HID problem! Emergency - Toyota Nation Forum : Toyota Car and Truck Forums

gdirty5 · 05-31-2009, 12:39 AM

Please help, i installed some aftermarket HID kit for my girlfriend's car today and ran into a problem.

We are able to turn the HID on when the engine is off. But when the engine is on, the HID doesn't turn on automatically like it normally does and nor does it turn on when we try to do it manually either.

But when we turn the HID on before starting the engine, then it stays on when we start the engine. If we turn it off while the engine is running, it won't come back on.

I looked up disconnecting the DRL but I don't think that's the problem, because the HID don't turn on at all after the engine is started, not even as DRLs.

HELP???????

gdirty5 · 05-31-2009, 04:51 PM

bump

Rdkill · 05-31-2009, 11:26 PM

The ballasts probably do not like the voltage they are getting when the cars on, which is higher than when its off. They may have a voltage cut-off. Check the voltage at the battery when the car is running, it should be very close to 14.4. Are the ballasts connected directly to the battery?

gdirty5 · 06-01-2009, 02:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rdkill

The ballasts probably do not like the voltage they are getting when the cars on, which is higher than when its off. They may have a voltage cut-off. Check the voltage at the battery when the car is running, it should be very close to 14.4. Are the ballasts connected directly to the battery?

No they are not connected directly to the battery. The HID will work, as long as i turn it on before i start my engine. What could be the problem besides the ballast not liking the voltage.

JasonA · 06-01-2009, 06:45 AM

It might be the DRL issue. That's the very first thing to do when installing HIDs.

gdirty5 · 06-01-2009, 02:09 PM

I think its the drl issue as well, but my light doesn't "flicker or dim" like other people's drl issue. Another thing, is there anyway i can have the automatic to work when disabling the drls?

JasonA · 06-01-2009, 08:20 PM

When I disabled the DRL on my '07, nothing about the light operation changed. If the lights were "automatic" before, they sure didn't seem like it. The DRLs came on, but when going through a tunnel or something, the lights didn't automatically come on. I'm not sure what the "auto" headlights are supposed to be, but mine didn't change operation one iota after cutting the DRL wire.

Yeah, usually the DRL problem is flickering headlights, but maybe your ballasts don't like the "dirty" electrical signal and don't fire at all. Maybe that's the reason they fire if you turn them on before the engine. Dunno... Hope the DRL delete (which you need to do anyway) fixes the problem.