HID install
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 875
Likes: 0
From: Los Angeles CA
HID install
I bought some slim ballast HIDs with the resistor cable from JW back in November.. just getting around to installing them..
quick question, since some links i clicked on for the DIY install said i do not have permission to access (no idea why)
are these the correct steps?
#1 remove headlight bezel and headlight covers.
#2 remove stock bulbs
#3 connect stock connector to ballast with supplied harness
#4 install hid lamps
#5 connect ballast harness to hid lamps
#6 clean ballast backing and frame rails with rubbing alcohol.
#7 install double side tape and stick ballast to frame rail
#8 tie wrap loose wires
#9 reinstall headlight covers and bezels when headlights are aimed correctly.
any tips and advice to make this simple and painless?
Ive installed HIDs before on other cars, but the space is tight here, dont want to F up anything.
quick question, since some links i clicked on for the DIY install said i do not have permission to access (no idea why)
are these the correct steps?
#1 remove headlight bezel and headlight covers.
#2 remove stock bulbs
#3 connect stock connector to ballast with supplied harness
#4 install hid lamps
#5 connect ballast harness to hid lamps
#6 clean ballast backing and frame rails with rubbing alcohol.
#7 install double side tape and stick ballast to frame rail
#8 tie wrap loose wires
#9 reinstall headlight covers and bezels when headlights are aimed correctly.
any tips and advice to make this simple and painless?
Ive installed HIDs before on other cars, but the space is tight here, dont want to F up anything.
Team Owner
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From: Kerrville, Texas USA Hook 'em Horns!
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St. Jude Donor '03-'04-'05-'06-'07-'08-'09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15-'16-'17
CF member Junkman created a very good link for HID installation with a lot of nice pictures. Click here for link.
Drifting
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 1,317
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From: McCall Idaho
CF member Junkman created a very good link for HID installation with a lot of nice pictures. Click here for link.
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 875
Likes: 0
From: Los Angeles CA
yep, saw that one.. our ballasts are a little different...
here are some pics with questions:
This is everything laid out.. is this how i connect them??
This is what it looks like when I connect them the way I showed above with the arrows:
Here is the resistor thing that makes sure the headlight opens and closes all the way. Is this how I connect it? (only 1 is needed for everything)
Here are the instructions provided. Not sure what to do about the polarity thing:
here are some pics with questions:
This is everything laid out.. is this how i connect them??
This is what it looks like when I connect them the way I showed above with the arrows:
Here is the resistor thing that makes sure the headlight opens and closes all the way. Is this how I connect it? (only 1 is needed for everything)
Here are the instructions provided. Not sure what to do about the polarity thing:
Drifting
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 1,952
Likes: 1
From: Waveland MS
Uh, also keep in mind if you do not hook them up correct the corvette will not be recieving the 12 volts back to the computer from the HID's. So this will notify to the computer that it has a blown headlight bulb. The corvettes response to this is to keep the headlights in the up position even when off. Some people have to put them on bright to lower down the headlights.
Banned Scam/Spammer
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From: Oklahoma City
St. Jude Donor '09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15-'16-'17,'19,'22
Either way will work. I always connect it between where the red wire comes from the ballast and into the wire going to the HID light though.
Another tip I have on stuff like this is if it doesn't work one way, switch it around and try it the other. You can't mess it up! Just make sure your car is started when turning on the lights.
Another tip I have on stuff like this is if it doesn't work one way, switch it around and try it the other. You can't mess it up! Just make sure your car is started when turning on the lights.
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Uh, also keep in mind if you do not hook them up correct the corvette will not be recieving the 12 volts back to the computer from the HID's. So this will notify to the computer that it has a blown headlight bulb. The corvettes response to this is to keep the headlights in the up position even when off. Some people have to put them on bright to lower down the headlights.
Drifting
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 1,952
Likes: 1
From: Waveland MS
My friend Hugh in a dealer, and I forget what brand he is with, he had done a couple of cars that were like the vette in that problem. But when we installed everything the lights would stay up unless I put my brights on then lowered down the lights. That was my old vette, so when I put them on this vette we will see how it goes. BTW he charges 150.00 installed.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 2,786
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From: Iowa
you have the connections right, just plug the resistor into one of them to make the lights lower. also, if you blow a fuse when you power them up, you may need to upgrade your headlight wiring. some suggest just putting a higher rated fuse in the headlight slots, but I think that's a really bad idea. Johnathan's HIDs are nice high quality units though, they don't draw as much startup current as some other HID sets do. I tested a set just the other day, it was drawing only about 4 amps and I didn't notice much of an increase at all at startup.
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Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 875
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From: Los Angeles CA
k, i finished them
i did one thing different though. per the instructions, it says the stock wiring needs to be flipped by taking one of the wires out and switching it with the other. I could not figure out how to take them out, so i just put the connector on upside down. electrically, this is the same thing, the only difference is the little lock part wont lock..but its a snug fit, plus i electric-taped it for security. everything works as it should so far
i did one thing different though. per the instructions, it says the stock wiring needs to be flipped by taking one of the wires out and switching it with the other. I could not figure out how to take them out, so i just put the connector on upside down. electrically, this is the same thing, the only difference is the little lock part wont lock..but its a snug fit, plus i electric-taped it for security. everything works as it should so far
Banned Scam/Spammer
Joined: Feb 2007
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From: Oklahoma City
St. Jude Donor '09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15-'16-'17,'19,'22
k, i finished them
i did one thing different though. per the instructions, it says the stock wiring needs to be flipped by taking one of the wires out and switching it with the other. I could not figure out how to take them out, so i just put the connector on upside down. electrically, this is the same thing, the only difference is the little lock part wont lock..but its a snug fit, plus i electric-taped it for security. everything works as it should so far
i did one thing different though. per the instructions, it says the stock wiring needs to be flipped by taking one of the wires out and switching it with the other. I could not figure out how to take them out, so i just put the connector on upside down. electrically, this is the same thing, the only difference is the little lock part wont lock..but its a snug fit, plus i electric-taped it for security. everything works as it should so far
I include that with my C6 instructions, but never edited the C5 ones. Don't hesitate to post pics!
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 875
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From: Los Angeles CA
yea ill take some pics asap
quick question tho.. sometimes when i turn on the headlight switch, the headlights dont open.. i gotta turn it off, then slowly turn them on (one click at a time till low beams are on).. any idea why? i did purchased the extra resistor.. and i did install it correctly.
quick question tho.. sometimes when i turn on the headlight switch, the headlights dont open.. i gotta turn it off, then slowly turn them on (one click at a time till low beams are on).. any idea why? i did purchased the extra resistor.. and i did install it correctly.
Last edited by ferrari red vette; Jan 20, 2009 at 02:03 AM.