Very strange headlight problem... - Camaro5 Chevy Camaro Forum / Camaro ZL1, SS and V6 Forums

MSull16 · 03-19-2016, 11:49 AM

Hello everyone,

So I bought my Camaro back in February and had no problems until about a week and a half later. My headlights would go out at the same time then suddenly come back on. I thought it was the battery so I got it tested and it turned out I needed a new one which I purchased. 2 days after a new battery, same problem. So I took it into a shop and the guy said I needed new ballasts (I have HID's) so I decided to just order all new ballasts, bulbs and wiring kits -the whole shabang. STILL having problems! Except now, the driver's side has worked flawlessly since the replacement. Not gone out since. As for the passenger side it seems to be that if the headlight works, the foglight will not and vice versa. When I unlock the car and the headlights come on, or should rather, the passenger side does not always do so.

MSull16 · 03-19-2016, 12:06 PM

bump

ForgedReality · 03-19-2016, 12:11 PM

Is this factory RS HIDs or some aftermarket kit?

MSull16 · 03-19-2016, 02:11 PM

Xenon HIDs from xenonhids.com One of the higher quality kits. Brand New.

MSull16 · 03-19-2016, 03:00 PM

bump

High Magnitude · 03-19-2016, 03:47 PM

Car is possessed

2Carats · 03-19-2016, 03:55 PM

Linda Blair, is that you?

cadelennon · 03-19-2016, 09:44 PM

I would put in the halogen bulb back in and see if it does the same thing... if not then here could be why...

since the non-rs cars utilized the main headlight bulb as the day time running light (just at a lower voltage) they cut the voltage so it is not as bright as at night, but bright enough to be seen...this level of voltage is JUST enough to light the HID bulb but NOT enough to maintain the arc in most HID bulbs, this could be damaging the bulbs and causing them to turn on and off hundreds of times during day time driving, stressing the ballast. this is what most people complain of as "HID flickering problems"on this fourm, but there is 100 other reasons the bulbs flicker.

I recommend putting and leaving the halogen bulbs in the car for the safety of other drivers anyway.

or if you really really want the look head over to gen5diy.com and upgrade to RS headlights.

another option (if your problem is the flickering bulb) i believe gen5diy sells a harness for non-RS cars to make the fog light the daytime running light just like a RS car does. this would eliminate the low voltage problem.

hope this helps!! good luck

Oscarc2011 · 03-19-2016, 11:22 PM

Does your kit have a wire that connects to the positive terminal by the fuse box? I had an HID kit on my car for about 2 years and did not have issues. Just like cadelennon says your headlights act as DRLs during the day and therefor don't provide enough wattage to fully power HIDs which might be causing the issue.

christianchevell · 03-20-2016, 09:26 AM

I would check the grounds for the lighting system where ever they connect and remove them and sand them and where they connect to the car............. yes this requires checking and tracing the wiring harness back from the lights where ever it connects, as connections are shorts wherever they are just waiting to happen.. be it plugs into sensors to inline grounds to frame or etc.....

MSull16 · 03-20-2016, 11:16 AM

So what should my course of action be to fix the problem? I definitely want to keep the HID's as they look amazing...when working. I'll see what I can do.

Any method of just forcing more voltage to the lights? may sound a bit uneducated there lol.

cadelennon · 03-20-2016, 07:15 PM

I would just turn on your headlights as soon as you get in the car! To prevent the lack of power problem

Dave@Sturgiscamarorally · 03-21-2016, 08:37 AM

I would think it may be a wiring problem. I got a set of LED headlights and did the Zl1 fascia conversion then had Ofer (Gen5diy) build me a harness to work with it. Had a slight issue at first but turned out to be a VERY simple fix and have not had an issue since.

cadelennon · 03-21-2016, 02:51 PM

Switching to LED might solve the problem, as they run on a very low power any way...

03-19-2016, 11:49 AM	#1
MSull16 Drives: '10 Camaro SS LS3 Join Date: Feb 2016 Location: Marlyand/DC Posts: 245	Very strange headlight problem... Hello everyone, So I bought my Camaro back in February and had no problems until about a week and a half later. My headlights would go out at the same time then suddenly come back on. I thought it was the battery so I got it tested and it turned out I needed a new one which I purchased. 2 days after a new battery, same problem. So I took it into a shop and the guy said I needed new ballasts (I have HID's) so I decided to just order all new ballasts, bulbs and wiring kits -the whole shabang. STILL having problems! Except now, the driver's side has worked flawlessly since the replacement. Not gone out since. As for the passenger side it seems to be that if the headlight works, the foglight will not and vice versa. When I unlock the car and the headlights come on, or should rather, the passenger side does not always do so.

03-19-2016, 03:47 PM	#6
High Magnitude Drives: 2014 2LT Camaro Join Date: Jul 2014 Location: Westchester, NY Posts: 482 View My Garage	Car is possessed __________________ With great power comes with responsibility. However with great horsepower comes a hell of a lot of speeding tickets.

