GreenHybrid Interactive Hybrid Car Resource
Home Discuss Articles Compare Share Shop
GreenHybrid.com   Hybrid Car Forums   Tech Information   Mileage & Specs   Photo Gallery   Buying Guide  
GreenHybrid Mileage Database - Click here to track your MPG! Join Hybrid car discussions today - Create a FREE GreenHybrid Account

Go Back   GreenHybrid - Hybrid Cars > Hybrid Cars > Honda Motor Company > Honda Civic Hybrid > HCH II-Specific Discussions

HCH II-Specific Discussions Model Years 2006+

Reply
 
Thread Tools
  #101 (permalink)  
Old 01-02-2008, 09:53 AM
Enthusiast
 
Real Name: Ahmed
Hybrids: Civic
Posts: 6
Default Re: MY DIY HID headlight install

Quote:
Originally Posted by Orient Express View Post
What I was asking is if your ballast cases are securely bolted to the body of the car, and not just zip-tied in place.

Thanks....My set didnt come with a mounting bracket so i guess i might have to solder some washers on the back of the ballast to create a mounting kit..unless anyone else has a better idea?


Thanks
Digg this Post!Add Post to del.icio.usBookmark Post in TechnoratiFurl this Post!
Reply With Quote
  #102 (permalink)  
Old 01-02-2008, 02:56 PM
Double enthusiast
 
Real Name: Gary
Location: North Georgia
Hybrids: Highlander Hybrid Limited, Alabaster silver HCHII w/Navi
Posts: 23
Default Re: MY DIY HID headlight install

I'd be careful about soldering anything to the case. You'll have to get it HOT, and possibly damage something inside the ballast case.

Better, I think, to get some decent wire (i.e., stranded 18 gauge) and solder a spade lug of some sort onto it, and then fasten the spade lug under one of the screws on the ballast. Then, just find a convenient screw or bolt on the car frame fairly near the ballast location to do the same thing with (using the other end of the wire).
You'll have a decent ground, with no danger of frying the ballast.

.




Mountain driving really hurts mpg!
Digg this Post!Add Post to del.icio.usBookmark Post in TechnoratiFurl this Post!
Reply With Quote
  #103 (permalink)  
Old 01-02-2008, 06:47 PM
Orient Express's Avatar
Über Lord of Hypermillia
 
Real Name: Gary
Location: San Francisco Bay Area
Hybrids: 2007 Honda Civic
Posts: 486
Default Re: MY DIY HID headlight install

Quote:
Originally Posted by issawiah View Post
Thanks....My set didnt come with a mounting bracket

Please describe how you have the ballasts fastened to the car.

.



Digg this Post!Add Post to del.icio.usBookmark Post in TechnoratiFurl this Post!
Reply With Quote
  #104 (permalink)  
Old 01-02-2008, 07:45 PM
Enthusiast
 
Real Name: Jason
Hybrids: 2006 Honda Civic Hybrid
Posts: 7
Default Re: MY DIY HID headlight install

Well, I just took a chance and ordered the kit from the same ebay seller as Orient Express got his from.

Quite anxious to see the kit, will post back with some before/after comparisons
Digg this Post!Add Post to del.icio.usBookmark Post in TechnoratiFurl this Post!
Reply With Quote
  #105 (permalink)  
Old 01-14-2008, 02:14 PM
Enthusiast
 
Real Name: Ahmed
Hybrids: Civic
Posts: 6
Default Re: MY DIY HID headlight install

Okay well my saga continues...I took out the HID kit because it caused my wifes radio to get distorted....Man there is a huge difference and i miss those lights.....My kit didn't come with a mounting bracket, it came with double sided tape....I even tried soldering a washer to a wire and connecting it to the ballast but i still cannot get a good enough ground...Anyone else have any ideas?
Digg this Post!Add Post to del.icio.usBookmark Post in TechnoratiFurl this Post!
Reply With Quote
  #106 (permalink)  
Old 01-14-2008, 02:37 PM
Enthusiast
 
Real Name: Martin
Hybrids: Honda Civic Hybrid 2007
Posts: 48
Default Re: MY DIY HID headlight install

Can you post a picture (or find one) of exactly what your kit looks like? What kind of car is it? Where is the antenna on this car? Is it an OEM radio or aftermarket?

It is not the grounding that is a problem. If you didn't have a good ground through the existing power supply the headlights wouldn't work at all.


This is what I would try: I would get a clamp-on ferrite core such as this:
<http://www.allelectronics.com/cgi-bin/item/FB-48/235/FERRITE_SNAP_BEAD,_0.32%22#34;ID_.html>

And clamp it on one or both of the power leads (of each unit).
What you do not want to do is clamp it onto the leads that out of the ballast to the HID headlight bulb. The ferrite core should hopefully reduce any noise (especially the high frequency noise) that is being fed back into the auto electrical system.
Digg this Post!Add Post to del.icio.usBookmark Post in TechnoratiFurl this Post!
Reply With Quote
  #107 (permalink)  
Old 01-14-2008, 03:04 PM
Orient Express's Avatar
Über Lord of Hypermillia
 
Real Name: Gary
Location: San Francisco Bay Area
Hybrids: 2007 Honda Civic
Posts: 486
Default Re: MY DIY HID headlight install

Did you buy the same brand as I did? Klight? Those do not have the issue you are talking about and come with mounting brackets.

