Small Solara Winter Project - All in 1 thread; need help :)

[chrom3titan]

I have a few questions Anyways my Solara is sitting in the garage now, the battery is dead because its been sitting there for a few weeks now. I get it back on the 27th because of a stupid insurance laps and the suspended my lara's registration. So I'm whippin around in an 04 Cherokee special edition (I think its faster than the solara but I love my car)

Anyways here's what I'm doing to it.

1. Replace and fix HID lights. Right now I currently have 6k Lo's and 8k fogs. Well my lo's are practically burnt out so I'm replacing all 4 of my lights.

- The problem

My fog lights usually don't turn on the first time I flip the switch. And most of the time my right one turns on but not my left one... and its not the light bulb or ballast because I've had 3 sets of HID's so far!!!!!!

What I'm planning to do is with my new HID's is during the installation clean the head of the plugs then after I install the lights duct tape around the cords and ballasts for extra protection.

I also have a little lime build on my HID sets, how do I stop that from happening? And how do I clean it?



Also can I use 55w HID's in the stock solara housing? I know it can "handle" it but I don't want to blind everyone I see. Does light scatter to much? Does anyone here have and 55W HID's installed with a stock light housing? Whats the big difference with 55W vs 35W HID's?

2. New head unit. I've got a nice Pioneer in there now but now I want to play music off a DVD and I want GPS and a nice touch screen

I need tips because my Pioneer now has like 4x55w I think or something like that. And my buddies all in one head unit is 4x35w but the sound quality is complete crap. I don't know what to buy because I want a head unit with GPS but what do I need to have GPS in my car? I know back in the day there where GPS systems with a monthy subscrition I'm sure not anymore. But what would I need for GPS? What plugs in the GPS head unit? Do I need to mount something? Also can somone link me with a head unit with GPS/MP3/DVD/Touchscreen that has a good GPS system and sounds great with subs lol?

3. Dynamat my trunk, how much Dynamat am I going to need because not just my trunk rattles, but my back bumper does too. And I get a really stupid sound like a quarter is constantly dropping. That sound comes from under my gas intake to the right near the back bumper. Can I dynamat that?

[chrom3titan]

okay since no one wants to answer my questions :*

just answer this one

Why would my left fog light not always turn on? Sometimes it does on the first try and sometimes on the 20th try and sometimes it just shuts off after ten minutes? Can it be lime? how can I fix this?

And how can I prevent lime from building in my ballast sockets?


PS: I bought a set of 35W HID's and a set of 55W Hid's both in 6000k, I'm using my old set as spares

[no_escape]

My fog lights usually don't turn on the first time I flip the switch. And most of the time my right one turns on but not my left one... and its not the light bulb or ballast because I've had 3 sets of HID's so far!!!!!!

Could be corrosion, could be bad wires.

What I'm planning to do is with my new HID's is during the installation clean the head of the plugs then after I install the lights duct tape around the cords and ballasts for extra protection.

I also have a little lime build on my HID sets, how do I stop that from happening? And how do I clean it?

DON'T USE DUCT TAPE!!!! Use electrical tape. Only dumbasses who cut corners use duct tape. The BEST way to di it is heat shrink tubes http://cableorganizer.com/heat-shrink/h ... k2-kit.htm
CLR will eat away lime. However don't pour it on, use a brush that has been dipped in the stuff and then wash it of well with water.

As for the headunit. Do you want to stay with pioneer or go another route? Check out www.crutchfield.com They have a good selection. Prices are alittle on the high side though.

There are other brands out there that do the same job as dynamat and are much cheaper. It would help with the rattles but I would make sure all your nuts and bolts are tight first around the bumper, licens plate, and clean out the trunk of anything that bounces around. As in take out the spare and vaccum. Of course put the spare back.

[chrom3titan]

aight thx for the suggestions dude.

I purchased my HID's already so next step is dynamat. I'm buying the fatmat (great reviews) http://www.fatmat.com/bulk/fatmat/50.html

if anyone here has already sound proofed their trunk, how many sq feet did you need? I think I might buy the 50 sq ft so I can also use some on the inside. Can I also use two layers? Is that possible?

I'm just sound proofing my trunk for now btw, and I'm trying to figure out how to sound proof my rear bumper and license plate

[Ransom8707]

I have used FatMat works wonders when I had my two Kicker 15's in the trunk. If you ask me it's the same as Dynamat but, you don't pay for the expensive brand name. You will probably need less than 50ft. for the trunk itself.

I'm not really sure but, I do think you can use two layers of FatMat.

[chrom3titan]

Thanks alot guys, I think I will write up a picture tutorial (for the gen1.5 solara) on removing trunk panels and how to install the insulation when I get it.