Just installed HIDs

by **DocJohn** » Fri Dec 02, 2005 11:09 am

MikeATL wrote:Does anyone know if there is a way to adjust the focus of the beam more than just the level? My cutoff line is where it should be, but I feel like the focus of my HIDs is too close to the car. The "brightest" light doesnt pass the range of the stock fog lamps.

I am going to reseat the bulbs tonight to see if i maybe they are threaded improperly or something.

The service manual only indicates there is an up/down adjustment screw for the headlights. No other adjustment is possible (this is a fixed focus system).

The problem you are experiencing is probably due to the fact the focus for the projector headlamp system was designed for the H11 halogen bulb. Your HID inserts probablly sit at a slighly different focal point in the lamp housing than do the OE bulbs. If you are able to reset (adjust) the position of the bulb in or out of the housing, this may improve the beam focus.

by **MikeATL** » Fri Dec 02, 2005 11:31 am

DocJohn wrote:
MikeATL wrote:Does anyone know if there is a way to adjust the focus of the beam more than just the level? My cutoff line is where it should be, but I feel like the focus of my HIDs is too close to the car. The "brightest" light doesnt pass the range of the stock fog lamps.

I am going to reseat the bulbs tonight to see if i maybe they are threaded improperly or something.

The service manual only indicates there is an up/down adjustment screw for the headlights. No other adjustment is possible (this is a fixed focus system).

The problem you are experiencing is probably due to the fact the focus for the projector headlamp system was designed for the H11 halogen bulb. Your HID inserts probablly sit at a slighly different focal point in the lamp housing than do the OE bulbs. If you are able to reset (adjust) the position of the bulb in or out of the housing, this may improve the beam focus.

Thats what I was thinking.

I will reinstall them tonight and see what happens. Anyone else with HIDs have any issues?

by **cklinh** » Sun Dec 04, 2005 8:19 pm

cklinh wrote:I'll try to get a pic of my ballast location this weekend.

Finally got around to it... look for the bright yellow label on the ballasts...

by **MikeATL** » Mon Dec 05, 2005 9:19 am

Here is a bit of an update on the focus issue i am having:

I have been poking around on HIDplanet.com and found some people are having similar issues with Acura MDXs: Good light everywhere but in the center. Someone figured out that if you can get the bulb 2mm farther into the housing the focus and everything is perfect. So far the only way I have seen people doing this is by taking a Dremel tool to the housing. Im not crazy about doing this, i would like the car to be stock when i trade it in.

Anyone have any ideas?

Here is a link to the posts on HIDplanet (i think you need to register to read them)
http://hidplanet.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=8494&highlight=h11

by **bunthy** » Mon Dec 05, 2005 9:34 am

check the link to the faq.carpassion.......

theres a pix of the celica with hids on it and I believe its giving off the same results as your projectors, the yellow box above the cutoff. It seems theres a hole on the shield. Simply cover that and the 'box' should disappear.

any more pixs guys? do a close up , 5 feet from the car, top of car view, cutoff, w or w/o fogs and against the wall.

by **cklinh** » Mon Dec 05, 2005 9:38 am

Try these...

http://www.cardomain.com/ride/660571/4
http://www.cardomain.com/ride/660571/5

by **Nyyankees3511** » Thu Jan 05, 2006 8:29 pm

sorry to bring an old post back, but i thought the ballasts arent supposed to touch metal? In the pics above the ballasts are laying on the body of the car? Am i missing something?

by **cklinh** » Thu Jan 05, 2006 8:46 pm

Yeah, I have some grounding issues that I need to take care of.

by **Nyyankees3511** » Thu Jan 05, 2006 9:03 pm

So the thing you have to do is mount it somewhere thats plastic? Or just put some insullation under the ballast?

by **cklinh** » Thu Jan 05, 2006 9:37 pm

Yeah, either or. I thought that the double sided tape on the bottom of the ballast would be enough... apparently it isn't.

by **silversurfer220** » Fri Jan 06, 2006 9:20 am

cklinh wrote:Yeah, either or. I thought that the double sided tape on the bottom of the ballast would be enough... apparently it isn't.

How do you know you have a grounding issue? I just installed the xenondepot 6000K hid kit last night and love it. I put the balasts in the same place that you did. So far, they worked great last night, so how would I know if I had a grounding issue? Thanks for any info.

by **cklinh** » Fri Jan 06, 2006 9:24 am

Well, I'm assuming it's a grounding issue.

Whenever my headlights come on automatically (ie when I'm going under an overpass during the day), the warning lights on my dash (VSC, Check Engine, etc.) come on for a few seconds. Nothing major.

by **DatSRBoi** » Fri Jan 06, 2006 9:48 am

AHH... I just blew mine last night.. I think I turn it on and off too much.

by **FLUXEMAG** » Fri Jan 13, 2006 12:32 pm

Don't those warning lights on the dash come on when a car stalls, are you sure you're not losing ignition when that happens?

Improper grounding is bad news, I'd replace the double sided tape with any thickness of rubber.

by **Gorcman** » Sun Jan 15, 2006 11:42 am

hey MikeATL

could you post some pics of ur HIDs on ur solara sometime? i really wanna see how 6000k's look like on a solara. ^^

Just installed HIDs

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