Also the ebay vendor would gladly swap them out if you are having problems.

.



Digg this Post!Add Post to del.icio.usBookmark Post in TechnoratiFurl this Post!
Reply With Quote
  #108 (permalink)  
Old 01-15-2008, 05:30 PM
Active Enthusiast
 
Real Name: Matt
Hybrids: 2007 Honda Civic Hybrid
Posts: 108
Default Re: MY DIY HID headlight install

Of the 3 cars I've put HID kits in, I've never had any problems with the radio or any type of interference.

I didn't get the same kit as everyone else, but instead opted to get the ultra-slim ballasts, knowing the cramped area I'd be working with anyway.

I ended up just zip-typing all the ballasts in place, and am pretty sure that I'll never any problem with it moving (I couldn't even move it by hand when I was done).

No issues thus far, so I would imagine that I'll be OK. One reason they are good (besides the added light output) is that they last like 5 times longer than the standard halogen bulbs that are stock. I don't know about you, but anything to make it so I don't have to replace the bulbs more often, is a good thing given how you have to access them.
Digg this Post!Add Post to del.icio.usBookmark Post in TechnoratiFurl this Post!
Reply With Quote
  #109 (permalink)  
Old 10-24-2008, 01:27 PM
Double enthusiast
 
Real Name: Gary
Location: North Georgia
Hybrids: Highlander Hybrid Limited, Alabaster silver HCHII w/Navi
Posts: 23
Default Re: MY DIY HID headlight install

Gary,
Well, so far so good with my HID install. It's been over a year, and I couldn't be happier with it.
Question: I have tried to replicate the install with my wife's Toyota Highlander Hybrid. I've found places for the ballast, and got the bulbs in (had to use the round rubber gasket from the original lights though) but for some reason, the lights don't work. I've double-checked the connections, and no luck.
Do you have any ideas, brainstorms, etc? I'm stumped.
Thanks for posting the thread a couple of years ago. It's been the best mod I've done (louder horn, auto-dimming mirror also).
Gary Cherry
North Georgia

.




Mountain driving really hurts mpg!
Digg this Post!Add Post to del.icio.usBookmark Post in TechnoratiFurl this Post!
Reply With Quote
  #110 (permalink)  
Old 10-24-2008, 02:10 PM
Orient Express's Avatar
Über Lord of Hypermillia
 
Real Name: Gary
Location: San Francisco Bay Area
Hybrids: 2007 Honda Civic
Posts: 486
Default Re: MY DIY HID headlight install

Quote:
Originally Posted by Garobill View Post
Gary,
Well, so far so good with my HID install. It's been over a year, and I couldn't be happier with it.
Question: I have tried to replicate the install with my wife's Toyota Highlander Hybrid. I've found places for the ballast, and got the bulbs in (had to use the round rubber gasket from the original lights though) but for some reason, the lights don't work. I've double-checked the connections, and no luck.
Do you have any ideas, brainstorms, etc? I'm stumped.
Thanks for posting the thread a couple of years ago. It's been the best mod I've done (louder horn, auto-dimming mirror also).
Gary Cherry
North Georgia
I assume that you have tested the HID kit and are sure it works. If that is the case, then the most typical situation is that the supply power cable or the lamp cable are not properly seated. But if you are sure that this is not the case, then you will need to take a voltage tester to the ballast supply and make sure that you have got 12v there. If you have voltage, then the ballasts may be bad.

These are the things I would think of.

.



Digg this Post!Add Post to del.icio.usBookmark Post in TechnoratiFurl this Post!
Reply With Quote
Reply

Thread Tools

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are Off

Similar Threads
Thread Topic Starter Forum Replies Last Post
Honda Block Heater Install - I GIVE UP!!! gyropilot HCH II-Specific Discussions 16 Yesterday 08:23 AM
Where can I find a set of cheap HID headlight assemblies? littlekenneth Toyota Prius 7 10-03-2006 05:20 PM
HID Conversion, anyone? Mongster HCH II-Specific Discussions 14 09-14-2006 09:36 AM
DIY Battery Change/upgrade kmh3 Honda Civic Hybrid 9 05-18-2006 10:14 AM
HCH Security System Install clayk Honda Civic Hybrid 0 05-23-2005 03:48 PM


All times are GMT -7. The time now is 08:46 AM.


Home | Hybrid Discussion Forums | Hybrid Articles Archive | Mileage Database | Hybrid Photo Galleries | Compare Vehicles
Terms of Service - Privacy Policy - Advertising
GreenHybrid.com, Copyright 2008
InternetBrands.com Automotive Network

SEO by vBSEO 3.2.0

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 51 52