Topic: HID ballast question

[kevrock]

I just out new hid bulbs in my 07 LT. To replace the old one that were in there when I bought it all works good but I get alittle flicker. My question is the old owner put xentac hid kit on it and I hear there crappy so now that I got new bulbs cannot I just buy new ballasts and install em and call it a day?   Thanks for any info

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[oHIobellboy]

Do you have constant flicker or just at startup?

[kevrock]

I haven't drove with em yet so just at start up for now. Why

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[oHIobellboy]

I haven't drove with em yet so just at start up for now. Why

send from Droid

That's because of the auto headlights. They all do it unless you can find a delay timer to add to the circuit.

[kevrock]

Why is that?  And are you saying that after a few minutes they will stop flickering then

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[oHIobellboy]

Why is that?  And are you saying that after a few minutes they will stop flickering then

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They should. Mine stop flickering and so do the ones in my wife's Avy. Those ballast need constant power and when you're cranking the truck over, they're not getting it.

[kevrock]

They should. Mine stop flickering and so do the ones in my wife's Avy. Those ballast need constant power and when you're cranking the truck over, they're not getting it.

Ok thanks. Ill check it out at night

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[MyBigToy]

You can also put the parking brake on before you start the truck. That keeps the lights from coming on during startup. It gives the alternator time to start charging and for the voltage to come up all the way. Then when you release the brakes the lights come on with no or at least very minimal flickering.

I started doing this after I switched over to HIDs because the passenger side would sometimes not start. They have started every time since I began using the parking brake. Maybe I should try them at startup again without the brake; they might come on every time now that they have had a chance to "wear" in.

[oHIobellboy]

You can also put the parking brake on before you start the truck. That keeps the lights from coming on during startup. It gives the alternator time to start charging and for the voltage to come up all the way. Then when you release the brakes the lights come on with no or at least very minimal flickering.

I started doing this after I switched over to HIDs because the passenger side would sometimes not start. They have started every time since I began using the parking brake. Maybe I should try them at startup again without the brake; they might come on every time now that they have had a chance to "wear" in.

This only works on the '02s 

[MyBigToy]

This only works on the '02s 

You learn something new every day. I knew there were a lot of changes between 02 & 03 but hadn't read about or really looked at the headlight switches closely enough to know about that. Does the new switch have an "off" position?

Since the Vette has factory HIDs in the lows I now get a chance to see the factory delay work every morning. It's probably only 3 or 4 seconds after initial press of the start button before the lights kick on.

[MyBigToy]

Speaking of lights, and slightly off topic, I still get amused every time I think about Fowlhunter owning his truck (for those who don't know, it's an 02) for around 5 years without knowing you could turn the headlights off by rapidly pushing the interior lights button next to the headlight switch 4 or 5 times. 

But I'm easily amused...........