MY DIY HID headlight install
Active Enthusiast
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 58
From: Los Angeles, CA
Re: MY DIY HID headlight install
I installed my kit yesterday; question: when the lights 'start up' they flicker quickly and then go on right ? What they are doing seems normal and they worked fine last night, just making sure that's what they do normally...? anyone, thanks
p.s. Say one was going to get yellow bulbs for your DRLs what company would y'all recommend?
p.s. Say one was going to get yellow bulbs for your DRLs what company would y'all recommend?
Last edited by (Always); Oct 7, 2007 at 02:42 PM.
Thread Starter
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Über Lord of Hypermillia
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 652
From: San Francisco Bay Area
HID lamp warmup time
It takes a HID lamp 4-6 seconds to fully become operational. The "flicker" you see is completely normal, and is simply a series of transition steps the bulb is going through as it becomes fully operational.
Here is a little tutorial on how HID lamps work.
Also remember that your DRL lamps are really your high-beams being operated at a reduced voltage. Yellow high-beam lamps are illegal in most states.
Here is a little tutorial on how HID lamps work.
Also remember that your DRL lamps are really your high-beams being operated at a reduced voltage. Yellow high-beam lamps are illegal in most states.
Active Enthusiast
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 58
From: Los Angeles, CA
Re: MY DIY HID headlight install
http://www.8thcivic.com/forums/showp...&postcount=390
Never mind, I see your and others responses on 8th Civic. Thanks again for this thread and updates, OE and all the other posters additions.
Never mind, I see your and others responses on 8th Civic. Thanks again for this thread and updates, OE and all the other posters additions.
Active Enthusiast
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 58
From: Los Angeles, CA
Re: HID lamp warmup time
It takes a HID lamp 4-6 seconds to fully become operational. The "flicker" you see is completely normal, and is simply a series of transition steps the bulb is going through as it becomes fully operational.
Here is a little tutorial on how HID lamps work.
Also remember that your DRL lamps are really your high-beams being operated at a reduced voltage. Yellow high-beam lamps are illegal in most states.
Here is a little tutorial on how HID lamps work.
Also remember that your DRL lamps are really your high-beams being operated at a reduced voltage. Yellow high-beam lamps are illegal in most states.
Double enthusiast
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 23
From: North Georgia
Re: MY DIY HID headlight install
Ok, so I finally got my courage up enough to order the kit from Kassabian Car China. Fantastic delivery...about four days. I ordered the 5000k variety.
I found that there were several things that made this a bit more difficult for me. One area was in the wheelwell cover removal and re-installation. The fasteners were indeed easy to remove with a screwdriver; just use a little care, and don't pull the center "pins" all the way out. But the "gotcha" for me was the fact that there are two or three different types of these fasteners. During reinstall, I used long ones in short holes, which made it tough trying to put the short ones in the long holes. 'nuff said about that.
More difficult was the install in the RH wheel well. I think this problem was due primarily to the apparently new, improved design of the kit.
Notice the placement of the BLUE plug, which is essentially permanently attached. This plug, along with the one on the other end, is the old "extension cable" included with the kit. This is the plug that mates with the existing plug that was connected to the old light bulb. Coupled with the placement of the windshield washer fluid reservoir, the location of this plug (blue) makes it almost impossible to connect the two plugs together. There is almost no space to get both of your hands in position to hook these plugs together. I finally did it, but it was a VERY tough job. If I did it again, I'd remove the washer fluid container to allow another access hole for one hand.
Also, I echo previous comments as to the difficulty of squeezing these two plugs together.
The LH install allows you to us a pair of pliers to help, but no such luck in the RH area. Superhuman effort finally did it, but I was almost ready to back up and remove the fluid container.
I took before and after photos of my lights, for comparison.
Before:
After:
Thanks Gary, for the idea, help, and the thoroughness of your install description.
