HID H3 Problem, Flickering - Important if you plan to get HIDs. Options

[trdproven]

Hi - Trying to figure out why my HID's flicker and then shut off. First of all, since H3 HIDs have many wires as compared to a factory halogen with 1 wire I can close the OEM cover but with HIDs I cannot close the cover because of the more wires running to the ballasts. How did you guys run yours? Getting into my real issue, my first thoughts on the problem is that I might not have a good ground. I can also try switching ballasts around, set up dedicated grounds for each side, turning on the car for more power, or wire both negative and power from the HID bulb bypassing the OEM harness on the backside of the fog. Any ideas or experiences anyone might have, I already wasted my money on H3 LED's, they are white but not bright. I really need a true and sureshot way of installing H3 HIDs. Thanks in advance.

This post has been edited by trdproven: Aug 2, 2008 - 3:55 AM

[Culpable04]

use a relay to get power from the battery instead from stock harness.

1 of 2 thigns may be happeing

first, the ballast are not getting enough power
second the ballast is ready to die

[trdproven]

Culpable, the ballasts are new...not to say that it can't be defective, I can try swapping off the ballasts. I have no relay, my fogs are running straight to my battery with an oem switch inside but I am trying to get ground and power from inside the fog basically using the factory fog harness. Basically, ground, power to battery and a switch. Does this help?

This post has been edited by trdproven: Aug 1, 2008 - 12:49 PM

[GriffGirl]

I think the relay is a good idea there.. but it looks like culp's writing now so I'm sure he'll have more insight to offer than I will

[Culpable04]

they can be new and still fail, ballast can get damage pretty easy, vibration, overheat, a shock ( like if they were dropped ) or they can just be defective from factory.


what fuse are you using ?

[trdproven]

not sure as of now, i can check what shood it be? 15amp?

This post has been edited by trdproven: Aug 1, 2008 - 1:09 PM

[Culpable04]

15A

[trdproven]

been reading on the net - says power input is too low because the ballasts require alot on startup. Do you think setting up a better ground would help?

[Culpable04]

try a better ground, if that doesn't help they a better connection of the power (+) wire, make sure is making good contact

[trdproven]

its past 4am right now, will try first thing when I get up, hopefully you can help me out tomorrow again culpable. Perhaps the ground I am using inside the fog is not as good as if I ran a dedicated one to the body or the battery. I appreciate the quick responses. Thanks!!!

This post has been edited by trdproven: Aug 1, 2008 - 1:18 PM

[LewFX]

what the the H3s for? fog lights?

[Culpable04]

yes H3 is the bulb type for the fogs

[trdproven]

Does anyone else have experience?

[trdproven]

Figured out the problem, there was two. The first was I was not getting a good ground so I ran a direct cable from my battery and it turned on with the bulb not in the fog yet. So I put the bulb in the fog and it did not turn on. So I began the switching of ballasts and bulbs still the same. So I took the bulb out again and turned it on and it lit up. It came to my conclusion that there is a double ground, one from my direct wire and one in the fog light. So I disconnected the female from the fog light and plugged my hid bulb negative spade into that and it turned and lit up. So I did away with the direct wiring, which makes things neater and I wasted money buying stuff to test with. But thanks all for the help - I think with all the research i've done on it, I'm a pro now with all the different issue factors.

Also - found one ballast defective.

This post has been edited by trdproven: Aug 2, 2008 - 3:56 AM