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New DDM HID turns off itself if I turn headlight on first.....

Discussion in 'Gen 3 Prius Accessories and Modifications' started by us_matrix, Apr 2, 2011.

  1. us_matrix

    us_matrix Member

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    Just installed DDM HID 35w 5000K. But strange issue. If I turn on HID first before start the car, one side turns off by itself in few seconds every single time. However, HID (both sides) stay on fine everytime (so far :D) if I start the car first then turn headlight on. Anyone has that issue? Could it be bad ballast or else?

    Note: I did not install relay harness.
     
  2. cproaudio

    cproaudio Speedlock Overrider

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    Since the Prius doesn't have a starter, the initial power up is only 30-40 amps. This is not enough discharge current to drop the voltage significantly to cut out the HID. My advice is to add a relay with heavier guage and power it from the white primary wire in the fuse box.
     
  3. us_matrix

    us_matrix Member

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    Did you mean the initial power is before the car start? (By pressing the start button while depressing the brake). If relay is required, why do many other Prius memebers here have not had such issue by connecting HID directly without using relay?

    When you metion white primary wire... does it mean the postive from the battery?

    Thanks.


     
  4. cproaudio

    cproaudio Speedlock Overrider

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    Yes I mean the initial power up. Some ballasts react differently when there's a voltage drop. There's a 6awg white primary wire in the fuse box that's connected directly to the battery in the hatch. There's no need to run another wire to the battery.
     
  5. CivicSky

    CivicSky Member

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    I have the same brand and wattage setup as in your car. I never turn on the light before starting the car but usually was the driver's side didn't turn on (didn't have relay harness at that time). I live at San Diego, so I drove to the DDM's store and spoke with the technical support in person. He said there wasn't anything wrong with both ballasts (even thought it was always on the driver's side). I was doing some troubleshooting so I bought the $12 relay harness to hook up directly with the accessory battery from the fuse box under the hood. However, the problem didn't completely go away until I swapped the bulbs with the passenger's side. This made me feel like there is some problem with the left ballast. DDM products have lifetime warranty, but they try hard not to exchange you a new one unless problem keeps happening in a roll or failing their tests. I use DDM on 2 of my cars and they seems to be find with the price I paid ~$55 include harness. Wiring is not difficult at all. Just open up the under hood fuse box, use a 10mm ratchet wrench to loosen the (+) from the accessory battery underneath another black plastic cover (not the big fat white wire I mentioned before) and ground. I can take some pictures of my setup tomorrow if you like.
     
  6. us_matrix

    us_matrix Member

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    It would be great if you can show me some pic of how you route the wire and setup.

    I tried to test the HID again today. Here is what i found out.

    Problem 1. 9 out of 10 times HID turn off by itself in few seconds ONE SIDE ONLY (either driver or passenger side but mostly driver side) if I turn on the HID before starting the car first.

    Problem 2. If the HID headlight is in on postion when the car is completely shut off, (That's what I usually do by leaving the headlight in on postion) start the car by pressing start button while depressing the brake. HID headlight both side stay on fine at the begining but I noticed that sometime one side go off by itself while I was driving .

    The way to fix above problems is that I need to turn off the HID headlight while the engine is running and turn back on again. But that is very frustrated because you really don't when (Problem 2) will turn off by itself again (driver or passenger side ? :mad:) while I am driving.

    Could that be ballest or light bulb?

    I am going to get a relay harness and hope will fix the prolbem. However, many folks I learned from here did not have any problem in their DDM HID without using relay harness. I may contact DDM for replacement.

     
  7. skipvan

    skipvan Junior Member

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    Question-DDM has HID 55 watt bulbs. Would a battery harness be needed with these? Have asked Toyota dealers and they don"t know.
     
  8. F8L

    F8L Protecting Habitat & AG Lands

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    I purchased the relay harness just to be safe. I have not installed the head light kit yet because I have factory HIDs and that complicates thing s. My 35w Hids for foglights installed very easily once I figured out the Prius uses reverse polarity.
     
  9. CivicSky

    CivicSky Member

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    The OEM H11 bulbs are 55 watts but I am afraid to go for a 55W HID although it may be compatible. A 35W HID set is already 3 times as bright as the 55W halogen bulbs, using a 35W HID may be able to save some juice for the motor. Following pictures show where I put those DDM ballasts.
    Under hood fuse box (Don't connect to the big fat white wire but the terminal under the cover)
    [​IMG]

    Driver's side ballast location (why didn't I hide it next to the left fender similar to the one on the passenger's side, I don't remember. Location is totally up to your choice.)
    [​IMG]

    Passenger's side ballast location
    [​IMG]

    Relay harness
    [​IMG]
     
  10. F8L

    F8L Protecting Habitat & AG Lands

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    I just finished installing the DDM Tuning 55 w HID kit in place of the stock 35w kit. I'll keep you posted if I end up with similar problems. I installed the relay harness so I should be trouble free. I went with the 6000k bulbs to try and match my foglights.
     
  11. Sigo

    Sigo Junior Member

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    I've got the exact same problem. I'm using a DDM 35w kit for low beams. Using a DDM wiring harness too. Periodically, passenger side goes out. I cycle the headlight switch and they come back on. Sometime they stay on other times they'll go out after a while. Did you (does anyone) have a verified solution to this issue? Thanks.
     
  12. us_matrix

    us_matrix Member

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    Did not do anything and I just let the way it is. It's been running good since then. All I have to is cycle the headlight switch everytime I drive. Not really a big deal and the DDM is still running good!