HID Fogs

[808MP5]

how do you wire up the balast to the stock fog connectors/wires?

 

[njaremka]

i cut the stock wires going to the stock lights, and connected them to the ballast power wires.

 

[808MP5]

thanks we figured it out

 

[JCell]

i ran mine the same way

 

[SpeedAdiction20]

from what i understand, its from the design of the H3C bulb. while they are close to the actual H3 halogen bulbs, they were initially designed for use in scuba gear, to be operated on 25w power, not 35w. so, basically, running them in an automotive environment, you are over powering them, which leads to premature failure. in an automotive application, they will typically only last about a year, unfortunately.

even more unfortunate, is that i am coming up on my one year anniversary on mine.

Hmm, so what your saying is for the H3c kit or the H3 kit, will I run into the same problem with the over powering with the H3 converting kit for fogs?, and is there a way to fix/change that, just because 100$ for every year can be a huge pain after a while, and i dont need to worry about extra cash being lost more than i already am (notcool)

 

[njaremka]

from what i understand, its only the mini H3C kits bulbs, the ones that look like this -

 

[mx-p5]

That's my understanding as well.

If you can get a standard rebased H3 HID bulb, and get a reputible ballast you should be alright. It's the design of the H3C that i think is not as good.

 

[njaremka]

yes, BUT, the rebased H3 HID's dont fit into all housings. protege sedan stock fog housings will not accept a rebased H3 bulb, only the H3C bulbs. also, the optics of a rebased H3 will be off in relation to stock H3 halogen optics. (in other words, you'll be king of glare city)

 

[mx-p5]

At least i'd be King

 

[njaremka]

here's the other reason i would stay away from the rebased H3 kits... not always having the room in the back for the base of the bulb. the larger base is the rebased kit, and the other is an H3C bulb. the other problem i had with the sedan housing and the rebased bulbs was the rebased bulb would hit the stock glare shield before it would seat correctly, and i couldnt get the bulb clip to hold it in.

so, unless you are absolutly sure you have enough room inside your fog light, i would go with the smaller H3C bulbs.

 

[SpeedAdiction20]

well i have a msp and from what i understand it fits a little better in those, its the kit from protephile (spelled right?)

 

[njaremka]

i havent been able to play with the MSP fogs, so they might have a little extra room in them. i just want you to know what you might be in for.

 

[SpeedAdiction20]

ya, i appreciate any info. hopefully it won't be too bad, if that is the case, than I will just have to take some extra time screwing around with it.. well will see, should get around to ordering/installing within a week or 2.

 

[mx-p5]

I don't have a standard H3 HID bulb to tell you either. Sorry. I'm just using halogen fog bulbs

 

[greasemonkey524]

I had tried some H3 HID's and I had to move the little shield up a little. The bulb was pretty much sitting against the glass. I wasn't able to get them to work properly because they were from Ebay and one of the ballasts is junk. I should have the new kit tomorrow and installed this weekend. I think they might be kinda blinding with the little glare shield moved a tad.

 

[SpeedAdiction20]

hey just a quick question, i finally got my hid fogs here and will be looking to install them in a couple days, im guessing that to get to them you just get under the front of the car and unscrew and take out that plastic guard, or go through the wheel well or w/e.. then is it possible to take out the whole fog or is it like the headlights where you just switch them in there, and im assuming after all that you just cut the power wires going to the stock lights and hook up the ballast to them for the most part, then mount the after market ballast somewhere it fits? I had looked at a few of the hid fog threads and saw the How To: on this, but didn't find it very helpful at describing step by step, it just kinda said skimmed over a few things real fast.. anyways help would be great, I'm learning quickly from not knowing almost anything before lol (yippy)

 

[mx-p5]

to swap bulbs, you need to remove the fog housing and remove the 2 swcrews on the back WITHOUT TORQUING OFF THE HEADS!!

Then remove the back and unclip the bulb and replace with HID bulb. You will need to figure a way to get the HID wiring through the back, probably drill a hole to run the wires an dthen fill with silicone or something similiar

 

[SpeedAdiction20]

to swap bulbs, you need to remove the fog housing and remove the 2 swcrews on the back WITHOUT TORQUING OFF THE HEADS!!

Then remove the back and unclip the bulb and replace with HID bulb. You will need to figure a way to get the HID wiring through the back, probably drill a hole to run the wires an dthen fill with silicone or something similiar

k, and just to get to the housing of the fogs, theres a big plastic guard that im pretty sure is part of the wheel well, and theres some screws there that im pretty sure if i unscrew those i can just take the plastic out to get right to the fog housing, and then after the wires and all that im pretty sure it just said find a spot to screw and mount the ballast or converting pack too close to the housing.. so if thats right than i should be set.. now just to do it

 

[greasemonkey524]

Well the whole foglight assembly comes out if you take off the one 14mm or 15mm nut. I don't remember which it was. Just make sure to unplug it also. I have so much trouble with those plugs. They are a pain in my a.. I think it would be a heck of a lot easier doing it that way instead of trying to leave them on the car.

 

[mx-p5]

you have to remove the whole foglight, or you won't be able to get at the 2 philips screws on the back of the foglights.

I think it's a 14mm nut and washers is all you have to remove to get the foglights out.