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Why do I need a relay harness?

Some vehicles might be able to power up HID systems normally without problems at install time. It will probably not last long. The inrush load can be up to max 13 amps per ballast, compared to 7amps inrush when using halogen. The factory design parameters for headlight circuits are 7 amps inrush and 4.5 amps continuous load. So over time, connectors, multifunction switch, headlight switch, wiring and fuse holders will slowly degrade, because of heat buildup. These components are very time consuming to troubleshoot because they are usually well hidden behind dashboards and other wiring looms. Parts can cost several hundred dollars and add 8h labor to that and it becomes obvious that a $25 wiring harness is a cheap insurance.

• My HID system does not turn on the bulbs, or bulbs flashes/flickers, or needs the engine to run.
• Start power is up to 13Amps. If power is fed from stock wiring, a voltage drop will happen and 12volt system voltage at ballast goes under 9volts. Install wiring harness as described below.
• If you have a proper wiring harness installed, look for corrosion in contact elements.
• If bulb, igniter or ballast is of non OEM quality(typically HID kits), some or all parts will break within 3 years.
• If you have quality HID parts, you could swap parts from one side of the car to the other. Downside of doing this is that a any defective component can destroy other perfectly working parts.

My HID bulb restarts when I am using my high beams

The actual “dark” time interval between low/high beam shifts might not be visible when you run halogen bulbs. Halogen bulbs react a little slow, so it’s hard to notice. We are talking of maybe 1/10 of a second. But any HID system will turn off and restart. What you experience on the road is dangerous pitch dark, 3-5 seconds.

This can be solved a few ways, the first one is the most elegant:

• Connect triggers wires of the relay(s) that feeds ballasts directly to headlight switch, electrically before multifunction stalk. Having wiring diagram available is recommended. If not, you can simply obtain access to rear of headlight switch, and try out the different terminals using a 12V test lamp.
• Adding a large capacitor between + and - on the trigger terminals of ballast relay. The size of the capacitor will naturally vary with size of interval. A starting point could be a 4700uF/minimum 20V. Yes, I know, this is not a small component.
• If you don’t live in area with fog and you have been driving around with fog lights on because your headlights are poor, you might find that you can use the fog lights switch to trigger your HID low beam. After all, you wouldn’t need any “fog” lights now that you have HID.
• Simply wire up a new switch. The cool thing is that the switch can be physically very small, since it only need to be rated for 0.3 amps.
• Connect trigger wire via a 4 second delay to ignition circuit. The delay will turn HID system on after you have started engine, regardless of night or day. So this would serve as a DRL function as well.
• Connect trigger wire to the park lamp circuit. This will eliminate all problems related to high beam usage. Park lights are always on regardless of “flash to pass”, and low beam/high beam mode.

Here are a few installation guides for HID kits:

Toyota Celica
Ford Focus
Hyundai Tiburon

Video:
Honda Accord

Towards the end of a HID bulbs existence, sometimes the phenomena known as ‘cycling’ occurs. As the gets older, the voltage necessary to maintain the arc eventually rises to exceed the voltage provided by your ballast. As the lamp heats to this point, the arc fails and the bulb will not longer function. If this is occurring to you, it is possible that the bulb is the culprit and not your ballast.

If you are looking at a conversion that does not include a ballast, it is entirely likely that it is not a true HID bulb.

How the headlamp is aimed must checked and adjusted frequently. Misaimed lamps are ineffective and cause hazards while driving. Headlamps require occasional maintenance as the lens may get cloudy resulting to less illumination of road in times of low visibility. Abrasion to the lenses due to road particles that corrodes with them can lead to small cracks allowing water to get in. This eventually leads to oxidation inside the lamp. Once the reflector inside the lamp is oxidized, it loses its luster, thus, losing its reflective properties. It can also happen when bulbs of higher wattage is used. It can be remedied by using car polishes and sanding can restore the lamps’ shine. There are cases, however, wherein complete replacement is necessary. Constant polishing also damages the lens as it strips off the protective coating of the lens, leading to faster deterioration.

The wiring that controls headlamps can also crack or snap. This causes the lamps not to function at all. The broken wires can be replaced to fix the problem. Another way is by installing a wire harness to be able to get the headlamps back into function.

