniune Phillips ballast.
Originally posted by THE_CEO
i had a similar problem with mine for a few days...then i started turning my lights on after i started my car...it seem to work...now i always do it...
CEO
i had a similar problem with mine for a few days...then i started turning my lights on after i started my car...it seem to work...now i always do it...
CEO
Ryan
Last edited by SC400T; Nov 13, 2004 at 03:57 PM.
Lexus Champion
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 2,581
Likes: 2
From: Ventura, Ca
Originally posted by SC400T
I noticed the same thing. It seems that if I started the car with the light switch on, one of the bulbs would not light up. This did not happen every time, but it was frequent. This never happened to me if the light switch was off before I started the car, and then turned the switch on...
Ryan
I noticed the same thing. It seems that if I started the car with the light switch on, one of the bulbs would not light up. This did not happen every time, but it was frequent. This never happened to me if the light switch was off before I started the car, and then turned the switch on...
Ryan
When I got my HID's a few years ago, I noticed that one of the bulbs flickered to a stop....it was later traced to a bad alternator and eventually lead to a bad power steering pump (Leaked onto the Alt)
With a new Alternator, they fire right up, even when the car is warmed up.
But the HID's would never turn on once you turn the car on with the switch already on.....on some occasions, I'll turn the car off forgetting to turn the switch off. When I turn my car on again, I have no light. I have to turn the switch off, then back on again to get them to ignite...LoL...weird.....
Thread Starter
Driver
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 193
Likes: 0
From: Nor*Cal
SC400Dude, my power sterring pump did start leaking about a week ago. I chopped-it-up to routine car maintenance. I tried "power steering stop leak" before I went into the engin dismanteling and it stopped.
Checked the alternator output and is running at 13.46VDC Strong.
Whats up with the HID gremlin? Is there anyway that we can retrofit 2001+ stock Lexus HID units?
I second, the Weird.
Checked the alternator output and is running at 13.46VDC Strong.
Whats up with the HID gremlin? Is there anyway that we can retrofit 2001+ stock Lexus HID units?
I second, the Weird.
Pole Position
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 200
Likes: 0
From: Canada
HID Igniter
HID lights have an igniter that fires them on at 25,000 volts.
The igniters is activated off your headlight relay.
If you turn your car off and leave the headlights on, when you staryt your car again with the headlights already in the on position the igniter doesn't detect the signal from your headlight relay and it doesn't fire your hid's.
Rob
The igniters is activated off your headlight relay.
If you turn your car off and leave the headlights on, when you staryt your car again with the headlights already in the on position the igniter doesn't detect the signal from your headlight relay and it doesn't fire your hid's.
Rob
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Joined: Oct 2002
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From: Michigan
Originally posted by SC400T
I noticed the same thing. It seems that if I started the car with the light switch on, one of the bulbs would not light up. This did not happen every time, but it was frequent. This never happened to me if the light switch was off before I started the car, and then turned the switch on...
Ryan
I noticed the same thing. It seems that if I started the car with the light switch on, one of the bulbs would not light up. This did not happen every time, but it was frequent. This never happened to me if the light switch was off before I started the car, and then turned the switch on...
Ryan
CEO
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Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 3,222
Likes: 51
From: Michigan
Re: HID Igniter
Originally posted by setwire
HID lights have an igniter that fires them on at 25,000 volts.
The igniters is activated off your headlight relay.
If you turn your car off and leave the headlights on, when you staryt your car again with the headlights already in the on position the igniter doesn't detect the signal from your headlight relay and it doesn't fire your hid's.
Rob
HID lights have an igniter that fires them on at 25,000 volts.
The igniters is activated off your headlight relay.
If you turn your car off and leave the headlights on, when you staryt your car again with the headlights already in the on position the igniter doesn't detect the signal from your headlight relay and it doesn't fire your hid's.
Rob
CEO
Originally posted by THE_CEO
hey man thanks for telling me....lol..j/k...
CEO
hey man thanks for telling me....lol..j/k...
CEO
...IMHO, One should always turn their lights off when parking their car and shutting down. It's just if you forget, the Lex will shut off the lights anyway when removing the key. You won't hurt anything by not doing this, but you will be driving with either 1 headlight on, or none...
Anyway, remember, anytime we modify our cars from factory specs, we must expect that there is a possibility of functionality being different...
Ryan
Last edited by SC400T; Nov 14, 2004 at 02:49 PM.
Pole Position
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 200
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From: Canada
HID's
THE_CEO
No you won't screw anything up by forgetting to turn off your headlights.
Just HID's will not ignite unless you do.
It will not screw up your new HID headlights by doing this..
They just won't come on.
Rob
No you won't screw anything up by forgetting to turn off your headlights.
Just HID's will not ignite unless you do.
It will not screw up your new HID headlights by doing this..
They just won't come on.
Rob
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Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 3,222
Likes: 51
From: Michigan
Originally posted by SC400T
It was nothing to tell... ...IMHO, One should always turn their lights off when parking their car and shutting down. It's just if you forget, the Lex will shut off the lights anyway when removing the key.
You won't hurt anything by not doing this, but you will be driving with either 1 headlight on, or none...
Anyway, remember, anytime we modify our cars from factory specs, we must expect that there is a possibility of functionality being different...
Ryan
It was nothing to tell...
...IMHO, One should always turn their lights off when parking their car and shutting down. It's just if you forget, the Lex will shut off the lights anyway when removing the key. You won't hurt anything by not doing this, but you will be driving with either 1 headlight on, or none...
Anyway, remember, anytime we modify our cars from factory specs, we must expect that there is a possibility of functionality being different...
Ryan
CEO
Pole Position
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 3,222
Likes: 51
From: Michigan
Re: HID's
Originally posted by setwire
THE_CEO
No you won't screw anything up by forgetting to turn off your headlights.
Just HID's will not ignite unless you do.
It will not screw up your new HID headlights by doing this..
They just won't come on.
Rob
THE_CEO
No you won't screw anything up by forgetting to turn off your headlights.
Just HID's will not ignite unless you do.
It will not screw up your new HID headlights by doing this..
They just won't come on.
Rob
CEO
phew good, i thought i was the only one that had the problem.
yea just waiting until my car is turned on, than the HID's will light right up just fine.
although this never did happen with my 4300k kit. kinda weird.
i guess there is only one asnwer to this problem, and it is to RETROFIT
yea just waiting until my car is turned on, than the HID's will light right up just fine.
although this never did happen with my 4300k kit. kinda weird.
i guess there is only one asnwer to this problem, and it is to RETROFIT
Pole Position
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 3,222
Likes: 51
From: Michigan
Originally posted by vinh
phew good, i thought i was the only one that had the problem.
yea just waiting until my car is turned on, than the HID's will light right up just fine.
although this never did happen with my 4300k kit. kinda weird.
i guess there is only one asnwer to this problem, and it is to RETROFIT
phew good, i thought i was the only one that had the problem.
yea just waiting until my car is turned on, than the HID's will light right up just fine.
although this never did happen with my 4300k kit. kinda weird.
i guess there is only one asnwer to this problem, and it is to RETROFIT
he he i knew there were others....thanks for stepping up!
CEO