C5 Tech Corvette Tech/Performance: LS1 Corvette Technical Info, Internal Engine, External Engine, Tech Topics, Basic Tech, Maintenance, How to Remove & Replace
Sponsored by:
Sponsored by:

Yeah, another headlight buckets bad behavior post

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old May 16, 2019 | 11:15 PM
  #21  
TheRadioFlyer's Avatar
TheRadioFlyer
Supporting Vendor
15 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
 
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 8,550
Likes: 903
From: Republic of Texas
Default

Originally Posted by My Vette Life
So what causes those led to not let the headlights go down?

Just not enought power to it?
not enough of a change in amperage when power is turned off. (some LED kits don't have enough change in amperage when power is turned on to trigger the headlights to open)
Reply
Old May 17, 2019 | 12:12 AM
  #22  
STRMLNE's Avatar
STRMLNE
Melting Slicks
 
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 2,515
Likes: 441
From: Arizona
Default

But there are some brands of led that don’t have any issues. Lasfit and auxbeam users have no issues.
Reply
Old May 18, 2019 | 08:56 AM
  #23  
dood73's Avatar
dood73
Thread Starter
Instructor
15 Year Member
All Eyes On Me
 
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 243
Likes: 27
From: New Jersey
Default

Originally Posted by My Vette Life
So what causes those led to not let the headlights go down?

Just not enought power to it?
I haven't tested it out yet - but I'm thinking the LEDs being used as the highs is not the problem. I ran those same LEDs as highs along with the bi-xenons, using the original 55W ballasts that came in the kit, for years without an issue.

Also, those LEDs I've been using for the highs are not LED "headlights". They are basically just "for show" to match the color of the bi-xenons since they are pretty much unnecessary. With the Hi-4 harness in the kit, the highs keep the bi-xenons on along with those LEDs.

Last edited by dood73; May 18, 2019 at 08:59 AM.
Reply
Old May 20, 2019 | 10:40 AM
  #24  
jjc508520's Avatar
jjc508520
Melting Slicks
10 Year Member
Photogenic
Photoriffic
Shutterbug
 
Joined: Aug 2014
Posts: 2,470
Likes: 460
From: East Windsor NJ
Default

Originally Posted by TheRadioFlyer
Sound like the issue is stable amperage draw. Just because an HID ballast claims 55w draw, it's not always accurate. HID Ballasts draw more power on a cold startup then stabilize to a lower current draw a few seconds later. The headlight control module is looking for a current change when the headlights shut off to trigger the headlight doors to close. This is why on startup, they open with no problem, but closing, the ballasts are pulling the lower "stable" current.

Our ballasts are carefully selected to be "True 55w" ballasts and maintain a stable amperage draw within the range required to trigger the headlight control module.

The "quick fix" has been to turn on your high beams, and turn off your headlights, this should trigger the doors to close.
All the work I've been doing has been in the driveway with the E-brake on. I'm going to chock wheels with e-brake off and put the Sylvania's back in-place and see if I can get the motors to behave - then work on swapping in the new stuff
Reply
Old May 21, 2019 | 08:07 PM
  #25  
dood73's Avatar
dood73
Thread Starter
Instructor
15 Year Member
All Eyes On Me
 
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 243
Likes: 27
From: New Jersey
Default

Well, I went ahead and tried the leaving highs on while turning the light stalk to the off position. With little hope as I turned it, I was amazed when the buckets went down and the lights-on warning chime shut off (even if I waited a couple seconds at the parking light position). Tried it with the highs off, and the buckets stayed up.

So, yes the quick fix worked for me. But I don't think it clarifies the underlying problem since the HIDs and ballasts, as well as the highs, are all off at the parking light position. So logically, I should have had this bucket staying up problem ever since I put the ACAs in a few years ago (I'm running the same LED highs). That is unless I'm misunderstanding or missing something in how this all works.
Reply
Old May 21, 2019 | 08:13 PM
  #26  
STRMLNE's Avatar
STRMLNE
Melting Slicks
 
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 2,515
Likes: 441
From: Arizona
Default

Sounds like you need these

https://www.corvetteforum.com/forums...ose-doors.html
Reply
Old May 21, 2019 | 08:23 PM
  #27  
dood73's Avatar
dood73
Thread Starter
Instructor
15 Year Member
All Eyes On Me
 
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 243
Likes: 27
From: New Jersey
Default

Interesting. I guess the new ballasts are not doing what ever the car needs to close the buckets. Everything else is unchanged.

I'll go with the highs on fix for now. Rather not mount the hot resistors. I installed those in my truck along with a relay harness to fool the canbus.
Reply




All times are GMT -4. The time now is 02:14 PM.

story-0
10 Ugly Corvettes That We Still Kinda Love

Slideshow: 10 ugly Corvettes that we still kinda love.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-06-03 10:34:17


VIEW MORE
story-1
Top 10 Most Expensive Corvettes Ever Sold on Bring A Trailer

A lot of money has changed hands at the online auction house over the years.

By Brett Foote | 2026-06-03 10:21:50


VIEW MORE
story-2
10 Things Every Corvette Owner Needs (2026 Edition)

Slideshow: 10 great gifts Corvette enthusiasts actually want for Father's Day!

By Michael S. Palmer | 2026-06-03 15:43:40


VIEW MORE
story-3
8 Most "Only Corvette Owners Understand" Quirks and Problems

Slideshow: These are the quirks, annoyances, and oddly lovable problems that every Corvette owner eventually learns to live with.

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-05-28 09:31:39


VIEW MORE
story-4
10 Reasons the C6 Z06 is Still A Performance Benchmark After 20 Years

Slideshow: 10 reasons why the C6 Z06 is still a performance benchmark after 20 years.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-27 17:20:09


VIEW MORE
story-5
How Much Horsepower Every Corvette Engine "LOST" in 1972

Slideshow: How much horsepower every Corvette engine lost in 1972.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-27 16:54:53


VIEW MORE
story-6
Top 10 DOs and DON'Ts for Protecting Your Convertible Top!

Slideshow: How to Protect A Convertible Top: 10 DOs & DON'Ts

By Michael S. Palmer | 2026-04-03 00:00:00


VIEW MORE
story-7
Top 10 Most Explosive Corvettes Ever Made: Power-to-Weight Ratio Ranked!

Slideshow: The 10 most explosive Corvettes ever built based on power-to-weight ratio.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-20 07:23:03


VIEW MORE
story-8
150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter

Slideshow: From C1 to C8 we compare every Corvette generation by the numbers.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-12 16:54:12


VIEW MORE
story-9
8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time

Slideshow: Some Corvette pace cars became collectible legends, while others perfectly captured the look and attitude of their era.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-11 09:50:51


VIEW MORE