How to keep your stock DRL's with aftermarket HID's

[yearoftherat]

As we all know our cars have DRL's and there are many options available to install our aftermarket HID's:

1. Do as most and tap the front parking light wiring. With this method, you have to do the independant fog mod to act as our DRL's or if you have an 07 and newer, you can use the highs as DRL's.

2. Install with an anti-flicker capacitor.
With this method, there is:

No tapping of stock wires.
No issue of "flickering" if you install the kit to the stock harness (a fairly common mistake among newbies)
You don't loose DRL's and you can still use the fogs as you would normally.


For background information see this thread : here (http://www.torontomazda3.ca/forum/showthread.php?t=27008)

NOTE: These instructions are for reference only...I will not be held liable for any problems you have during or after the installation. Use at your own risk.

Step 1: Purchase HID kit. There are various models available through our sponsors. I purchased a kit from Illumination Technik (http://www.torontomazda3.ca/forum/forumdisplay.php?f=232). It was good value for the money, warranty was for 18 months and dealt with locally too.

Step 2: Purchase anti flicker capacitor. I purchased mine from XtremeProducts (http://www.xtremeproducts.ca/Welcome.html). You only need one.
When you get it, you will notice that it has two plugs at each end. One end will plug into the relay haness. the other, you will have to cut off and splice in two male connectors. These will plug into the stock wiring harness

http://i84.photobucket.com/albums/k22/cjlee9/HID%20install/IMG_0752.jpg

Step 3: Disconnect the battery. Always negative first.

Step 4:Remove the stock bulbs and install the HID bulbs. Pretty well self explanatory. The retaining clip can be a pain.
With the kit from Illumination Technik, there were two extra wires that are not connected to the bulbs. These you can cut and remove.
You will also need H7 spacers as the kit does not come with them. I picked up a pr from Andy @ Speedtech for $10/pr. The tops of the spacers will have to be filed down/removed as the back ends of the bulbs are longer than the spacer itself.

http://i84.photobucket.com/albums/k22/cjlee9/HID%20install/IMG_0763.jpg

Step 5: Once you have the bulbs installed, you now have to find a place to install the ballasts and igniters.
The passenger side one I installed and secured with 2-way tape and a wire tir underneath the radiator shroud:

http://i84.photobucket.com/albums/k22/cjlee9/HID%20install/IMG_0765.jpg

For the driver side, since I have a CAI, I installed it on the wheel well.

http://i84.photobucket.com/albums/k22/cjlee9/HID%20install/IMG_0764.jpg

Step 6: The relay was installed with 2-way tape beside the fusebox, just to the left of the driver side headlight.

http://i84.photobucket.com/albums/k22/cjlee9/HID%20install/IMG_0768.jpg

Step 7:The anti-flicker capacitor is mounted under the radiator shroud with 3M 2-way outdoor tape.

Step 8: Plug the HID's into the relay harness.

Step 9: Plug the relay harness to the anti-flicker capacitor.

Step 10:
Plug the male connectors from the anti-flicker capacitor to the stock headlight wire harness.
Make sure that the black wire from the anti-flicker cap plugs into the black wire on the stock harness. Wrap with electrical tape.
Since the the passenger side stock wire harness connector is not being used, it can be wrapped with electrical tape to prevent moisture from getting into the plug.


http://i84.photobucket.com/albums/k22/cjlee9/HID%20install/IMG_0766.jpg

Step 11:
Find a place for the ground wire from the relay kit.
Hook up the red relay wire to the positive end of the battery.
Reconnect the negative on the battery.


Step 12: Test the lights. The only way to be sure that you did everything correct is to start up the car and release the e-brake. The DRL's should come on like before.

http://i84.photobucket.com/albums/k22/cjlee9/HID%20install/IMG_0773.jpg

Step 13: Once you have confirmed that everything works. Wire tie all the wires/harness so that they are not in the way. I wanted to keep the engine area clean and neat:

http://i84.photobucket.com/albums/k22/cjlee9/HID%20install/IMG_0771.jpg

Step 14: You're done !! Enjoy the new lights!!

http://i84.photobucket.com/albums/k22/cjlee9/HID%20install/IMG_0772.jpg


Thanks to CWP_Sedan for his help during this install and Mazdathree for the information regarding the anti-flicker cap and install as he was the first person to do this mod.

[cwp_sedan]

No problem Chris! Great write-up!

[mazdathree]

Excellent write-up Chris! :) ....These antiflicker devices are pretty good.

[RedRaptor]

Very nice write up. I'll be following this guide for the HID install on my sis' 3.

[tttdawg3]

Will the capacitor allow the automatic lights feature to still work? Or will you still have to turn the lights on manually?

[cwp_sedan]

Will the capacitor allow the automatic lights feature to still work? Or will you still have to turn the lights on manually?

Of course. Auto lights will always work even if the DRLs are disabled completely. :)

[tttdawg3]

Of course. Auto lights will always work even if the DRLs are disabled completely. :)

the only reason i ask is that i heard it is not good to have auto lights and HIDs as it takes too much juice from the battery when starting up

[cwp_sedan]

the only reason i ask is that i heard it is not good to have auto lights and HIDs as it takes too much juice from the battery when starting up

True. I never have liked the idea of starting the car with the HIDs on because the power at startup isn't consistent and can cause issues for the HIDs. Since the capacitor causes the HIDs to run at full power all of the time, I would say it isn't recommended to start the car with the lights on auto. Well that's just my opinion anyway as I'm sure many people do start the car with it set to auto.

I used to have issues and sometimes one side wouldn't fire. To resolve this I usually turn them on after I start the car. By doing this it will also help to preserve the life of the bulbs, etc.

[hondaciviceg]

hi, so does this anti flicker capasitor keep the DRL? basically meaning that your HID's will turn ON, when the car starts no matter what!
what if i dont want to keep my DRL, and just manually turn ON my HID when its dark out!
What do i then have to do?

[cwp_sedan]

hi, so does this anti flicker capasitor keep the DRL? basically meaning that your HID's will turn ON, when the car starts no matter what!
what if i dont want to keep my DRL, and just manually turn ON my HID when its dark out!
What do i then have to do?

Just disable them using a relay harness. Do a search for it as there are many threads on it.

[liquidzyklon]

Just a question out of curiousity.

I know that the anti-flicker cable is for cars made in 2004-2006 b/c they use the low-beam as DRL. But my question applies to all Mazda3 GS/GT's auto-light feature. Like many have mentioned that if you leave the lights on "Auto" and start the car in a dark area, sometimes one side of the HID will not fire due to the battery being heavily loaded from the starter. But if you utilize the anti-flicker cable, is it possible to fix this problem?

[TheMAN]

wouldn't it be nice when someone takes the time to figure out how to rewire the low beam 04-06 DRLs to become high beam ones like the 07-09? if its modded to be like this, then no need for any of this capacitor crap! :)

[tpakar21]

so there is no fuse for DRL?

[JSI]

so there is no fuse for DRL?

Only on the 07+ (not sure about the 2010)

[urbanjoe]

Can you put a new link to the anti-flicker? The first one is broken.

Thanks

[stevenma188]

http://toronto.kijiji.ca/c-cars-vehicles-auto-parts-tires-other-parts-accessories-RELAY-HARNESS-ANTI-FLICKER-DEVICE-HID-XENON-CONVERSION-KITS-W0QQAdIdZ170410582

or just email them directly: sales@xtremeproducts.ca

[urbanjoe]

Thank you!