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HELP - Installed 6000K Lo Beams - Not working

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Old Oct 5, 2011 | 11:14 PM
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Default HELP - Installed 6000K Lo Beams - Not working

Installed a pair of 6000K low beams and when I installed I was safe not to touch the bulb with my fingers and even wiped them off when I put them in. When I had them installed, I turned the lights on and they were fine but then the next morning they didn't work. The highs and fogs are both fine but the lows won't turn on. The next day I pulled the wheel off again to swap to the originals but when I plugged them in and turned the lows on, they didn't work either. So I checked the fuses (19 and 21) and they were fine but neither the stock bulbs or new bulbs would work. So what could it be?? Seller thought that it could be the ballasts but why would those work one night and not the next?

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Old Oct 7, 2011 | 12:50 PM
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Old Oct 7, 2011 | 02:19 PM
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Could be the ballast. Check the wiring as well. Something could be loose.

I know it's a PITA, but swap the other known good one to the bad side. Maybe the original one went out?
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Old Oct 7, 2011 | 03:15 PM
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You also have a relay to check. Double check the fuse locations for the low beams and try a new fuse also. Sometimes fuses act up.
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Old Oct 8, 2011 | 12:59 PM
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I can see 12V coming to the ballast so I know the relay is good. I don't see anything coming out. Ballast doesn't switch it to AC voltage does it? i'm assuming its a bad ballast but the new 6000K bulbs are rated at 35W also and the seller claims they have never had issues - I got it from a vendor here on the corvette forum.

Any ideas?
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Old Oct 8, 2011 | 01:40 PM
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I installed a set of these bulbs in my 08Z. They came from a fourm vendor here in Texas. No issues other than they seem to be not a bright as the factory bulbs. Not sure what went wrong with yours.
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Old Oct 8, 2011 | 01:44 PM
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Yeah, I got them from a vendor in Texas, probably the same guy. The first night, it seemed like the stock and the new bulbs were basically the same brightness, the new ones are just more blue.
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Old Oct 8, 2011 | 01:57 PM
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The ballast says to only use bulbs that are D1S or D1R only. The stock bulbs are D1S but the bulbs the vendor sent are D1 so the vendor sent the wrong ones...
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Old Oct 8, 2011 | 02:26 PM
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Stick with stock, they work...........
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Old Oct 8, 2011 | 02:33 PM
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Originally Posted by speedraider
Stick with stock, they work...........
They worked before the seller sent me bulbs that blew my ballast. If I put the stocks in now, they don't turn on. anyone know how much these are? On ebay a pair is a MINIMUM of $300!!!
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Old Oct 8, 2011 | 07:30 PM
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Originally Posted by rpmccly
They worked before the seller sent me bulbs that blew my ballast. If I put the stocks in now, they don't turn on. anyone know how much these are? On ebay a pair is a MINIMUM of $300!!!
Check in the parts section to see if someone has a ballast. Also check with Corvette Recyling who takes in a bunch of parts.

Also I've seen a couple of things about the HIDS that are not correct. Stock lows are the brightest/whitest. 6000k does add a hint of blue and they are not as bright as stock. They're still plenty bright though.

Not sure why that false information is out there.
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Old Oct 8, 2011 | 07:37 PM
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Hate to tell you my friend, but i will guarentee its your ballasts that are bad now. Thats one reason not to mess around with the lights.....Dealership should confirm, then call Kevin at parts Taxi and he can give you the best price on them.....which isnt cheap unfortunately!
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Old Oct 8, 2011 | 08:07 PM
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Originally Posted by TarHeelDon
Hate to tell you my friend, but i will guarentee its your ballasts that are bad now. Thats one reason not to mess around with the lights.....Dealership should confirm, then call Kevin at parts Taxi and he can give you the best price on them.....which isnt cheap unfortunately!
I know its the ballast and I looked on parts taxi. They have them for like $240 EACH so $480 total. Ebay has them for $300 total...still expensive. Of course the vendor claims this has never happened but we're trying to work it out, his response time has been amazing.
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Old Oct 8, 2011 | 09:37 PM
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Sometimes you get lucky, I picked up a nearly new ballast off ebay for 75 bucks. But I imagine you don't have time to wait around for the best deal.
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Old Oct 8, 2011 | 09:48 PM
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Originally Posted by Paratrooper307
Sometimes you get lucky, I picked up a nearly new ballast off ebay for 75 bucks. But I imagine you don't have time to wait around for the best deal.
I have a 2005 and the 2005's are different from 2006+ so unfortunately if I get an OEM then I'll have to pay a premium. If I can find adapters then I'm not going to get OEM. The last thing I want to do is splice the OEM wires! You can get new 2006+ ballast on ebay easily for $90, there is actually one there now for ~$50.
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Old Oct 8, 2011 | 09:50 PM
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The 2006+ have a 3 pin input and the 2005 have a 2 pin input, both of the outputs are the same. I have no idea what the 3rd pin for the 2006+ is for...