03-19-2016, 03:55 PM	#7
2Carats Drives: '12 Camaro 2SS/RS LS3 Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: Unknown Posts: 1,264 View My Garage	Linda Blair, is that you? __________________ I solve problems for a living. Either accept my advice or go figure it out on your own.

03-20-2016, 09:26 AM	#10
christianchevell old school chevy rodder Drives: 2021 zl1 a-10 WildCherry Join Date: Jul 2012 Location: Oregon Posts: 5,622 View My Garage	I would check the grounds for the lighting system where ever they connect and remove them and sand them and where they connect to the car............. yes this requires checking and tracing the wiring harness back from the lights where ever it connects, as connections are shorts wherever they are just waiting to happen.. be it plugs into sensors to inline grounds to frame or etc..... __________________ 2021 Wild Cherry ZL1 A10, Sunroof, Data,Red Carbon Interior, Nav, RotoFab Big Gulp , Elite x2ultra, Borla ATAK, Driveshaft shop, BMR susp, Speed covers, intercoolers, ATI , 2650 MAG, DSX lid, 103 NW, TSP Longtubes & cats, LPE, 1le mods, ,LME cover, Katech pump and chain, Trunnions, BTR stage 2, LPE boostapump, Gforce, Speed eng , Granetteli, etc etc

03-21-2016, 08:37 AM	#13
Dave@Sturgiscamarorally Drives: 2010 ABM 1SS Join Date: Nov 2014 Location: South Dakota Posts: 199	I would think it may be a wiring problem. I got a set of LED headlights and did the Zl1 fascia conversion then had Ofer (Gen5diy) build me a harness to work with it. Had a slight issue at first but turned out to be a VERY simple fix and have not had an issue since. __________________ 2010 Aqua Blue 1SS KWC 3pc forged, Seibon hood, ZL front end, MGW, ARH full exhaust w/ Doug Thorley axle back, BTR4, Roto-fab, LSXR 102, NW 102, 3.91s

03-19-2016, 12:06 PM	#2
MSull16 Drives: '10 Camaro SS LS3 Join Date: Feb 2016 Location: Marlyand/DC Posts: 245	bump

03-19-2016, 12:11 PM	#3
ForgedReality Envy Drives: 2011 SGM 2SS/RS - Black hood/hockey Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: Renton, WA Posts: 915 View My Garage	Is this factory RS HIDs or some aftermarket kit?

03-19-2016, 02:11 PM	#4
MSull16 Drives: '10 Camaro SS LS3 Join Date: Feb 2016 Location: Marlyand/DC Posts: 245	Xenon HIDs from xenonhids.com One of the higher quality kits. Brand New.

03-19-2016, 03:00 PM	#5
MSull16 Drives: '10 Camaro SS LS3 Join Date: Feb 2016 Location: Marlyand/DC Posts: 245	bump

03-19-2016, 09:44 PM	#8
cadelennon Drives: '15 Camaro 1lt, Join Date: Feb 2015 Location: Texas Posts: 112	I would put in the halogen bulb back in and see if it does the same thing... if not then here could be why... since the non-rs cars utilized the main headlight bulb as the day time running light (just at a lower voltage) they cut the voltage so it is not as bright as at night, but bright enough to be seen...this level of voltage is JUST enough to light the HID bulb but NOT enough to maintain the arc in most HID bulbs, this could be damaging the bulbs and causing them to turn on and off hundreds of times during day time driving, stressing the ballast. this is what most people complain of as "HID flickering problems"on this fourm, but there is 100 other reasons the bulbs flicker. I recommend putting and leaving the halogen bulbs in the car for the safety of other drivers anyway. or if you really really want the look head over to gen5diy.com and upgrade to RS headlights. another option (if your problem is the flickering bulb) i believe gen5diy sells a harness for non-RS cars to make the fog light the daytime running light just like a RS car does. this would eliminate the low voltage problem. hope this helps!! good luck

03-19-2016, 11:22 PM	#9
Oscarc2011 Drives: Camaro V6 Join Date: Jan 2016 Location: El Paso, TX Posts: 84	Does your kit have a wire that connects to the positive terminal by the fuse box? I had an HID kit on my car for about 2 years and did not have issues. Just like cadelennon says your headlights act as DRLs during the day and therefor don't provide enough wattage to fully power HIDs which might be causing the issue.

03-20-2016, 11:16 AM	#11
MSull16 Drives: '10 Camaro SS LS3 Join Date: Feb 2016 Location: Marlyand/DC Posts: 245	So what should my course of action be to fix the problem? I definitely want to keep the HID's as they look amazing...when working. I'll see what I can do. Any method of just forcing more voltage to the lights? may sound a bit uneducated there lol.

03-20-2016, 07:15 PM	#12
cadelennon Drives: '15 Camaro 1lt, Join Date: Feb 2015 Location: Texas Posts: 112	I would just turn on your headlights as soon as you get in the car! To prevent the lack of power problem

03-21-2016, 02:51 PM	#14
cadelennon Drives: '15 Camaro 1lt, Join Date: Feb 2015 Location: Texas Posts: 112	Switching to LED might solve the problem, as they run on a very low power any way...