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Aftermarket HID Ballast not firing, Ballast not faulty.

Discussion in 'Gen 2 Prius Accessories & Modifications' started by ihonzawa, Mar 25, 2010.

  1. ihonzawa

    ihonzawa New Member

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    I own a 2007 Prius and I installed an aftermarket HID kit from a reputable store (From one of my Mazda3forums sponsors) about a month ago.

    Today, only the passenger side ballast fired up and left the driver's side headlamp dark. I listened as I turned on the lights and noticed that the driver's side ballast made a short buzz, less than .5 of a second in length followed by silence. Every time I turned the lights on, the same result was given. I swapped the driver's side ballast to the passenger side and it powered the passenger side headlights. I also tried the passenger side ballast with the driver's side bulbs, and the same short buzz and no light problem. Someone I know with a Subaru WRX had the same problem, where the ballasts and bulbs were fine, but one side refuses to turn on.

    The HID kit was a complete kit with wiring harness. Anyone have any ideas? Maybe I should put in the stock halogens and take it in to the dealership?
     
  2. a_gray_prius

    a_gray_prius Rare Non-Old-Blowhard Priuschat Member

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    Interesting - are you sure there's no corrosion on the wires (since it is a 2007) and the wiring harnesses are equivalent (you never know...)? You aren't using a DDM HID kit are you? The I hear that slim ballasts have been giving people problems...
     
  3. ihonzawa

    ihonzawa New Member

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    There is no corrosion and the wiring harness was installed correctly. I have Apexcones (DDM) in my Mazda3 and I am aware of the firing probs with that brand, but the wiring harness fixed the whole, "one side fires until turning lights off/on". I am hoping that this is a problem with the HID kit and not the electrical system.

    Although... my friend pointed out something good I guess. The fuse would have blown if the problem occurred within the electrical system... And since the passenger side works, the fuse hasn't blown. Unless the Prius has independent fuses per headlight side of the vehicle... I'll check everything again today...
     
  4. a_gray_prius

    a_gray_prius Rare Non-Old-Blowhard Priuschat Member

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    Yeah so it still just sounds like the ballast is problematic. Have you tried the ballast on a different car?