I installed an HID kit into a non HID housing on my 2006 IS250 about 2 months ago.
All is well. Except the past 3 days. I've been smelling something burning only when the car is on (or after 4 minutes when I just turn the car off)
Could it be my ballasts?

The installed did not install a fuse and states that the HID's are plug and play.

So I hope it's my ballasts.

I did notice last night that there was some slight smoke coming from my driver headlight.


Could a submerge in water do it? 4 days ago I went through a flippin huge puddle on the road that I didnt' see till last minute.

 

Ballast doesn't generate a lot of heat. It's warm to the touch. I think the problem is with your hid kit bulb. The installer must have touched the bulb with greasy hand or something, or the bulb is not sitting correctly.

Since your IS is halogen to start with, I assume the ballast must have been installed external to the headlamp. If it's not weather-proof, it could cause electrical problem if the ballast get some water into it.

 

I'm betting that's the issue.
I'm so fawkin sick of these POS OEM non hid headlights. Come monday I'm just gonna ship em to lightwerkz in New Jersey since they seem to be the only ones in business of modifying non HID headlight and retro fitting TSX projectors, phillips 4300k bulbs, installing ballasts "correctly", ect....
I'm tellin ya JV, you would make so much money. You see the recent thread that some one else sent their headlights into lightwerkz? Cost him $833.
It's gonna cost me $1100 for the retro, plus painting, ect... But in the end it'll be worth it.
I really hope you, one day in the future, get in on the business aspect. You seem to know your sheet better then lightwerkz themselves. Plus your rainbow effects are fawkin sex from your prism shields.

 

I know lightwerkz will take good care your headlight. I've seen their work, very professional. Lots of good comments over at hidplanet. For now, I'm just going to stick to my profession and enjoy hid lighting as a hobby.

Talking about rainbow effect, I'm working on my next prism project for FX-R:





And on youtube:

The video doesn't show the color as good; but the flickers is much better in person. Sorry to tease you like this

 

Hehe I see what you did there.

Fawkin sick. Love the shield mods you do. Good shiet sir