HIDs don't work

[fatalfury64]

Here is my scenario. I purchased a mcculloch hid 6k kit and plug everything in. It was a plug and play unit, but had to slightly modify to fit the dusk caps on the h1 headlight. Only one headlight turned on, while the other stayed off. I switch the ballast and the opposite headlight turns on. Only small lights turn on. Heres the bigger problem, now both don't turn on at all. It makes this cracking noise upon turning on the headlight. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

[chmercer]

sounds like a case of chinese ballasts

[zero.counter]

It was a plug and play unit, but had to slightly modify to fit the dusk caps on the h1 headlight.
Exactly what was the modification you had to perform and where did you source your set from?

[240silvia]

When you turn them on, do they try to ignite? When I had my McCulloch kit, The ballasts were REALLY loud, they almost hiss. Maybe the new ones don't buy I'm not sure. Look at the bulbs, if they have any white spots (Black is ok) they bulbs are bad. If the bulbs are ok, no white spots, then the ballasts are bad. Also, you need to upgrade your headlight fuse. Go one step higher from whatever the stock it is. If it is a 15, then go up to a 20.

The mod that he had to do to the dust caps..... The HID bulbs have a black grommet that you put in the dust cap. You drill like a 1" hole in the dust cap and that grommet fits in there.

-Charles

[fatalfury64]

my friend, he cut the black and white wire where you plug the oem h1 bulbs to. he then soldier and covered it back up with some heat tubes. the reason he had to cut the wires is because of the dusk cap wouldn't fit the aftermarket harness throught. i was tripping about how he had to cut a plug and play unit, but he did. the wiring was pretty clean even though we had cut the harness. but the problem persist when turning on the headlights. when everything was plugged in, we had tested it by turning on the headlights. only one side was on, and the other was off. i had then switch the ballast to the other side, and it worked, but the original ballast that didn't turn on, stay off again. after that, none turned on. i'm thinking its the ballast because none of the wires had touched at all. i don't know what to think. i forgot to mention, it does make a noise upon turning on, but the bulbs turned on a few times. i don't think it could be the bulbs. maybe its the ballast. but i'm not sure. its sad, by we cut the wires instead of messing with the caps.

[Kaizen.]

sounds like a case of chinese ballasts


Haha, thats what I was thinkin. Goodluck on it tho

[fatalfury64]

i thought it was the ballasts too. damn cheap aftermarkets. i'll try to get another one

[240meowth]

I work with a headlight company that does bmw stuff, if they make clicking sounds, that means they are trying to fire. Most of the time I've encountered a problem like this, it is because there is not enough power to fire up the ballasts. But than again, there are some odd times where the bulbs are whacked.

[bodiesenmotion]

may sound stupid but did you check the fuses on the headlights. cause when i put an HID kit on my other car i fried those babies and needed to bump up the amperage.


so if you havent already just check your fuses out.

[SimpleS14]

so if you havent already just check your fuses out.


I suggest that as well.


You should have tested the ballast and bulb before installing them. What you do is take the black and white (or green or red) wire from the ballast and jump it directly to the battery. If the bulb comes on then the ballast is fine.

I also suggest you look into making a separate relay harness so that ballast draw power directly from the battery and not thru your stock wiring: http://faqlight.carpassion.info/headlamp-harness.html

[fatalfury64]

the fuses are fine. i put in 20 from 15. i will try the battery next. thanx.

[j00ni3]

the ones i got ... not the mac's,,, it had warranty and they swapped with brand new ballasts... i live in nyc... and he's a local dealer..

but my problem were the igniters.. my hid's would try to light up, but just blinked and died... so i knew it was the igniters...

if you can get in touch with him and try to find out if you can get an exchange

[fatalfury64]

i'm gonna try to connect to the battery. if that doesn't work, i'll just try to exchange them.

[bodiesenmotion]

how about the polarity of the bulbs?

[SimpleS14]

the fuses are fine. i put in 20 from 15. i will try the battery next. thanx.

I would becareful changing your fuses like that. It's 15A for a reason....

[fatalfury64]

i had the ballasts checked out by my friend with a volt meter. what he told me was that there is power coming in, but not coming out. we tried to hooking it up to the battery, and it didn't light up. so i guess i'm gonna be heading back to the seller and asking him for an explanation. hopefully if it is the ballast, i could get new ones. i'll keep you all posted. thanx for all the help and suggestions.

[CaoBoY]

mcculouchs are one way bulbs...you cant plug them in backwards. also...try turning on your car, THEN the headlights, see if that helps. if it does, then you just arent getting enough power to the ballasts, with the car turned off.

[TurDz]

Just use process of elimination. Test the ballasts/bulbs and battery off of the car, using just the positive and negative wiring.

That's what I did to test out beam patterns and such on walls.

Good luck.

[yokotas13]

thats what yuo get for doing illegal shit asshole

Thanks for being ANOTHER person that will blind someone going down the road

[kognition]

Ballast's made by Phillips are highly suggested for reliability.

i thought it was the ballasts too. damn cheap aftermarkets. i'll try to get another one

[fatalfury64]

thats what yuo get for doing illegal shit asshole

Thanks for being ANOTHER person that will blind someone going down the road

If you don't have anything good to say, then don't speak douche. As for everyone else, i appreciate all the tips you all have given me. My Hids finally work now. It appears that the wires were loose, causing no power to ignite the bulbs. Simple14, i consider you a lighting genius. Thanks everyone who took their time and giving me the good info.