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Thread: Both HID lights stopped working.

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    Jr Member Hotsky's Avatar
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    Default Both HID lights stopped working.

    So today I noticed both of my HID lights stopped working at the same time. Which never happened before! I've installed the kit a couple years ago and hadn't had much issues other than lately passenger side would not come on sometimes so I figured capacitor is going bad. But both not working at same time all of a sudden? Chances of both bulbs or capacitors going together are pretty slim. So what could it be??

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    Newbie ken6214's Avatar
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    Default Re: Both HID lights stopped working.

    I noticed when my battery was getting old, on a cold start they wouldn't always "fire". But simply turning them off and on again with the car running fixed it. Could this be it or are they not coming on at all??

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    Jr Member Hotsky's Avatar
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    Default Re: Both HID lights stopped working.

    Battery should still be OK. It's a Costco one 3 years old now. I did a few short runs yesterday and had to start the car a few times and they weren't coming on.

    Note. I do have led strip light over each headlamp that I taped into slot where original halogen lights would go and they are still working!!

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    Default Re: Both HID lights stopped working.

    I mean, an LED strip has nothing to do with your HID bulbs. What brand are your HID bulbs?
    Also three years from an after-market get seems about right. Also, what year is your car? I'm assuming it's not oem hid.
    Last edited by Hyperion; 01-25-2017 at 09:18 AM.
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    Jr Member Hotsky's Avatar
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    Default Re: Both HID lights stopped working.

    Can't even remember the make of the Hid and yes they are aftermarket kits. Both sides going at same time is very unlikely IMO so I doubt they just died due to old age lol

    Car is a 2005 3

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    Sr Member Default User's Avatar
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    Default Re: Both HID lights stopped working.

    Relay harness
    Fuse
    Bad ground

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    Default Re: Both HID lights stopped working.

    What he said

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    Armchair Detailer Jackal's Avatar
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    Default Re: Both HID lights stopped working.

    Core ocean.


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    Jr Member Hotsky's Avatar
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    Default Re: Both HID lights stopped working.

    Quote Originally Posted by Default User View Post
    Relay harness
    Fuse
    Bad ground
    I'm not using a relay, just capacitors so no ground. I haven't checked the fuse, but the LED strip I mentioned in tapped directly into where the OEM halogen light would be and its the its still working.
    Last edited by Hotsky; 01-25-2017 at 09:25 PM.

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    Default Re: Both HID lights stopped working.

    You don't need capacitors on a mazda 3 to my knowledge. One I installed today worked fine without, just a relay

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    Uncle Ben
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    Default Re: Both HID lights stopped working.

    Quote Originally Posted by Hyperion View Post
    You don't need capacitors on a mazda 3 to my knowledge. One I installed today worked fine without, just a relay
    capacitors were used to stabilize the 12v from pulse to constant. This way people used the HID kit as DRL's/low beams rather than bypassing them completely

    Aftermarket HID kits can last 1 day or a few years. The quality has really come down on them. I wouldn't be surprised if both died. However, I would check the power supply to the capacitor before jumping to conclusions. Also, some capacitor kits did utilize a relay kit. I did recently have a car where the relay was clicking and functioning however no light output. The relay was fried.
    1991 Nissan Pathfinder - trade in, 2005 Mazda 3 GX ty grey - Write off, 2010 Mazda 3 GT E sedan CWP- trade in, 2010 Speed 3 w/tech CWP - Up for sale (soon), 2007 Mazda 3 GS silver- motor swapped in to 2009 MS3 CWP that had blown engine, 2002 BMW 330ci silver- new winter ride, 2005 BMW M3- new toy

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    Default Re: Both HID lights stopped working.

    Quote Originally Posted by McGuyver_3 View Post
    capacitors were used to stabilize the 12v from pulse to constant. This way people used the HID kit as DRL's/low beams rather than bypassing them completely

    Aftermarket HID kits can last 1 day or a few years. The quality has really come down on them. I wouldn't be surprised if both died. However, I would check the power supply to the capacitor before jumping to conclusions. Also, some capacitor kits did utilize a relay kit. I did recently have a car where the relay was clicking and functioning however no light output. The relay was fried.
    As soon as I saw you replied I remembered that some used the hid as drl's too.

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    Jr Member Hotsky's Avatar
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    Default Re: Both HID lights stopped working.

    Yes I don't use a relay just the capacitors to eliminate the flicker issue in daytime mode.

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    Default Re: Both HID lights stopped working.

    The best way to troubleshoot this, is to use a voltmeter and start at your OEM connections and test the voltage. If it full to there, then you know you have power. So then it's either the ballast or the ball. Alternatively, if you still have your OEM bulbs, you can just plug those in and see if they turn on.

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    Default Re: Both HID lights stopped working.

    Have you tried disconnecting the HIDS and using just bulbs?

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    Jr Member Hotsky's Avatar
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    Default Re: Both HID lights stopped working.

    Tested halogen bulb and it works fine. So must be either the ballasts or HID light bulbs. I have a spare set of lights somewhere I'll test then I find them but I have my money on the ballasts.

    PS did some digging around and they are Vvme brand and i had them running for 3 full years now. I guess not bad.

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    Default Re: Both HID lights stopped working.

    Isn't it time to just buy a new set and install? They really only last a maximum of 3 years in general and maybe these are just done. Better alternative than buying a capacitor here and a relay there only to have something else go.


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