HID flicker - noob question
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 6,882
Likes: 234
From: Bangkok, Thailand
HID flicker - noob question
I recently had yet another fog light burn out, so I figured I'd try a $35 HID kit from ebay:
This is the first time I've had any car with HID's so I'm a noob at this.
Installation was simple enough although the plastic ends to plug onto the fog sockets were wrong. I simply plugged the pins directly into the plug for now till I can get the right weatherpack plugs.
When the lights first power on, they have a BRIGHT white start for maybe a 1/10th of a second and then go down to a significantly reduced output - maybe 20% of that initial flash - with much more of a blue hue. Also, while running they have obvious flicker. If this normal for cheapie kits like this? Did I make some obvious mistake in the install?
This is the first time I've had any car with HID's so I'm a noob at this.
Installation was simple enough although the plastic ends to plug onto the fog sockets were wrong. I simply plugged the pins directly into the plug for now till I can get the right weatherpack plugs.
When the lights first power on, they have a BRIGHT white start for maybe a 1/10th of a second and then go down to a significantly reduced output - maybe 20% of that initial flash - with much more of a blue hue. Also, while running they have obvious flicker. If this normal for cheapie kits like this? Did I make some obvious mistake in the install?
Last edited by pewter99; Dec 24, 2011 at 09:28 AM. Reason: NSV link removed
Melting Slicks
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 2,866
Likes: 45
From: Tampa Bay, Go BUCS!!!Go Rays!!!Go Lightning!!!
St. Jude Donor '12-'13-'14
well, your polarity is correct or they wouldn't light at all.
It could be that the "stuck in pin" connections just can't handle the current very well.
It could be that the "stuck in pin" connections just can't handle the current very well.
Pro
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 537
Likes: 4
From: Roseville Ca.
Did the kit come with ballasts....if not that may be your problem. It also sounds like you may have the 6000k lights which will have a bluish tint to them. The bright flash upon startup is common on HIDs. 
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 773
Likes: 44
From: San Francisco Bay area CA
I think they are running as designed. I've had HID fogs and low beams for years, and they behave much like you describe - a bright 'flash' when first turned on, then they dim and brighten to full in about 2-3 seconds. As someone mentioned, if the polarity was wrong, they wouldn't even turn on.
Pro
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 554
Likes: 4
From: Kitty Hawk NC
I think that the OP's main concern is the flicker. I do get the same here, specially on the left side. On the right, I got one of those harnesses to plug the HIDs straight to the battery and the flicker is none or less noticeable.
Got lazy to run the wire to the left side and it flickers a lot. Hard to see on the road at night but easy in the garage.
Got lazy to run the wire to the left side and it flickers a lot. Hard to see on the road at night but easy in the garage.
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 6,882
Likes: 234
From: Bangkok, Thailand
Thanks for the feedback guys. Last night I notcied that I also have the "turn on the running lights and the headlights pop open" syndrome. Only happens when the fogs are set to turn on with the running lights. I had read about that here already.
Yes, they came with ballasts. Very simple install and I lucked out with guessing that the gray wire was the groung, so the first one I tested lit on the first try.
The seller says he'll replace them if needed, but since the ballasts are alreday stuck to the frame rails I'd rather not go that route.
That conversion harness looks great, I'll give it a try!
Yes, they came with ballasts. Very simple install and I lucked out with guessing that the gray wire was the groung, so the first one I tested lit on the first try.
The seller says he'll replace them if needed, but since the ballasts are alreday stuck to the frame rails I'd rather not go that route.
That conversion harness looks great, I'll give it a try!
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
Corvette ZR1X Will Be Pacing the Indy 500, And Could Probably Race, Too!
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Corvettes Coming to Mecum Indy 2026!
Brett Foote
Top 10 C9 Corvette MUST-HAVES to Fix These C8 Generation Flaws!
Michael S. Palmer
10 Revolutionary 'Corvette Firsts' Most People Don't Know
Joe Kucinski
5 Reasons to Upgrade to an LS6-Powered Corvette; 5 Reasons to Stay LT2
Michael S. Palmer
2027 Corvette vs The World: Every C8 vs Its Closest Competitor
Joe Kucinski
10 Most Common Corvette Problems of the Last 20 Years!
Joe Kucinski
5 MOST and 5 LEAST Popular Corvette Model Years in History!
Joe Kucinski
2027 Corvette Buyer's Guide: Everything You Need to Know!
Joe Kucinski
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 1,062
Likes: 291
From: Allyn WA
That may fix it. But I believe your going to need the resistor to eliminate the pop up headlight issue. When installing HIDs it seems every car responds differently. The reason is the current which confuses the electronics package for lights and headlamps.
JW Motoring has the resistor and it is a quick install, you should not have any worries with the ballast, they are fine.
HIDs are the way to go, I got carried away and did all my lights.
Connections are very important I would very leary of you plugs. Flicker sometimes occurs during the first hours of operation, the gases in the bulb need to settle in to their ionization properties. This can be from 30 min up to the first 24 hours of usage (usually after a hour of use). Best of luck!
JW Motoring has the resistor and it is a quick install, you should not have any worries with the ballast, they are fine.
HIDs are the way to go, I got carried away and did all my lights.
Connections are very important I would very leary of you plugs. Flicker sometimes occurs during the first hours of operation, the gases in the bulb need to settle in to their ionization properties. This can be from 30 min up to the first 24 hours of usage (usually after a hour of use). Best of luck!
Last edited by MrGary2011; Dec 25, 2011 at 02:21 PM.
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 6,882
Likes: 234
From: Bangkok, Thailand
TOTALLY sold on the HID fog's after the 100 mile drive home from my mom's this evening. They light up areas that never had any light at all before, even with the 50 watt Xenon bulbs I used to have. It's much more than a night and day difference.