Any ideas? The 2005 and 2006+ schematics only show the +12V side and GND. don't see the 3rd pin anywhere
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Old Oct 9, 2011 | 07:29 PM
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I "honestly" don't mean to be a "stick in the mud" ....BUT what is the advantage of changing your low beam bulbs.. the stock ones are VERY bright... its the "HI" beam bulbs that are more "yellow" in color.. the low beams are plenty bright for me, & I'm over the hill (age wise 68) and I still can see perfect with the stock low beams...

"IF" I were ever going to change any bulbs in my car it would be the "HI" beams as they are not as white as the lo beams.. IMO

I have seen where some people even change the fog light bulbs ???? WHY??? they only project 20 feet and wont help you see something in the road 200 feet ahead...


maybe its just for the "COOL FACTOR" I DO see a lot of "RICERS" with blue headlights.... but to "each his own" if you like it & its worth the time and $$ I say go for it !!
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To HELP - Installed 6000K Lo Beams - Not working

Old Oct 9, 2011 | 07:45 PM
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Originally Posted by jpee
I "honestly" don't mean to be a "stick in the mud" ....BUT what is the advantage of changing your low beam bulbs.. the stock ones are VERY bright... its the "HI" beam bulbs that are more "yellow" in color.. the low beams are plenty bright for me, & I'm over the hill (age wise 68) and I still can see perfect with the stock low beams...

"IF" I were ever going to change any bulbs in my car it would be the "HI" beams as they are not as white as the lo beams.. IMO

I have seen where some people even change the fog light bulbs ???? WHY??? they only project 20 feet and wont help you see something in the road 200 feet ahead...


maybe its just for the "COOL FACTOR" I DO see a lot of "RICERS" with blue headlights.... but to "each his own" if you like it & its worth the time and $$ I say go for it !!
OP I hope this works out...hate to hear this upgrade is costing a lot of money. I've got an 05 too so I'm interested in your cure.

The HID fog lights are SUPER bright and really light up the road and in particular to the side of the road...very helpful if you live where deer roam. They are a nice upgrade, I'd say 100% better than stock fogs which are useless. They are so bright that I don't use them if there's oncoming traffic but on a lonely road they are great.

They come in 6000k so a lot of people put in 6000k low beams so the lights match.

Here's one of my stock and one of my HID fogs.

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Old Oct 9, 2011 | 08:09 PM
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Originally Posted by rpmccly
The 2006+ have a 3 pin input and the 2005 have a 2 pin input, both of the outputs are the same. I have no idea what the 3rd pin for the 2006+ is for...

Any ideas? The 2005 and 2006+ schematics only show the +12V side and GND. don't see the 3rd pin anywhere
I think GM might have changed the ballast's input connector to save money by using a more common part.

I think you're safe making a splice/connector adapter on the 12V side of the OEM ballast.

But you must use a D1S HID lamp that has the igniter integrated in the base of the lamp.

Sorry you found out the hard way that a D1 and D1S are not the same.

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Old Oct 11, 2011 | 11:41 PM
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Originally Posted by rpmccly
I have a 2005 and the 2005's are different from 2006+ so unfortunately if I get an OEM then I'll have to pay a premium. If I can find adapters then I'm not going to get OEM. The last thing I want to do is splice the OEM wires! You can get new 2006+ ballast on ebay easily for $90, there is actually one there now for ~$50.
I have a 2005 as well, and it wasn't as common, although I think some Chryslers used the same ballast.
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