Electrical issue

DragonsNJ · Apr 17, 2011

I have a short and have no idea where it is, I thought I found it above my trans next to the shifter, I noticed a broken wire for the cigarette lighter/auxiliary but after the repair it didn't fix the issues.

The issue is that one high beam is out and the other won't stay on and when it is on it drains more power, also the low beam on the same side is out, I know they all work but all of a sudden all these issues started at once, also after market fog lights stopped working earlier and the relay is fine. Could all these be the same short?

Also if anybody can fix this and is close to Passaic County, feel free to mail me so I can pay someone who knows about this stuff other then make matters worse by doing it myself.

ttocs · Apr 17, 2011

I noticed you are running projectors, are they hid as well? What wattage bulbs are you using, and did you upgrade the wiring going to the lights?

DragonsNJ · Apr 18, 2011

H.I.D. 6,000K with factory wiring harness up to the H.I.D. boxes.. I didn't install them, I let the shop do it for a free installation since I brought them through the shop.

ttocs · Apr 18, 2011

I just installed a similar set of lights as well as the hids for them. I am not really sure why since they draw less then 10 amps at peak but everything I read said that there could be issues with the hids if you do not upgrade the wiring going to the lights with relays to help fix this but I did. I did notice that the 9006 light I put in the high-beam spot came in a 110 watt rather then the typical 55 watt light and that could draw enough current to et your headlight switch hot, which is already known to happen. The halogen light in the high-beam area will draw SIGNIFICANTLY more power then the hids, its just the difference between the lights.

AFter I did my install I noticed one night that my high beams were out as well. After a quick diagnosis I figured out that he hrns that came with the headlights had a little play in it and was not making a connection. All I had to do was to push them in harder and they came on and have not had an issue since.

If you paid for an install then more then likely the shop would prefer you call them to take a look at it before you start digging around in their work. Do you know if they added relays or just wired everthing to be powered from the stock wiring?

DragonsNJ · Apr 19, 2011

I didn't notice any relays for the HID's and I know they didn't add any new harness but I had these HID's for years with no problems but all of a sudden the HID's and stock low beams are giving me issues. I'll see if the shop can just uninstall them for something else.

ttocs · Apr 20, 2011

uninstall them? ah no.... Could be as simple as a bad ballast, could be a bad ground. I am not really sure why, but what I read on my recent HID learning is that it is recomended to get a hrns. Hids do not carry as much current as regular lights but I know the ballasts are especially sensative to bad connections. I would take it back to the shop first and they will tell you what is going on, if they can fix it or if you need to replace something.

DragonsNJ · Apr 20, 2011

no uninstalling would be a plus. lol

I was playing with the HID boxes while at work (since the car is flooded on the plant lolz) and after disconnecting the passenger side and turning the lights on the driver side had no problems staying on but the second i made the connection with the passenger the driver side went out instantly and the car idled rough so it HAS to be the HIDs which sucks but I guess I need to go back to stock.

ttocs · Apr 20, 2011

I think you might need the relay hrns, but take it back to the place that put it in and explain the problem and see what they say.

DragonsNJ · Apr 25, 2011

The HID's were in for years now, I'm not sure they will check anything for free

I'm still gunna stop over there when I get a day off and see if he can just replace them both anyways for a deal, he gives me deals now and then anyway so hopefully he hooks me up again. If it doesn't fix it my brother and I will have to just start tearing shit out and playing with wires, he knows what he's doing and I'm gunna tag along so I know what I have to put back lol

ttocs · Apr 25, 2011

most shops, or good ones offer a lifetime warranty on the wirng and would still check the connections at the least to ensure that something simple didn't go wrong. It could be as simple as a ground that has developed some corrosion under it over the years, the ballasts are sensitive to bad connections...