Problem now of course is that I'm going to want to do the main lights as well......
Problem now of course is that I'm going to want to do the main lights as well......
Le Mans Master
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 5,747
Likes: 224
From: Hillsboro Oregon
I have installed several HIDs in several C5s and other cars, NEVER needed resistors when using a proper battery based relay wiring harness. Plus when using a relay harness you keep the loads off your multifunction switch. But everyone has their own methods.
Racer
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 490
Likes: 5
From: Tampa Bay Area, U.S.A. (Zombie Nation)
If you can remove the significant electrical load of a stock incandescent headight, replace it with the insignificant load of a relay coil, and not need a resistor to make up the difference, you've really accomplished something. To be able to do it numerous times is nothing short of a miracle.
HID's require a much higher voltage to get started and then must drop back to running voltage after they ignite. The flash you see is normal. The flicker could be caused by your less than desirable temporary connection.
HID's require a much higher voltage to get started and then must drop back to running voltage after they ignite. The flash you see is normal. The flicker could be caused by your less than desirable temporary connection.
Le Mans Master
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 5,747
Likes: 224
From: Hillsboro Oregon
If you can remove the significant electrical load of a stock incandescent headight, replace it with the insignificant load of a relay coil, and not need a resistor to make up the difference, you've really accomplished something. To be able to do it numerous times is nothing short of a miracle.
Pro
Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 564
Likes: 12
From: Vancouver British Columbia
I've installed numerous HID's and I believe flickering and color change is a common problem with the inexpensive DC ballasts on the auction site. It's unrealistic to expect OEM type performance from $35 kits. I replaced them with quality OEM type brand ballasts and no more flicker, never had any headlight bucket issues with my ACA's on stock wiring without resistors also. Some do some don't I guess.
http://reviews.ebay.ca/ac-hid-kit-vs...00000019742815
http://reviews.ebay.ca/ac-hid-kit-vs...00000019742815
Last edited by tak06; Dec 27, 2011 at 05:06 AM.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 1,062
Likes: 291
From: Allyn WA
I don't think there was any divine intervention involved here. Over the years I have installed many types of aftermarket lights such as Hella halogens and similar on several different cars and trucks. I recall that all came with a battery based relay wiring harness in the box. The first set of HIDs I bought back in 07 also came with a harness. When I moved up to ACA projectors I bought mine from ACA when they were just barely still in business and they shipped with high quality Phillips ballasts, lamps and a custom relay harness. So I believe that there was a reason all these lighting vendors included a dedicated wiring harness with their quality lights. BTW, none of the HIDs that I have installed have ever needed resistors to function properly.......but maybe I am just lucky
TNX Zora has a good point about load, by taking away the usual load (lamps) and placing the relay as the load (hardly any due the harness providing power on a different circuit) , the current is different and the onboard computer can get confused. By adding the resistor you are essentually putting back the sensed load!
Course one install on a vette does not really add credance to "many installed". When installing mine, I was also lucky, untill I added HI beam HIDs, then I had interesting things happen with my headlights going down, installed the resistor, no more issues. Having been in a group "Sun Guns how to install" with over 20 various C5's our install forum showed an unbelieaved variance in problems related to the headlamps motor (vary interesting and broad). I was one of those lucky guys and bragged about how mine worked well (right).
Those "dedicated vendors" are not corvette dedicated! Check out JW Motoring for the resistor, its cheap, easy to install and solves the problem!
Last edited by MrGary2011; Dec 27, 2011 at 05:51 AM.
Pro
Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 564
Likes: 12
From: Vancouver British Columbia
Yep! your lucky!
TNX Zora has a good point about load, by taking away the usual load (lamps) and placing the relay as the load (hardly any due the harness providing power on a different circuit) , the current is different and the onboard computer can get confused. By adding the resistor you are essentually putting back the sensed load!
Course one install on a vette does not really add credance to "many installed". When installing mine, I was also lucky, untill I added HI beam HIDs, then I had interesting things happen with my headlights going down, installed the resistor, no more issues. Having been in a group "Sun Guns how to install" with over 20 various C5's our install forum showed an unbelieaved variance in problems related to the headlamps motor (vary interesting and broad). I was one of those lucky guys and bragged about how mine worked well (right).
Those "dedicated vendors" are not corvette dedicated! Check out JW Motoring for the resistor, its cheap, easy to install and solves the problem!
Usually all I need for driving is the fogs and rarely do I even use the low beams.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 1,062
Likes: 291
From: Allyn WA
Le Mans Master
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 7,822
Likes: 221
From: Hillsboro OR
I've installed numerous HID's and I believe flickering and color change is a common problem with the inexpensive DC ballasts on the auction site. It's unrealistic to expect OEM type performance from $35 kits. I replaced them with quality OEM type brand ballasts and no more flicker, never had any headlight bucket issues with my ACA's on stock wiring without resistors also. Some do some don't I guess.
http://reviews.ebay.ca/ac-hid-kit-vs...00000019742815
http://reviews.ebay.ca/ac-hid-kit-vs...00000019742815
I have ran 6000K HID's low and fog for four years now. Never a passenger flash or a word from John Law.
FWIW - It isn't a matter of a miracle/luck whether the relay harness or resistors work or don't. The OEM system expects to read the current going through a 55 ohm/watt OEM bulb. Aftermarket ballasts offer 35 ohms to the system. The system freaks and either doesn't light them or they won't close. The relay harness (through the relays coil resistance) or a (fixed 55 ohm resistor) shows the system 55 ohms it requires to beleive the system is functioning properly. No magic.