Halo Headache

[Monkeyporn]

Hi peeps I'm fighting a headlight/fog light issue. I first notice it one night while driving it looked like not all my lights where on. The passenger headlight and driving light where on but the drivers side lights weren't working at all with the exception of the halos I investigated trying the bulb ballast switch. None of that works so I when to fuses with my test light checking them all and they all proved to be good. I ordered a new Xentec light kit and waited for it to come in before messing with it further. Well today it came and I went to work trying different things. I started by checking for power with my test light all while looking for broken or frayed wires. I have power at every connection all the way to the connector that plugs into the ballast, but when I plug in the connector and check for power coming out of the ballast nothing. I have tried new bulbs ,new ballast neither results in the light burning. I'm at a loss, I know the power is making it all the way to the connection just before the ballast yet when I plug in the ballast it doesn't work. Please if there's something I'm missing please tell me. Now I did get the drivers side headlight to work it was nothing big just a broken ground wire. This drivers side fog light however is a different stories and it makes no sense. I'm got power and a new bulb and new ballast it should work but it doesn't.

 

[Juice]

OEM HIDs?

 

[Monkeyporn]

OEM HIDs?

HID Headlights and thank you for the reply.

 

[Juice]

Factory or aftermarket?

 

[Robert Larimer]

HID Headlights and thank you for the reply.

Pull all that shit out and put in LED's. It is not worth the hassle to use HID's anymore.

 

[Juice]

Im waiting on, "its a set of Raxioms, the best aftermarket lights eva".

 

[Monkeyporn]

Pull all that shit out and put in LED's. It is not worth the hassle to use HID's anymore.

Hmmm ok so if I were to pull all that shit out and go with LED what would you recommend for a fog light headlight set up ?

 

[07gts197]

If you’re using the stock housings or equivalent I’d skip the leds. The problem is the led chip is not in the same place as the halogen filament causing light to be scattered. I have a thread on here comparing a few styles of led bulbs. I went with cheap leds for testing but the principle is the same.


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[Pentalab]

I fought with aftermarket HID's on my 2010 GT headlights for years on end. The magnet pulls em back a bit, when on high beam, and just scatters the light. Then the magnet dies on the pass side, then both hids dies withing months of each other, replaced under warranty, and slowly died again. Switched to leds. Top/upper led is on when on low beam..and both upper + lower leds on, when on high beam. Low beams work superb. High beams scatter the light and are ineffective. Then one led died on pass side, replaced, then the led on driver's side died. Gave up. Went back to oem halogens.

The foglamps were removed years ago, when the upper grille was replaced with a 7 bar grille ( foglamp delete). Tried a pair of miniature PIA brand halogens down low on new lower CDC lower grille. Totally ineffective, since they are too low to the ground. One died, then the 2nd died a yr later. Then the cdc lower grille got trashed one day, coming down my daughters steep gravel / dirt driveway ( she's on 10 acres). Replaced lower grille with a new one...sans PIA mini foglamps. Expensive lesson in futility.

 

[VGMStudios]

When you say test light, are you also checking the connections with a voltmeter?
Would you happen to have a pic of your set up?
I run HIDs with halos and have no issues.
I'll try to help you out.

 

[Robert Larimer]

If you’re using the stock housings or equivalent I’d skip the leds. The problem is the led chip is not in the same place as the halogen filament causing light to be scattered. I have a thread on here comparing a few styles of led bulbs. I went with cheap leds for testing but the principle is the same.


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That was true with earlier LEDs but the latest thin 2 sided designs mimic the location of the filament quite well and produce a focused beam. The thin 2 sided "fin" is placed vertically in the halogen reflector housing.

 

[Robert Larimer]

Hmmm ok so if I were to pull all that shit out and go with LED what would you recommend for a fog light headlight set up ?

I assume you already have projector lenses for you HID's so I would recommend a HID/LED conversion kit. I have converted my halogens to LEDs and am not familiar with HID systems. Here is a start.

https://www.lasfit.com/blogs/news/our-new-hid-to-led-conversion-kit-is-the-straightforward-solution

 

[Monkeyporn]

When you say test light, are you also checking the connections with a voltmeter?
Would you happen to have a pic of your set up?
I run HIDs with halos and have no issues.
I'll try to help you out.

When you say test light, are you also checking the connections with a voltmeter?
Would you happen to have a pic of your set up?
I run HIDs with halos and have no issues.
I'll try to help you out.

No I haven't broke out my multimeter yet as for a picture of my setup this is the best I could find if this isn't helpful I can take a new pic tonight. Thank you for any help you can

 

[07gts197]

That was true with earlier LEDs but the latest thin 2 sided designs mimic the location of the filament quite well and produce a focused beam. The thin 2 sided "fin" is placed vertically in the halogen reflector housing.

Perhaps. I did try a similar set to those with not so great results. The technology is getting there. It’s been over a year since I bought and tried another set since I parked my 07. Are those the ones you are running?


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[VGMStudios]

Thanks for the pic. I was thinking more of the actual ballast and whatnot.
I would break out the multimeter and test the voltage from the connectors. Both sides and see what each are outputting. Since you mentioned that the passenger side is working and the drivers side isn't. I would start there.

 

[Robert Larimer]

Perhaps. I did try a similar set to those with not so great results. The technology is getting there. It’s been over a year since I bought and tried another set since I parked my 07. Are those the ones you are running?


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Actually I am using these. Like I said they have a sharp focused beam on regular. The high beam is too high though. I rarely use it. The pic shows how thin they are. That is what is key to the proper light location to mimic halogen bulbs. Not only the height of the emitter has to be correct, it also has to be in the center where the filaments are.The "fin" is solid copper for heat dissipation.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B08CMN3NL2/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o09_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

 

[07gts197]

Actually I am using these. Like I said they have a sharp focused beam on regular. The high beam is too high though. I rarely use it. The pic shows how thin they are. That is what is key to the proper light location to mimic halogen bulbs. Not only the height of the emitter has to be correct, it also has to be in the center where the filaments are.The "fin" is solid copper for heat dissipation.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B08CMN3NL2/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o09_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Do you have a pic of the cutoff?


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[Monkeyporn]

If you’re using the stock housings or equivalent I’d skip the leds. The problem is the led chip is not in the same place as the halogen filament causing light to be scattered. I have a thread on here comparing a few styles of led bulbs. I went with cheap leds for testing but the principle is the same.


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So if the LEDs won't work well in the OEM or Equivalent housing would do you recommend I use for housing and which LED works best ?

 

[Robert Larimer]

So if the LEDs won't work well in the OEM or Equivalent housing would do you recommend I use for housing and which LED works best ?

H13 LED bulbs like the one I linked above should work better in halogen housings than your HID's did. I'm surprised you didn't melt your lights.

 

[Juice]

That was true with earlier LEDs but the latest thin 2 sided designs mimic the location of the filament quite well and produce a focused beam. The thin 2 sided "fin" is placed vertically in the halogen reflector housing.

This.
The TWO sided LEDs work the best, but you still have to CLOCK them for best light. As you can see in step one, the bulb can be removed from the retainer ring that locks into the housing.
I am running that type of bulb in the stang, in a stock-like housing. You may also have to aim the lights after you found the best pattern clocking the bulb. Mine were low with the LEDs. (or was that from the housing swap? maybe, dont remember)

I have 3 and 4 sided bulbs too. Clocked them for good low beam, high beam performance is poor with those.