HID problem

[SvB4EvA]

Well the thing is when my car is cold and I turn on my low beams its fine. When the car has run for a little bit and I turn on the low beams the passenger side one wont come on. Weird problem... Ever happen to anyone else? Maybe heat related and the bulb wont fire up or the ballast?

I havent gotten around to it yet, but I will be changing the bulbs from passenger side to drivers side and vise-versa to see if the problem follows the bulb or if it still is a problem on the passenger side (ballast or something else).

[Cadillacfilter1]

Does it flicker?

[the cadillac kid]

steve,
swap them and see if it persists.
otherwise, warranty is your best bet.

[SvB4EvA]

Originally Posted by Cadillacfilter1

Does it flicker?

No, but i noticed the bad side took a split second longer to turn on last night when i went out. Then of course after the bulb was hot and i left the place I was at it didnt come on at all.

Originally Posted by the cadillac kid

steve,
swap them and see if it persists.
otherwise, warranty is your best bet.

yea... im going out now to do it... pain in the ASS! ugh..

[Coma]

That sucks, welcome to my world one year ago.

[felix711]

Ive had the same problem before, a ballast went bad. Thats why Ive always asked if its better to use a harness that coonects directyly to the battery??!!

[Coma]

Originally Posted by felix711

Ive had the same problem before, a ballast went bad. Thats why Ive always asked if its better to use a harness that coonects directyly to the battery??!!

Yeah, if you like having an electrical hazard under your hood, AND your lights will be on all the time. All the time. **** that shit.

[concorso]

I had a similar problem as you described and it was the ballast, fixed under warranty.

[SvB4EvA]

Well, after doing the pain in a the ass swap I determined it is the bulb. BUT, it is weird tho... right after the swap, the bulb did not come on, and thats why I knew it must be the bulb. But I took it out again and put it back in and now its been lighting every time... I drove for about 15 mins with the lights on and then came back home, turned the lights off for 30 seconds and it fired right up. turned off again for a few minutes and it fired right up. weird... but as long as it keeps working, what ever, lol

Also found my warranty card for my bulbs, it was a 1 year warranty and it expired 3 months ago So even if i needed to, I cant send it back under warranty...

Ill keep u guys updated on the wacky bulb... I hope it keeps working

Thanks guys

[Custom88]

Was there any corrosion on the bulb contacts? If cheap metal was used, or if it wasn't completely sealed tight, the elements could have possibly caused oxidation of the metal and in turn, a bad connection. Just an idea, but when the bulb was removed/reinstalled, the metal contacts may have been 'scraped clean.'

[Coma]

I've found that if you don't have those headlights sealed off air-tight, you will have bulb problems again and again. You really need to use those dust caps that screw into the back of the housing. I drilled holes in the back of mine and used the supplied rubber sealers to keep moisture and shit out of them.

[SvB4EvA]

Yea, they were sealed well... Lights a still working normally now... not sure what the hell it is/was. No moisture in there, and no corrosion/rust. Just very weird.

Also, a small side note. When I pulled out the problematic bulb it had a weird looking glue type substance coming off the tip of it. Looked like it was coming out of the tip of the casing of the small metal rod that runs parallel to the glass of the bulb. Maybe had something to do with it, I dont know.

EDIT: Just wanted to add this. DAMN THE IDIOT AT GM THAT DECIDED IT WOULD BE COOL TO REMOVE THE BUMPER TO GET AT THE HEADLIGHTS!

[the cadillac kid]

I know you're not supposed to touch the bulb with your fingers because it shortens the life of the bulb (and if you do, you're supposed to wipe it with alcohol immediately) ... i'm not sure what the glue type substance on the bulb was, but i suggest you wipe it with an alcohol pad (just do it, if thats not the problem, then whatever... but if it is, then you just fixed it without sending your HIDs back to japan for a week )

[SvB4EvA]

Originally Posted by the cadillac kid

I know you're not supposed to touch the bulb with your fingers because it shortens the life of the bulb (and if you do, you're supposed to wipe it with alcohol immediately) ... i'm not sure what the glue type substance on the bulb was, but i suggest you wipe it with an alcohol pad (just do it, if thats not the problem, then whatever... but if it is, then you just fixed it without sending your HIDs back to japan for a week )

Yea, I know you shouldnt touch the bulb. You actaully shouldnt touch any bulb that gets hot at all. The oil from your skin causes the bulb to heat unevenly which causes it to fail prematurely.

But the glue looking stuff was not on the bulb, it was comming off the little metal thing that runs parrallel to the bulb. I took it off with a rag, then cleaned both bulbs with 99% rubbing alcohol. After all that the bulb didnt come on one time, so I just unplugged it and plugged it back in again and now its been working ever since. *shrug* lol

[the cadillac kid]

but at least its working now