2011 HID question.
Thread Starter
3rd Gear Member
Joined: Aug 2013
Posts: 616
From: PA
2011 HID question.
Just putting this out there since I can't seem to find anything similar searching these forums.
My OEM HIDs work fine on low beam.... With or without the fogs they seem fine.
I noticed this AM that if I go to hi beam the passenger side cuts off. Just the driver side is on hi beam. Then when I go back to low beam they both come on again.
Is this a sign to just replace the bulb or does cutting out completely mean there is something worse going on? Should I start with replacing the bulb or does this indicate there may be something wrong with a relay or ballast?
Not an emergency since the low beams are what I use 90% of the time. So I'm hoping the steps to an answer are quick and easy.
First time asking, hoping to save some time over a dealer visit.
---
My OEM HIDs work fine on low beam.... With or without the fogs they seem fine.
I noticed this AM that if I go to hi beam the passenger side cuts off. Just the driver side is on hi beam. Then when I go back to low beam they both come on again.
Is this a sign to just replace the bulb or does cutting out completely mean there is something worse going on? Should I start with replacing the bulb or does this indicate there may be something wrong with a relay or ballast?
Not an emergency since the low beams are what I use 90% of the time. So I'm hoping the steps to an answer are quick and easy.
First time asking, hoping to save some time over a dealer visit.
---
4th Gear Member
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 1,329
From: Michigan
strange... the only difference between low and high beam on the OE HIDs is low beam uses a shutter to block the upper portion of the beam. Engaging high beams just moves that shutter out of the way, the bulb doesn't do anything different. Maybe a bad ground somewhere?
1st Gear Member
Joined: Jun 2014
Posts: 50
From: oh
Interesting! I have never heard of a car working this way
4th Gear Member
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 1,329
From: Michigan
eh? it's how all projector HIDs are supposed to work.
I know people used to call high-beam headlights the "brights" but they aren't any brighter than the low beams. The difference is in the aim point. With sealed beam or halogen/reflector housings, the bulb has two filaments. the filament for the high beams is right in the focal point of the reflector and throws light as far down the road as it can. the filament for low beams is moved slightly outside of the focal point, effectively "pointing" the headlamp beam downward so you don't blind drivers of oncoming vehicles.
with HIDs, you only have one light source (the HID arc) and you can't dim it, so high beams are the HID arc behind the projector lens, and for low beams a shutter moves into place to cut off the top portion of the light beam to keep it out of oncoming drivers' faces.
I know people used to call high-beam headlights the "brights" but they aren't any brighter than the low beams. The difference is in the aim point. With sealed beam or halogen/reflector housings, the bulb has two filaments. the filament for the high beams is right in the focal point of the reflector and throws light as far down the road as it can. the filament for low beams is moved slightly outside of the focal point, effectively "pointing" the headlamp beam downward so you don't blind drivers of oncoming vehicles.
with HIDs, you only have one light source (the HID arc) and you can't dim it, so high beams are the HID arc behind the projector lens, and for low beams a shutter moves into place to cut off the top portion of the light beam to keep it out of oncoming drivers' faces.
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