aca headlight issues
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 7,205
Likes: 310
From: Lino Lakes MN
aca headlight issues
I installed my aca headlights with h9 hids using Patches instructions a couple of years ago. All was fine til this spring. Both low beams appeared to out so I ordered new bulbs guessing that was the problem.
Installed new bulbs tonight, and you guessed, it no low beams. I check the power to the ballasts. No power to the passenger side ballast but power to the drivers side. Harness fusses are good. I hate electrical issues and am having a hard time wrapping my mind around this.
If anyone has some direction, please let me know. I don't know where to go from here.
I may have moved some wires around anyone have any pics of wiring on the back of headlights?
Installed new bulbs tonight, and you guessed, it no low beams. I check the power to the ballasts. No power to the passenger side ballast but power to the drivers side. Harness fusses are good. I hate electrical issues and am having a hard time wrapping my mind around this.
If anyone has some direction, please let me know. I don't know where to go from here.
I may have moved some wires around anyone have any pics of wiring on the back of headlights?
Last edited by yaknow; Jun 24, 2014 at 12:15 AM.
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Also check the connections at the battery den fuse box. I lost my passenger low beam and it was because that connection wiggled loose after my trunk amp was installed.
Advanced
Joined: Mar 2011
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From: Maryland
I had a similar issue with my sun guns. My lights would intermittently work, sometimes the low beams would never turn on. Then my drivers side light wouldn't turn on. Traced wires and connections and found out that my resistor went bad. I disconnected the resistor and connected ballast directly w/o the resistor and haven't had any problems since. If you have a resistor I'd try looking at that.
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Joined: Jul 2008
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I've enjoyed my ACA HIDs for close to four years now trouble free. I remember when I installed them, I did it one light at a time in case I needed to reverse engineer any of the wiring so I guess the same idea holds true for trouble shooting. Below is the order I would check:
1.) Battery charge
2.) Fuses
3.) Battery den fuse box connections
4.) HID Bulb/connections
5.) HID Ballast/connections
6.) HID Harness to battery/connections
Also note that if the harness is not properbly secured to the frame rails it can rub up against the engine block and the heat can then melt the harness/wires. I caught that a few days after I installed my set and luckily caught it before any major damage. I then secured the harness via zip ties away from the engine block.
1.) Battery charge
2.) Fuses
3.) Battery den fuse box connections
4.) HID Bulb/connections
5.) HID Ballast/connections
6.) HID Harness to battery/connections
Also note that if the harness is not properbly secured to the frame rails it can rub up against the engine block and the heat can then melt the harness/wires. I caught that a few days after I installed my set and luckily caught it before any major damage. I then secured the harness via zip ties away from the engine block.
Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 7,205
Likes: 310
From: Lino Lakes MN
I had a similar issue with my sun guns. My lights would intermittently work, sometimes the low beams would never turn on. Then my drivers side light wouldn't turn on. Traced wires and connections and found out that my resistor went bad. I disconnected the resistor and connected ballast directly w/o the resistor and haven't had any problems since. If you have a resistor I'd try looking at that.
Advanced
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 74
Likes: 0
From: Maryland
[QUOTE=yaknow;1587211113]how do you bypass the resister last onlyUOTE]
It's been a while since I've done it, so this is strictly from memory as I don't have my vehicle readily accessible to take a look at it for you right now. If I'm incorrect about the process someone feel free to correct me.
My resistor connected to the drivers side headlight ballast only. The wires on the hid bulb connector should be plugged directly in to the hid ballast. However, if your kit came with a resistor, the resistor acts as a"middle man" between the headlight and the hid ballast, meaning the wires at the end of the hid bulb connector are connected to the resistor, which is then connected to the hid ballast. In order to by pass the resistor you would jus need to not plug it in to your setup. I will see if I can find a picture of what my kit looked like.
It's been a while since I've done it, so this is strictly from memory as I don't have my vehicle readily accessible to take a look at it for you right now. If I'm incorrect about the process someone feel free to correct me.
My resistor connected to the drivers side headlight ballast only. The wires on the hid bulb connector should be plugged directly in to the hid ballast. However, if your kit came with a resistor, the resistor acts as a"middle man" between the headlight and the hid ballast, meaning the wires at the end of the hid bulb connector are connected to the resistor, which is then connected to the hid ballast. In order to by pass the resistor you would jus need to not plug it in to your setup. I will see if I can find a picture of what my kit looked like.
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Thread Starter
Le Mans Master
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 7,205
Likes: 310
From: Lino Lakes MN
Thanks guys. I was luck enough to have an extra set of ballasts. One was bad so replaced them both a couple of poor connections replaced and all is right with the world. A major thanks to my brother for his help this evening.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 959
Likes: 50
From: Peters Colony Republic of Texas
I keep spares on hand for just that reason
Since the HID bulbs (low beam and driving lights) and ballasts are not readily available at the local auto parts stores, I resorted to ordering spares for all of them. Now, at least, I have the ability to trouble shoot and resolve my HID-related issues all at one time rather than wait for (hopefully the correct) mail-ordered parts to show up.
The Lizzard
The Lizzard
Racer
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From: Circle Pines MN
Le Mans Master
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 5,520
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From: Long Island NY
I had a similar issue with my sun guns. My lights would intermittently work, sometimes the low beams would never turn on. Then my drivers side light wouldn't turn on. Traced wires and connections and found out that my resistor went bad. I disconnected the resistor and connected ballast directly w/o the resistor and haven't had any problems since. If you have a resistor I'd try looking at that.
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From: The Sunshine State
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On this point, what is the average life of an HID ballast? Is it based on age or on the amount of times they have fired up the HIDs? Any warning signs or do these thing immediately fail?
Pro
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 717
Likes: 11
From: Pleasanton CA
I installed my aca headlights with h9 hids using Patches instructions a couple of years ago. All was fine til this spring. Both low beams appeared to out so I ordered new bulbs guessing that was the problem.
Installed new bulbs tonight, and you guessed, it no low beams. I check the power to the ballasts. No power to the passenger side ballast but power to the drivers side. Harness fusses are good. I hate electrical issues and am having a hard time wrapping my mind around this.
If anyone has some direction, please let me know. I don't know where to go from here.
I may have moved some wires around anyone have any pics of wiring on the back of headlights?
Installed new bulbs tonight, and you guessed, it no low beams. I check the power to the ballasts. No power to the passenger side ballast but power to the drivers side. Harness fusses are good. I hate electrical issues and am having a hard time wrapping my mind around this.
If anyone has some direction, please let me know. I don't know where to go from here.
I may have moved some wires around anyone have any pics of wiring on the back of headlights?