No brights on HID lights

[03Sport]

Hey guys I have had HID 6K headlights for a few months. I had them hooked up by a friend and I seem to either not have brights or they are hooked up wrong. They are the "cheaper" slim Xentec HIDs that you find on ebay for $50-60. I really like the look of the lights but when I turn on the brights they just cut off. Any ideas?

 

[Anime]

Those "HID" bulbs don't have "brights" or high beams since they are a single-arc bulb.

There's no high beams to turn on.


The "HID" bulbs you have are also illegal since you have them installed in factory housings designed for HALOGEN bulbs.

You may like the "look" of the lights, but they're probably blinding other drivers and causing a very dangerous situation every time you drive with them on, especially when visibility is already poor.

I would suggest that you remove the "HID" bulbs and hardware, put the correct halogen bulbs back in, then you'll have a legal lighting setup and get the high beams back.

 

[03Sport]

Thanks....maybe I will look for a HID housing or just keep them as is.

 

[vq5speed]

Those cheap kits are known to just cut out you get what you pay for they don't last long. HID bulbs do not have a separate high beam. In real Xenon projectors there is a shield that cuts off the upper halve of the light beam and that light is you low beam. There is a solenoid that activates the shield to open it to let all the light out and that is your High beam. So if you want high beams your going to have to install some auxillary lights to use as high beams. Or do an actual retrofit and install some Real Xenon Projectors into your lights. Back to your HID kit that cuts out you might need a new ballast or possibly replacement bulbs. But check all your connections make sure there all tight and have a good ground. I did a Xenon retrofit into my lights I used Nissan Murano projectors and ballast with Geniune Philips D2S bulbs. The bulbs alone cost $70.00pr

 

[DjDom]

In some HID kits, the actual bulb moves to line itself up with where the halogen filaments are supposed to be. This gives the illusion of high and low beam. However, a good quality kit like that is hard to find. I tried one and my high beam is now my low beam, and my low beam is a cluster fudge of light just shining everywhere.

 

[03Sport]

Thanks for the suggestions guys, I am running some auxiliary lights right now and that helps with the brightness. I'm also looking to add some lights on my brush guard that I may have wired up to come on as my brights.

 

[Anime]

I am running some auxiliary lights right now and that helps with the brightness.

If you need auxiliary lights to help with the brightness, you should really switch back to the regular halogen bulbs, which will give you back the light on the road you need for safe driving.

I realize this message probably isn't getting through, but those fake "HID" bulbs you're using are illegal to have installed on a vehicle used on public roads, they are unsafe, as evidenced by the fact they aren't putting out enough light on the road where you need it, and they are also probably blinding everyone else on the road since they aren't the correct bulbs for the reflectors in a housing designed for halogen bulbs.

Is your life or that of other drivers on the road really worth the cosmetics of having fake "HID" bulbs in there or being able to make a fool of yourself by bragging that you have fake "HID" bulbs in your vehicle?

You're spending money on additional lights to fix a problem you have fabricated by putting in illegal, unsafe bulbs.


If you REALLY want HID lights, get some auxiliary HID fog/driving lights and mount those, and use some Sylvania Silverstar halogen bulbs to match the light color in the headlights if you must.

 

[03Sport]

Do you realize how many people have these "fake HIDs" that you are crucifying me for??? I don't have these where I can go around bragging about my lights. I drive an 2003 Explorer, it is my primary vehicle that is mostly about 80% driven during the day. My lights are 6K and the housing that is on the 03 model is clear and not distorted like to 90's models....After your mini rant the other day I actually looked up the driving laws for my state. I also consulted a few friends in law enforcement. The consensus was that if they are in the spectrum of a factory light temperature/color then they were not illegal. Now if they are green, purple, etc...I could get pulled over for them. I will continue using my cheap fake HIDs and fog lights until they burn out. Thanks for your input.

If you need auxiliary lights to help with the brightness, you should really switch back to the regular halogen bulbs, which will give you back the light on the road you need for safe driving.

I realize this message probably isn't getting through, but those fake "HID" bulbs you're using are illegal to have installed on a vehicle used on public roads, they are unsafe, as evidenced by the fact they aren't putting out enough light on the road where you need it, and they are also probably blinding everyone else on the road since they aren't the correct bulbs for the reflectors in a housing designed for halogen bulbs.

Is your life or that of other drivers on the road really worth the cosmetics of having fake "HID" bulbs in there or being able to make a fool of yourself by bragging that you have fake "HID" bulbs in your vehicle?

You're spending money on additional lights to fix a problem you have fabricated by putting in illegal, unsafe bulbs.


If you REALLY want HID lights, get some auxiliary HID fog/driving lights and mount those, and use some Sylvania Silverstar halogen bulbs to match the light color in the headlights if you must.

 

[Anime]

Do you realize how many people have these "fake HIDs" that you are crucifying me for??? I don't have these where I can go around bragging about my lights. I drive an 2003 Explorer, it is my primary vehicle that is mostly about 80% driven during the day.

That a lot of people are ignorant of the law and have fake HIDs doesn't make it ok.

I'm not "crucifying" you for the fake HID's, I'm pointing out that they are illegal and the source of the problems you are complaining of - poor visibility and the need for additional lighting, along with the lack of high beam.

