HID flicker? Need a Capacitor?

[mitchdog7]

Hello, i've had my HID headlights in my truck for almost 6 months now, they are 35w Bi-xenon, digital ballasts, and i'm using a relay harness, and i still have a problem with the bulbs flickering while they are on, even after they are warmed up. They will be fine for the first 30 seconds or so, then the beam starts flickering badly. Now, i got them from HID Country (an HID shop in town) and i took my truck to them and asked what was the problem and they said i needed to install a capacitor. I think they said i wasn't getting clean power. So, i tried installing 2 capacitors, 470uf 35W, 1 right before the positive and negative wires go into each ballast. If anything, they barely helped. I had a larger 4700UF capacitor, but i wired it wrong n blew it up LOL. now, do i need larger capacitors? The place i got the HIDS from claimed that the bulbs/ballasts were still good. I paid $150 for these, while my $35 HID ebay foglights rarely flicker (which are also relayed)! Anyone else have this problem? and how did u go about fixing it? Thanks for reading this rediculously long post.
- Mitch

[NoRalPh]

Sounds like HID country people are giving you the run-around ....

I've never heard of having to add caps, if they might be in a system where caps would help, why aren't the ones built-in to the ballasts good enough???

Is your system particularity noisy? Can you use the AM radio or does every station whine & crackle?

There Dickin' ya man....

[belz]

Originally Posted by NoRalPh

Sounds like HID country people are giving you the run-around ....

I've never heard of having to add caps, if they might be in a system where caps would help, why aren't the ones built-in to the ballasts good enough???

Is your system particularity noisy? Can you use the AM radio or does every station whine & crackle?

There Dickin' ya man....

IMO, they are bending u over with no vaseline.

[alberta 7.3]

If the kit came with it's own harness, make sure it is getting a solid ground connection.

[93_zj]

Problem:
Just Installed the HID system a few weeks ago, everything works out fine with system. But lately, the one or both Discharge Bulbs are began to flickering when starts!?"

Solution:
Disconnect all the connectors immediately. Clean every connector with alcohol. Wait more than 5 minutes (reset ballast Safety Stages Chip) then reconnect or reinstall every connector. Then check all the connection between ballast and factory harness (Power Source); check all the connection between igniters and bulbs (yellow silicone connectors); check your upgraded fuse, they must be 20amp minimum. Remember, every connector have to be 100% well connected to each other. Do not loss mating or mis-wiring any connections. "



Problem:
Both HID bulbs keep flickering and making clicking noise."
Solution:
1. See whether the HID bulbs have been connected to the ballasts correctly and tightly.

2. See whether the batteries of the car is too old or almost empty.

3. If your car's low beam has daytime running lights, make sure to disable that before installing the HID kit."

I had this problem with my car and buy flip flopping my passenger and driver side bulbs it solved it?!? Hope this helps.

[mitchdog7]

Thanks for the replies, The ballasts themselves are not noisy(audibly) at all, but i can tell that they do add radio interference, even on certain FM stations, but part of that could be the headunit i have installed.
Grounds, yes both ballasts have grounds, i'll have to try using the batterys as grounds.
And for the connectors, that's what the guys at the shop did when they looked at it. I'll try it myself, would paint thinner or lacquer thinner do the job? for cleaning the contacts that is..
Thanks for the help, Mitch.

[alberta 7.3]

Paint thinner will probably eat the connector plastic.

[belz]

I submerged 6 ballast for my hids the other day going when I went thru a mudhole and the water was well over the bumper. The only thing I did was drill a hole in a foglight to drain the water out. But I guess I can understand the need to clean the connectors and all that other stuff fo normal daily driving (sarcasm).

Good luck with your kit and I hope u get it worked out.


Sent from my fone.