So I purchased a set of HID 4" fogs for my truck. I've installed them and they fire up just fine. However, at intermittent times when I am driving the lights will flicker off breifly (like .1 sec). Usually it's just one side or the other. I believe this is being caused by the power supply.

I'm not electrical whiz by any means, but I heard that a relay or resistor or some other electrical piece can be installed to help "smooth out" the power delivery to these lights.

What the heck am I looking for?

 

Check your ground points, it sounds like bad grounds to me, make sure your ground points are free of rust, and on clean metal.

 

My truck only has 3k miles on it. Installed them in place of the factory fogs so I reused all the factory wiring. Maybe I should find my own ground instead of using the factory wires?

 

As stated above, I would recheck all grounds (and connections) for anything that might be loose, dirty, etc.
Also, you might check to make sure that the power supply for the lights isn't mounted too close to any other electrical source, (i.e. alternator/battery, relays, etc.) Current from other electrical devices could cause interference with the power supply for the HID's.
Hope this helps.
Mike

 

I have to ask, how did you reuse the factory wiring, with HID lamps ?

The HID bulb needs the output of the power supply to run, and the factory wiring does to the relay in the fuse panel in the truck.

 

Basically the HID Ballast or starter (can't remember which comes first in the chain) connected directly to the pos/neg that was originally for the factory fog lights.

 

Man these lights are still killing me.

Both lights do the flicker, but never at the same time...so I don't think its being caused by an electrical accessory coming on and off.

The ballasts are on seperate sides near the fogs, so I don't think its the proximity of the ballast to other accessories.

I know for stereo systems you can use a capacitor to smooth out the power that goes to your subs...is there something like this I could try for these lights?

Thoughts?

 

My reccomendation? double-check your grounds, and run a fused lead (14 Ga minimum) from the battery through an automotive relay to the ballasts. Relay to be controlled by the factory wiring.

Andy

 

I'll give it a try this weekend. Thanks for the advice.

 

My friend has some Hella Optilux 2500 on his SVT Contour and they do the same thing yours does. It's usually when the car jerks (driving over a large bump, or acceleration). Personally i would check all your connections are crimped nice and tightly and that your ballasts and starters are jumping around. Maybe even try a new ground position.

 

Thanks, I'll check that out as well.