[NolaBoy]

I just purchased some projector lamp headlights for my 99 Cat They look great compared to the yellowed stock headlights. Here is my problem. Ok I installed the passenger side headlamp first. installed the bulbs, plugged in the harness and let there be light. beautiful. worked like a charm. Well that was simple enough so now we move on to the driver's side headlamp, installed the bulbs and plug in the harness and turn on the headlights ... well i am getting very low output from the driver's side and also both the hibeam and lowbeam on the passenger side are now lit up :banghead: What on earth is the problem. Am i running into a short somewhere. I know its not rocket science but am i missing something? Its funny cause my friend said oh it shouldnt take that long to change them. I said yeah it shoiuldnt but nothing comes easy on the catera. Any help would be greatly appreciated thanks.

 

[Warez]

Are these OEM GM lights?

 

[NolaBoy]

no they are aftermarket projector headlights from a 98 Opel Omega. i got em shipped from germany.

 

[Warez]

Try switching the bulb that is low to the other side and vice versa.

 

[Warez]

Are these HID lights?

 

[NolaBoy]

nope. standard bulbs.

 

[NolaBoy]

Try switching the bulb that is low to the other side and vice versa.

tried that and the results are the same

 

[revin24]

try a relay circut to pull power directly from the battery and use the current power wires to trigger the relays. if you do this i suggest useing 40 amp relays the results are quite pleaseing if you do your headlights will not only be brighter but you can use a higher power bulb "now were talkin"

 

[sanchman]

This might sound weird but I had the same problem. I bought mines from Germany as well. I took one of the ground wires from the old headlight, (brown wire), removed the original ground from the new lamp, just off the groove that it is attached to and connected the one from the old lamp to where the ground wire was positioned on the new headlight. Then direcectly connected the other end to the negative battery pole wire. Not enough current was going into the driver side due to bad grounding if that's a word....Hope this makes sense...it worked for me

 

[jebfrank]

I just purchased some projector lamp headlights for my 99 Cat They look great compared to the yellowed stock headlights. Here is my problem. Ok I installed the passenger side headlamp first. installed the bulbs, plugged in the harness and let there be light. beautiful. worked like a charm. Well that was simple enough so now we move on to the driver's side headlamp, installed the bulbs and plug in the harness and turn on the headlights ... well i am getting very low output from the driver's side and also both the hibeam and lowbeam on the passenger side are now lit up :banghead: What on earth is the problem. Am i running into a short somewhere. I know its not rocket science but am i missing something? Its funny cause my friend said oh it shouldnt take that long to change them. I said yeah it shoiuldnt but nothing comes easy on the catera. Any help would be greatly appreciated thanks.

Do you have a picture of what these lights look like in your 99? I have projectors on my 04 Goat and I have been thinking about doing them in my 98.

 

[NolaBoy]

This might sound weird but I had the same problem. I bought mines from Germany as well. I took one of the ground wires from the old headlight, (brown wire), removed the original ground from the new lamp, just off the groove that it is attached to and connected the one from the old lamp to where the ground wire was positioned on the new headlight. Then direcectly connected the other end to the negative battery pole wire. Not enough current was going into the driver side due to bad grounding if that's a word....Hope this makes sense...it worked for me

Hmmmm very interesting. I will have to try this. Thanks alot

 

[NolaBoy]

jebfrank

there is a pic of how they look in this guys ebay auction
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=8023040185&sspagename=ADME:B:AAQ:US:1

 

[NolaBoy]

This might sound weird but I had the same problem. I bought mines from Germany as well. I took one of the ground wires from the old headlight, (brown wire), removed the original ground from the new lamp, just off the groove that it is attached to and connected the one from the old lamp to where the ground wire was positioned on the new headlight. Then direcectly connected the other end to the negative battery pole wire. Not enough current was going into the driver side due to bad grounding if that's a word....Hope this makes sense...it worked for me

the ground that you are talking about. is that the one located by the low beam bulb. what i am getting is you attached another ground wire to that location and ran it directly to the battery. am i on the right track here?? Thanks

 

[NolaBoy]

Alright i ran that ground directly to the battery. All is fine now. Everything is working fine...EXCEPT:banghead: ... The only thing that is not working like it should is the daytime running light on the passenger side. Driver's side comes on when the car is in drive but it looks kinda bright like its more than 50% voltage, however the passenger side does not illuminate. I have swapped bulbs, checked fuses and relays and nothing. I have also ran a ground directly from the passenger side to the battery. One step closer just to take one step back. The hibeams work fine when i turn them on. What could i be missing???

 

[stevehogan]

By running grounds from each headlight high-beam back to the battery, you have effectively disabled the DRL wiring. The DRL relays hook the high beams in series when in DRL mode i.e. the "ground" from one bulb is hooked to the "hot" from the other. You need to get a copy of the schematic for the headlamp wiring to see what I mean. I am not home or I would post a PDF. Perhaps one of the others here can post the schematic

 

[vogel81]

I experienced the same problem with the same lights. They are euro-spec and not wired correctly for the Catera. I had to switch a wire in the driver side headlight. I don’t remember which one for sure, but I was able to look at my old headlight, and in comparison with the new, I was able to figure out which wire was incorrect.

 

[NolaBoy]

I experienced the same problem with the same lights. They are euro-spec and not wired correctly for the Catera. I had to switch a wire in the driver side headlight. I don’t remember which one for sure, but I was able to look at my old headlight, and in comparison with the new, I was able to figure out which wire was incorrect.

yep i just finished rewiring the headlights to spec. everything works like a charm. I have the instructions for rewiring in a document that someone sent me. Step by step and very easy to follow. If anyone wants it I would be glad to send it to you just let me know. I appreciate the help fellas

 

[bengsxr]

hey nolaboy can you email me the instructions for this cause I just ordered me a set of those headlight that way I will have the instuctions in hand when the lights show up. [email protected] thanks for the help

 

[NolaBoy]

hey nolaboy can you email me the instructions for this cause I just ordered me a set of those headlight that way I will have the instuctions in hand when the lights show up. [email protected] thanks for the help

coming your way

 

[bengsxr]

thanks alot I got it