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Hello all. I'm hoping someone can give me a hand, as I'm lost as to what to do next. I'm in the middle of installing used ACA headlights that I bought from another forum member. After switching out the OEM headlight housings for the new ACA's, I cannot get the HID low beams to light. The OEM high beams work when toggled on and off.
I've tried both ballasts, reversing the connectors, but have had no success. Has anyone installed these recently? I've read through Patches install thread, and it was helpful. I won't be running wires to the battery though, as I don't think it's required with the ballasts that I have. I'll take a couple of pics to let you see what I'm working with. Any help would be appreciated. Thank you.
Kris
Ballast and ACA housing:
OEM wiring harness:
Last edited by Verrückt ZR1; Apr 18, 2016 at 12:31 AM.
Ok, I had help with mine, but I think I might know the problem.
The plug from the car's harness to the HID ballast. It has a clip that snaps in...but you don't use it. In your 2nd picture you can see both of the "clips" I am talking about. On multiple HID kids you actually have to plug it in backwards from what you'd think.
Also, a few questions that might help others diagnose the issue if I am wrong.
-Do the lights pop up when you turn them on, but don't light?
I believe that the grey plug from the OEM harness is supposed to connect to the HID lows, which was no problem at all. The problem was that I could not get the HID's to light with said grey connector. I ended up plugging the black connector (which is supposed to go to the high beams) into the HID's, but in the reverse position. This illuminated the HID's. I then modified the housing for the high beam bulb to accept the grey plug.
Checked the lights before reassembling everything, and it seemed to work perfectly. After putting it all back together though, I was frustrated to find that when you switch the lights on, only the high beams are lit. When I engage the highs by pushing the turn signal forward, the brights go off and the HID's come on. I'm giving up for the night. Too dark in the garage, and frustration had taken it's toll on me. Hopefully I can figure it out tomorrow.
Ok you have the HID from corvette mods. That's what I had on mine until I got the radio flyers lights . Different night and day. I had same trouble . Do you have to put brights on to lower your lights.
Ok you have the HID from corvette mods. That's what I had on mine until I got the radio flyers lights . Different night and day. I had same trouble . Do you have to put brights on to lower your lights.
Yes. Brights must be on for the HID's, and the high beams run when the lights are on the normal setting. Is that the way that your setup ran as well?
No I did not install the hi beams just the low beams. With that said low beams worked fine but the buckets would not go down. So I called corvette mods and she said to hit your brights and they go down. That's why I got the BI- xenon lights . They were the easiest install I have seen.
I think if I remember that the plugs are plugged in opposite. Look t see if on ballast has a positive and negative. I am not sure but I think that's what I did.
A fix that Radio Flyer did with the headlamp lowering problem was to increase the wattage of the HID bulb that he provided in his Bi-Xenon kit. Apparently the early 35w HID bulbs caused that lowering issue. Going to a 50w or 55w bulb solved the problem.
Fortunately, George was gracious enough to provide me with the higher wattage bulbs in exchange for the lower wattage bulbs I got in the kit. Installed the new bulbs and the headlamps now lower when I turn the headlights off
They're working, just not correctly. Ha. I'm 99% sure that's it's a user install error though. I need to get back out there and figure everything out. Had to be an easy fix.
I believe that the grey plug from the OEM harness is supposed to connect to the HID lows, which was no problem at all. The problem was that I could not get the HID's to light with said grey connector. I ended up plugging the black connector (which is supposed to go to the high beams) into the HID's, but in the reverse position. This illuminated the HID's. I then modified the housing for the high beam bulb to accept the grey plug.
.....
I'm no expert, but this is what has me confused.
I ended up plugging the black connector (which is supposed to go to the high beams) into the HID's, but in the reverse position.
You plugged the HIGH BEAM plug into the HID ballast/igniter? If you do that, the HIDS will only come on when you turn on your high beams.
If you have a 35 w HID kit, you'll either need to install a resistor or hit your high beams to have the buckets go down. A 55w HID kit would also solve that problem.
I ended up plugging the black connector (which is supposed to go to the high beams) into the HID's, but in the reverse position.
You plugged the HIGH BEAM plug into the HID ballast/igniter? If you do that, the HIDS will only come on when you turn on your high beams.
If you have a 35 w HID kit, you'll either need to install a resistor or hit your high beams to have the buckets go down. A 55w HID kit would also solve that problem.
The ballasts are 55w, so no issues with the buckets. I could not get the HID's to illuminate when plugged into the low beam connector. That is the issue. The only way that I could get them to light at all was to plug them into the high beam connector- backwards.
After a lot of cursing, some bruised knuckles, and experimentation... I finally got everything working correctly. I had to swap the left and right ballasts, and plug the low beam connector in upside down. If not for the headaches I ran into, this would've been a very simple process. Anyone wanting a fresh look for their C5 should definitely consider these headlights, or the gorgeous bi-xenon's from RadioFlyer.
Now for the pics...
OEM housing:
ACA housing:
The only thing left to do is to aim the lights. As they sit now, I'm sure I'll be flashed left and right by oncoming cars. Definitely brighter than the OEM's.
But why swapping the left and right ballasts made a difference?
Perhaps all they needed was to reverse the plug, as you did, or that was not enough?
I don't have a clue. Crazy, I know. I had tried reversing the plug multiple times, and in a last ditch effort decided to swap the ballasts. That's what did the trick. I'm just glad they're working as they're supposed to.
The only thing left to do is to aim the lights. As they sit now, I'm sure I'll be flashed left and right by oncoming cars. Definitely brighter than the OEM's.
If you haven't soaked the two per headlamp alignment rods, now is a good time to do it before you put everything back together. Soak both rods in each mechanism, plus the gear housing with PB blaster, and if they are tight or refuse to move much, adjust them a small amount and then back the rod backwards till it stops and keep repeating. They will slowly unbind and you'll have full adjustment range.
If you haven't soaked the two per headlamp alignment rods, now is a good time to do it before you put everything back together. Soak both rods in each mechanism, plus the gear housing with PB blaster, and if they are tight or refuse to move much, adjust them a small amount and then back the rod backwards till it stops and keep repeating. They will slowly unbind and you'll have full adjustment range.
Trouble With ACA Headlight Install
I had tried reversing the plug multiple times, and in a last ditch effort decided to swap the ballasts. That's what did the trick. I'm just glad they're working as they're supposed to.
