Low beam HID did not ignite

[wcarter]

On the way in to the office I noticed my reflection in the rear of the car ahead at a traffic light. No low beam. I parked the bike and sure enough, only the park light was on. I was about the check the fuse, but I shut the bike off for a few seconds and then switched it back on and the HID fired right up as usual. I was in the sunlight when I started the bike the first time so I don't know if the headlight was on or not. Obviously it's not the fuse if it is working again.

I'm using stock wiring so I don't have a switch for the headlight. I usually try to wait a couple of seconds after turning the key before hitting the starter but not sure I did today.

Is there a recommended start-up routine for HID-equipped bikes? I'm going to keep an eye on this.

Howard, did you ever figure out what your HID problem was?

[mtrevelino]

It sounds like you just have a loose connection somewhere. My HID failure turned out to be a wire that came out of a crimp connector.

[petevandyke]

the brass brown and red connects that have to go into the new leads on mine were a bit dirty--these are the two prongs that you have to clip in right next to the HID bulb and cut a hole in the black plastic cover to run wires out of...I buffed them down with steel wool, went to Pep Boys and bought a $1.39 packet of "bulb lubricant" (off the rack by the checkout counter). Cut the packet very thin to allow for "injecting" the lubricant gel into the recepticle (yeah yeah, hold your comments, people), then liberally cover the brass connectors. Re-insert...for some reason, mine worked much better with the small "notch" facing OUTSIDE and not INSIDE of the module, wipe down any excess, and I haven't had the problem since.

But boy was I pissed when I noticed the thing was only firing up every third time

[wcarter]

I found a can of dielectric grease at Advance Auto that squirts the grease through a nozzle. I packed each of the CQ connectors, and the OEM bulb socket, full of grease on installation. It's a recent installation so it should still be OK.

I started the bike again after posting this message and had no problem. Hopefully it was just a glitch.

I kept my old halogen bulb just in case!

[hschisler]

...Howard, did you ever figure out what your HID problem was?Sorry for the late reply. My HID problem was a blown fuse (the stock fuse controlling the low beam headlight). Glad you got yours figured out.

[PMitchell]

Sorry for the late reply. My HID problem was a blown fuse (the stock fuse controlling the low beam headlight). Glad you got yours figured out.

Howard, you are a master of change . . . a new Avatar! :dance:

[hschisler]

Howard, you are a master of change . . . a new Avatar!No big deal; I change avatars from time to time. Many people do. So far, I've only had one that I was asked to get rid of. It didn't violate any of this site's policies, somebody just didn't like it for some reason.

In the new avatar I'm on the right. :rolleyes:

[PMitchell]

In the new avatar I'm on the right. :rolleyes:

Really?

Never would have guessed . . . :D