Help needed with HID ballast

[nitrous9200]

At some point before I owned the car, the driver's side headlight wiring was hacked to accommodate a cheap aftermarket ballast. I am replacing crappy 6000K bulbs with a pair of 4300K Osrams, and the passenger's side works just fine (original ballast).

However, I can't get the driver's side to work with the new bulb. Most of the time, the new bulb does not come on at all; one time, it did turn on but then didn't work a moment later, and today, it worked once until I put everything back together and the it did not. Both bulbs have been tested in the passenger's side so I know they are both good.

At first, I thought it might be down to loose wiring, but the original 6000k bulb works every single time, so it can't be a coincidence that a wire gets knocked loose every time I put in the new bulb.
Now, I'm thinking that maybe the aftermarket ballast is only compatible with the 6000k bulbs and not the 4300k ones. I have no idea if that is how these things work, so any wisdom would be much appreciated.

 

[Fenixgoon]

do you have a relay anywhere in the HID setup? i would guess that is the reason why your headlight works intermittently.

 

[jlee]

Can you test the passenger side ballast in the driver's side, or is it not easy swap?

 

[BassBomb]

Go back to original ballasts and wiring

OEM ballasts are far more reliable

 

[nitrous9200]

do you have a relay anywhere in the HID setup? i would guess that is the reason why your headlight works intermittently.

I'll post a picture of the wiring and maybe someone can tell, because I don't know what to look for.

Can you test the passenger side ballast in the driver's side, or is it not easy swap?

Unfortunately, I can't. When you see the picture, you'll see why.

Go back to original ballasts and wiring

OEM ballasts are far more reliable

That's what I'll probably end up doing, but they range from $200-300 so I'd like to avoid it.

Feast your eyes on this magnificence -

 

[BassBomb]

I'll post a picture of the wiring and maybe someone can tell, because I don't know what to look for.



Unfortunately, I can't. When you see the picture, you'll see why.



That's what I'll probably end up doing, but they range from $200-300 so I'd like to avoid it.

Feast your eyes on this magnificence -

What car? Should be able to find OEM used for less than half what you mentioned. (I have Denso pair I got for $120 4 years ago)

The big blue thing is your relay. But dear god, that wiring is atrocious

 

[vshah]

people are generally positive about theretrofitsource's house brand ballasts as being a good step up from ebay crap. may be cheaper than OEM replacements.

www.theretrofitsource.com

 

[Fenixgoon]

people are generally positive about theretrofitsource's house brand ballasts as being a good step up from ebay crap. may be cheaper than OEM replacements.

www.theretrofitsource.com

TRS's morimoto kits are fan-fucking-tastic. amazing quality and well worth the price.

 

[vshah]

TRS's morimoto kits are fan-fucking-tastic. amazing quality and well worth the price.

i'm considering getting the 55w ballasts/ds1 bulbs from them.

 

[nitrous9200]

Car is a 2003 Saab 9-5 - the internet tells me it uses a Valeo LAD5G used in various VW products and some Cadillacs. They go for about $200 used on ebay and I found a site selling them new for $265.

I emailed TRS so I'll see what they say. I just hope I'm going to be able to fix up the wiring once I rip the existing stuff out.

 

[vshah]

you could probably get a nice plug n play harness from TRS as well.

 

[BassBomb]

Car is a 2003 Saab 9-5 - the internet tells me it uses a Valeo LAD5G used in various VW products and some Cadillacs. They go for about $200 used on ebay and I found a site selling them new for $265.

I emailed TRS so I'll see what they say. I just hope I'm going to be able to fix up the wiring once I rip the existing stuff out.

Try HID planet as well