My lights are 6K and the housing that is on the 03 model is clear and not distorted like to 90's models....After your mini rant the other day I actually looked up the driving laws for my state. I also consulted a few friends in law enforcement. The consensus was that if they are in the spectrum of a factory light temperature/color then they were not illegal. Now if they are green, purple, etc...I could get pulled over for them.

The problem with the fake HID kits has nothing to do with what model your vehicle is, the aftermarket HID kits that stick fake HID bulbs in housings designed for halogen bulb are ALL illegal under federal law.

Those you apparently asked in "law enforcement" were probably thinking you were asking about superwhite or blue halogen bulbs like Sylvania Silverstars, not an aftermarket fake HID kit.

To be fair, even plenty of law enforcement agencies are unaware of the law or even the practice of sticking bulbs in a lamp they aren't designed for. It often isn't until after a fatal collision involving a driver who was blinded by another vehicle that had those fake HID bulbs that law enforcement officers or agencies are made aware of the issue, although some officers find out from pulling over vehicles that they noticed have bright lights that glare even on low beam, then inspecting the equipment to discover a fake HID kit being used.



You posted on a forum with a problem and have been given an answer as to the solution, along with being advised of the illegality of the source of the problem. If you don't want to fix it or comply with the law, the consequences are your responsibility.

 

[HereComesHowell]

Those "HID" bulbs don't have "brights" or high beams since they are a single-arc bulb.

There's no high beams to turn on.


The "HID" bulbs you have are also illegal since you have them installed in factory housings designed for HALOGEN bulbs.

You may like the "look" of the lights, but they're probably blinding other drivers and causing a very dangerous situation every time you drive with them on, especially when visibility is already poor.

I would suggest that you remove the "HID" bulbs and hardware, put the correct halogen bulbs back in, then you'll have a legal lighting setup and get the high beams back.

I have a cheap set of HID's in my truck 6k also and they are not illegal at all and mine do just fine in the factory housing take a look for yourself

so before u go around telling people its illegal go read the law my friend!

and i also run an auxiliary light bar for my brights not that my headlights aren't good enough i just wanted more light!

RUN THEM ALL DAY EVERYDAY!!!!!!!!!!

 

[03Sport]

You posted on a forum with a problem and have been given an answer as to the solution, along with being advised of the illegality of the source of the problem. If you don't want to fix it or comply with the law, the consequences are your responsibility.

You are correct...my question was answered. Thanks for that....If your "theory" is true. If all of these innocent people are having fatal accidents or accidents in general at night because of these "fake" HID lights, don't you think that law enforcement would make it a priority to get these kits off of the streets or even ban them from being sold. I have shown the lights to law enforcement officers (at night) and they told me the same thing I found out from READING the GA law.

 

[Anime]

I have a cheap set of HID's in my truck 6k also and they are not illegal at all and mine do just fine in the factory housing take a look for yourself

The cheap HID kit you have on your vehicle is also illegal, and unsafe.

That blob of light on the garage door SHOWS how poor the light distribution is. The hot spot is way too concentrated, and is way too high, even for an SUV. That bright spot going up and to the left is probably going right into the eyes of the drivers of oncoming cars.

THIS is what a real HID light distribution pattern looks like on a garage door:

Notice the sharp, sharp horizontal cutoff, and how even the high, high intensity is on the whole beam below the cutoff.

so before u go around telling people its illegal go read the law my friend!

It's a FEDERAL law:

http://www.sema.org/federal-regulation-aftermarket-parts

Is it legal to sell HID replacement kits?

NHTSA has concluded that it is impossible to produce HID conversion kits (converting a halogen system to HID) that would be compliant with FMVSS No. 108. View more information on HID Conversion Kits.

NHTSA has concluded that it is impossible to produce HID conversion kits (converting a
halogen system to HID) that would be compliant with the federal lighting standard, Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) No. 108. The noncompliant kits frequently include an HID bulb, ballast, igniter, relay and wiring harness adapters. NHTSA believes this equipment presents a safety risk to the public since the kits can be expected to produce excessive glare to oncoming motorists. In one investigation, NHTSA found that an HID conversion headlamp exceeded the maximum allowable candlepower by over 800 percent.

Any equipment offered for sale which is covered by FMVSS No. 108 (headlamps, taillamps, side markers, etc.) must comply with the standard.

Standard No. 108; Lamps, reflective devices, and associated equipment

You are correct...my question was answered. Thanks for that....If your "theory" is true. If all of these innocent people are having fatal accidents or accidents in general at night because of these "fake" HID lights, don't you think that law enforcement would make it a priority to get these kits off of the streets or even ban them from being sold. I have shown the lights to law enforcement officers (at night) and they told me the same thing I found out from READING the GA law.

It's not my theory, it's the facts as presented by people who do the testing.

As mentioned above, its a federal law. That there's a federal law against it makes it meaningless whether or not there are state laws against it.

You sure are protesting a lot for someone that didn't even know the fake HID bulbs only had one set of filaments and that's why you didn't have brights anymore. You might want to reflect a bit on why that is when you are presented with facts and a logical explanation on WHY the fake HID bulbs are unsafe.

 

[morbid81]

wow this is a forum where we help each other not have internet battles come on guys. But on another note I have a 90's model Explorer 2nd Gen to be exact with smoked reflector housings and hid's and they are not blinding to oncoming drivers in any sense i haven't been flashed once.