HID noob - I now have no lights (1 Viewer)

[ilmfj62]

Hi, I purchased an FJ62 with a HID light conversion and as the story goes, everything worked great until now.

"outer" lamps : controlled by stock light switch on steering column. Brighties also work as they should.

"inner" lamps : off-road intensity, controlled by a switch on the dash.

"face melters" (hella 4000's) : controlled by a 2nd switch on the dash.

The normal headlights (outer) which I need to be able to drive in the dark, stopped working a few weeks ago. I had to turn the switch off/on a few times and they would fire up, now they just don't work at all.

I used the offroad lights (inners) to get me home... next time this happened I had to use the offroad lights and when I switched them on, only 1 came on. Turned off the switch and back on, both lights now on.

I took the fuses out and inspected, look good... tightened the battery terminal and the entire system worked in the garage. Took it out again (at night) and back to sort of working, then not at all.

I am really a total know nothing when it comes to these systems and was hoping to get some advice on what to check. Thanks!

 

[ilmfj62]

... to add a note, I'm waiting a good 10-15 seconds after switching "on" and still nothing.

 

[2000UZJ]

Do you know what kind of HID system it is? Have you checked your grounds? Do you have a relay installed?

 

[ilmfj62]

Not sure what kind, the parts simply say "HID". Yes there is a relay and I only briefly got under the hood this morning and didn't have time to check the grounds. I'll get back out there this afternoon and poke around. Noticed my neighbor put in some Xenons on his vehicle so I may try and snag him to take a look as well.

 

[ilmfj62]

So after more trial and error type testing... I've found that when the engine is OFF, the lights fire up no problems. Engine ON - sporadic operation. The one thing I do know about HID is that they take much more power on initial fire up than a traditional bulb so my 4 year old Optima blue *might* be the culprit to my HID woes. I noticed the other day that when my turn signal is on, the voltage meter on the dash goes up and down with the lighting of the turn signal, maybe another sign of battery sickness (?).

I should be able to fire up the headlights then crank the motor a few seconds later as a workaround...

 

[Tin basher]

No start it first then turn lights on my hids flicker off and on if I start truck with lites on
And can't see that as being good for them

 

[klinetime574]

The volt meter bouncing with the turn signal is normal.

I have HIDs and a really old Optima red top. I'd say if that system is foreign to you, get rid of it. Revert it back to stock or upgraded stock style. HIDs are finnicky. And if you didn't install it its going to be hard to figure out.

Find the main relay and both ballasts and go from there. Who knows maybe you will find the problem.

 

[steverb]

check your ground. also if you have a faulty alternator the hids will kick out and not ignite its some sort of fale safe.