I found that there were several things that made this a bit more difficult for me. One area was in the wheelwell cover removal and re-installation. The fasteners were indeed easy to remove with a screwdriver; just use a little care, and don't pull the center "pins" all the way out. But the "gotcha" for me was the fact that there are two or three different types of these fasteners. During reinstall, I used long ones in short holes, which made it tough trying to put the short ones in the long holes. 'nuff said about that.
More difficult was the install in the RH wheel well. I think this problem was due primarily to the apparently new, improved design of the kit.
Notice the placement of the BLUE plug, which is essentially permanently attached. This plug, along with the one on the other end, is the old "extension cable" included with the kit. This is the plug that mates with the existing plug that was connected to the old light bulb. Coupled with the placement of the windshield washer fluid reservoir, the location of this plug (blue) makes it almost impossible to connect the two plugs together. There is almost no space to get both of your hands in position to hook these plugs together. I finally did it, but it was a VERY tough job. If I did it again, I'd remove the washer fluid container to allow another access hole for one hand.
Also, I echo previous comments as to the difficulty of squeezing these two plugs together.
The LH install allows you to us a pair of pliers to help, but no such luck in the RH area. Superhuman effort finally did it, but I was almost ready to back up and remove the fluid container.
I took before and after photos of my lights, for comparison.
Before:
After:
Thanks Gary, for the idea, help, and the thoroughness of your install description.
Enthusiast
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 27
Re: MY DIY HID headlight install
First of all I just want to thanks Garry for sharing the information how install HID .I just bought one kit from different seller. http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eB...181758796&rd=1
Features:
1)High and reliable quality of ballast
2)Input voltage range: DC 8 - 16V
3)Rated voltage: 13.5V
4)Max. start voltage: 23kV
5)Input current: 3.2A
6)Output power: 35W
7)Working temperature: -40 ~ 105¡
I will post what will happen after installing this kit ..thanks again
Features:
1)High and reliable quality of ballast
2)Input voltage range: DC 8 - 16V
3)Rated voltage: 13.5V
4)Max. start voltage: 23kV
5)Input current: 3.2A
6)Output power: 35W
7)Working temperature: -40 ~ 105¡
I will post what will happen after installing this kit ..thanks again
Enthusiast
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 1
Re: MY DIY HID headlight install
I just bought an 08 Civic Si Sedan. Sorry that I didn't get a hybrid, but I don't drive enough to justify the cost.
I just wanted to make sure that the install was the same for the 08 Civics. The car is essentially identical to the 07.
I checked the ebay seller in China http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Xenon...2554QQtcZphoto, and it seemed the price has dropped about 20 bucks. I just hope it's the same quality in materials.
Any help would be great. BTW, great install guide.
I just wanted to make sure that the install was the same for the 08 Civics. The car is essentially identical to the 07.
I checked the ebay seller in China http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Xenon...2554QQtcZphoto, and it seemed the price has dropped about 20 bucks. I just hope it's the same quality in materials.
Any help would be great. BTW, great install guide.
Enthusiast
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 1
Re: MY DIY HID headlight install
Most of the HID kits come with a direct battery relay cable harness. These "Relay Harnesses" are mainly for older cars that may not have sufficient wiring to work with the HID lights.
Your Generation 8 Civic does not need the harness to use this HID kit. The factory OEM wiring is the same gauge as the Relay Harness, and also uses a switching relay to power the lamps. The factory wiring is safer than the Relay Harness because it has multiple safety fuses, one on each lamp circuit, as well as one on the main relay. They are all the proper amperage to properly support your HID upgrade.
Your Generation 8 Civic does not need the harness to use this HID kit. The factory OEM wiring is the same gauge as the Relay Harness, and also uses a switching relay to power the lamps. The factory wiring is safer than the Relay Harness because it has multiple safety fuses, one on each lamp circuit, as well as one on the main relay. They are all the proper amperage to properly support your HID upgrade.
I`ve question: How you conect your hids with out using the "Relay Harness" ?
10x !
