HID Problem Adviser - HID Lights are flickering
Which best describes your situation?
A. As soon as the lights turn on, the HID's will flicker* for a few seconds and then turn off by themselves.
PROBLEM: HID Light flickers and then turns off
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CAUSE
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SOLUTION
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Bad connector connection
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Check all secure connectors and make sure all metal components are touching the correct metal pins or slots or grounds. Sometimes grounds are not secure and need to be remade. Over time metal connectors can get corrosion on them, clean this off and use some dielectric grease to prevent this in the future. If this does not resolve your issue it could be a that one of your HID bulbs are close to its end of life. Check below for more details.
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HID Bulb has gone out
(HID bulb capsule turns black or dark colored inside glass capsule) |
HID Bulbs slowly die out, needing more power to turn them on and will output little light the closer it is to the end of a bulbs life. Sometimes bulbs will fail sooner and will need to be replaced. To find out if it is the bulb that is causing this unplug the bulbs and put them on a different ballast. If it is a vehicle with two lights, move the bulbs from one side to the other while leaving the ballasts in the same location. (ie If the driver side bulb is not staying on, but the passenger bulb stays on. Move the driver side bulb to the passenger side ballast and vice versa.) If the problem stays with the bulb then more than likely you will need a bulb replacement. (ie The driver side bulb also did not work on the passenger side ballast. The passenger side bulb works on the driver side ballast) A Bulb replacement is needed. If when you change the bulbs and the light still does not work on the same side it did from the beginning a ballast may need to be replaced. Check below for more details.
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HID Ballast has gone out
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HID ballasts rarely go out but with all electronics sometime electronic components will fail. A Good ballast should last a full 2000 hours or more. (ie 1 hour every day for 5.47 years)
A ballast made of cheap components will fail much quicker. When you swap the bulbs and the problem stays with the ballast, this is a very good sign that the ballast is the cause. You can also test the ballast directly to a vehicle battery or jump pack. If a ballast does not come on make sure the polarity is correct going into the ballast. HID ballast replacements can be purchased. If there is a manufacturer defect of components usually the ballast will fail in the first week of use. |
B. As soon as the lights turn on, the HID's will flicker* continuously until I turn off the lights manually.
PROBLEM: HID's will flicker like a strobe light
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Cause: DRL (Daytime Running Lights)
Your vehicle does not have the CAN-BUS system or does not display a warning message that one of your lamps are out, or replace bulb. But, your vehicle does have the DRL (Daytime Running Light) system. Either disable these according to your dealership instructions or purchase the DRL(capacitor) Relay Harness to keep your HID lights from flickering.
Purchase a DRL(capacitor) Relay Harness here: HID Accessories Some Newer vehicles need a Dual Relay Harness with Resistor Pack to prevent the DRL Purchase a Dual Relay Harness and add resistor pack |
Cause: CANBUS wiring system
If your vehicle is a Dodge, Mercedes, BMW, or known affiliate of those Makes, or has CAN-BUS system to alert the driver of a headlight bulb out, then a special Resistor Relay Harnesses is needed. Without this harness the vehicle thinks the bulb is blown due to the low resistance HID components have. Purchase a Resistor Relay Harness here: HID Accessories
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Cause: Low amperage from vehicle
Your vehicle does not have the CAN-BUS system and doesn't let you know if a headlamp bulb goes out, and does not have DRL but your HID lights still flicker than your ballasts may not be getting the amperage they need. You will need a Relay Harness to divert power from your battery directly to your ballasts. Order the Relay Harness here: HID Accessories
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