HID Questions

[Puerto11]

Hi All -

I recently installed my HID Xenon 7000k in my Mazda 3 s 2006 and had a few questions.

1. Does anyone know how hot the ballast gets?

I ask because on my passenger side the ballast is in contact with my washer fluid container. I put aluminum foil over it and duck tape to help when the ballast warms up.

2. Is it normal for one side of the lights to lag behind when I turn my low beams on. I have heard it might be a connection issue and have been told it is normal.

For example when I turn my headlights on the driver side is completly bright where as the passenger side takes about 8-10 seconds to get to its complete brightness.

3. Also for kicks and giggle if you have installed HIDs on your mazda 3, where did you mount them? I mounted them beneath the headlight unit.

Thank for the help.

 

[oaklandopen]

you might have a problem with the one bulb. did you get them real cheap? if so that's probably your main problem.

and if the wire is getting really hot you might have a short somewhere. i would assume the hottest time for the ballast would be during the initial turning on of the headlights. after that it doesn't take much power to keep them running. xenons are kinda like flourescent bulbs in that aspect.

 

[Puerto11]

you might have a problem with the one bulb. did you get them real cheap? if so that's probably your main problem.

and if the wire is getting really hot you might have a short somewhere. i would assume the hottest time for the ballast would be during the initial turning on of the headlights. after that it doesn't take much power to keep them running. xenons are kinda like flourescent bulbs in that aspect.

I bought the xenon kit from "Protephile." I am planning on dealing with it for 4k miles then check everything out. Swapping the bulbs to make sure it isnt the Ballast. If it is the bulb then i guess I have to buy a new bulb....Do you know the costs on those by chance? As for the washer fluid container i plan to get some heat resisting tape to put on it when I do the check at 4k too.

Thanks for the reply.

 

[oaklandopen]

bulbs really do vary. i think OEMs for this car are in the $200 range, but i know you can get them for a lot cheaper, and unfortunatly cheaper wouldn't just be a definition of "cost".

personally i go for the good stuff, and sometimes that means a little more money. but i know there are tons of ppl who swear by "ebay" stuff, or other inexpensive places. but in this case i might not mix and match a bulb that didn't come with the ballasts