HID install problems w/ pics
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Joined: Oct 2013
Posts: 54
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From: Sandy Springs
HID install problems w/ pics
I bought the HID upgrade kit for my c5.
After installing everything as noted, my low beam HIDs will not turn on. Also, my headlight doors will not retract. My high beams work fine, and apparently will allow the doors to close if they are activated. I received a little help from my friend who has experience with HID installations. After some diagnostics, he determined that the ballasts and therefore the lights are not getting power. He tried to get a spark from the negative ground wire and could not. All of the fuses are intact. He believes the problem may lie within the relay boxes from the kit, because something is stopping the circuit from being complete. I have flipped the connections, jiggled cords, checked and rechecked. Tried with the car on, car off and I don't know what may be the problem. The lights simply will not fire. I have attached notated pics for reference. What do you guys think?
After installing everything as noted, my low beam HIDs will not turn on. Also, my headlight doors will not retract. My high beams work fine, and apparently will allow the doors to close if they are activated. I received a little help from my friend who has experience with HID installations. After some diagnostics, he determined that the ballasts and therefore the lights are not getting power. He tried to get a spark from the negative ground wire and could not. All of the fuses are intact. He believes the problem may lie within the relay boxes from the kit, because something is stopping the circuit from being complete. I have flipped the connections, jiggled cords, checked and rechecked. Tried with the car on, car off and I don't know what may be the problem. The lights simply will not fire. I have attached notated pics for reference. What do you guys think?
Drifting
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 1,761
Likes: 235
From: North Carolina
That bolt securing the hood latch is not a ground. I just verified that with a voltmeter on my 98 C5.
There is a good ground located directly behind the top positive battery post on the firewall. Relocate the HID ground wire there and your lights should work provided everything else is wired properly.
Note: the original ground location you noted is a proper frame ground. You have to removed the plastic battery box enclosure by lifting it off that post. You'll see a nut that can be removed to secure an additional ground wire there. The one behind the battery will suffice.
There is a good ground located directly behind the top positive battery post on the firewall. Relocate the HID ground wire there and your lights should work provided everything else is wired properly.
Note: the original ground location you noted is a proper frame ground. You have to removed the plastic battery box enclosure by lifting it off that post. You'll see a nut that can be removed to secure an additional ground wire there. The one behind the battery will suffice.
Last edited by MAC5; Dec 19, 2013 at 11:18 PM.
Thread Starter
Advanced
Joined: Oct 2013
Posts: 54
Likes: 0
From: Sandy Springs
That bolt securing the hood latch is not a ground. I just verified that with a voltmeter on my 98 C5.
There is a good ground located directly behind the top positive battery post on the firewall. Relocate the HID ground wire there and your lights should work provided everything else is wired properly.
Note: the original ground location you noted is a proper frame ground. You have to removed the plastic battery box enclosure by lifting it off that post. You'll see a nut that can be removed to secure an additional ground wire there. The one behind the battery will suffice.
There is a good ground located directly behind the top positive battery post on the firewall. Relocate the HID ground wire there and your lights should work provided everything else is wired properly.
Note: the original ground location you noted is a proper frame ground. You have to removed the plastic battery box enclosure by lifting it off that post. You'll see a nut that can be removed to secure an additional ground wire there. The one behind the battery will suffice.