Proper care and maintenance of headlamps clears you of many road hazards and can bring you to you, and your car as well, in your destination in once piece.

But just like any other part of your vehicle, they also need regular maintenance.  There are times when they get cloudy providing less light output, or they are not adjusted to an angle that will enable them to illuminate the road best. Therefore, someone who drives must ensure they work properly at all occasions.
Adjusting the headlights is quite a simple task. It does not take a mechanic to get it done. All you need are a few tools.  What you will need is a Philips screwdriver, or any that fits the adjusting screws, and a masking tape.
The best time to do it, of course, is at night. And then, follow these simple procedures:

1. Park your vehicle on level ground with the headlights near a garage door or wall.
2. Mark the horizontal centerlines of the lights on the wall using a masking tape. Mark the vertical centerline for each light as well. The marking will tell you where exactly the headlights should be centered.
3. Move the car back about 10 to 25 feet away from the garage door or the wall.
4. Find the adjusting screws of the headlights. It is better to find these screws before turning on the lights. It will allow you to touch the headlights before they warm up. There are horizontal and vertical screws which have small spring behind them.  Some cars come equipped with a small level attached to the top of the headlight under the hood. It helps you get an accurate adjustment.
5. Turn on the headlights on the low beam setting. Your high beams should set to the right level as well when you adjust the low beams.
6. Use the markings you made on the wall or garage door, check where the light shines and see if there is any uneven light beam. Check if the beams match.
7. Make the necessary adjustments with the lights still on and while watching the lights beams. Turning the top adjusting screws in a clockwise direction will raise the beam while counterclockwise turn will lower it. Turning the side adjuster screws will adjust the lights to the left or right. Continue the adjustments until the light beams are even. It is recommended that the lights are tilted slightly downward so they won’t blind approaching motorist.

Cars, however, can differ. So, it is best to check first your vehicle’s manual, which would also indicate how often the headlights should be adjusted. It is usually recommended that headlights be adjusted annually or as often as necessary, whenever they are out of alignment.

A few simple tools and few easy procedures and presto – you are ready to hit the road. The “road” will be your oyster and you are ready to conquer it.

There are a few differences in HID lenses. Others are much brighter, some produce diffused light and there are few that tend to be more blinding. The good ones are those that produce focused beams that penetrate darkness much better. 

When it comes to cars, Honda S2000, 2003+Acura TSX and 2004+ Acura TL are among the others with the best projectors. These cars use Stanley/Kioto projectors, which is so powerful and many consider it to be the best. In close second is Valeo, which can be found on Audis. And then, Bosch comes as third best

Rebased Philips bulbs and Philips (or Hella) generation 3 or 4 ballasts are recommend HID Kit components. The brightest of the Rebased Philips bulbs is the 4100k bulb which emits yellowish light. 6000k produces white light with a bluish-purple hue, whereas, 7300k gives light in crystal blue. Those with wire harness that directly draw power directly from the battery are the best ones to pick.
One process that is growing in popularity is HID retrofitting. It is enclosing the HID bulb, ballast, lens and shield or the entire HID component into halogen headlight housing, thus, providing even light distribution and a better colorful projection. It could cost up to $1,000.  Components recommended for retrofitting are Philips D2S 4100k or 4300k bulbs and Philips generation 3 or generation 4 ballasts. A wire harness can also be built to connect the ballast directly from the battery to power them up. 

A lot of complaints have been files to the Department of Transportation (DOT) regarding improper installation of HIDs. Though most vendors or installers post warnings and disclaimers that it is intended for off-road use only, many do not abide by this rule. Many improper installations caused more glare resulting to road accidents. Illegal aftermarket automotive part vendors, however, still thrive because there is no strict enforcement on the ban on them and they are hardy punished. But recently, DOT became more robust in their campaign to go after these HID conversion and installation vendors. A fine is being imposed on them which lessened their visibility.

So, as a responsible vehicle owner, one must consult legitimates and professionals before making any customization. They know what all your car’s requirements and capacity in undergoing any process. Also, abiding by the rules and standards set by the DOT does not only put you to safety but also other drivers’ as well who you share the road with.