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HID help please

T

timvan

Full Member
Joined
May 11, 2005
Messages
107
I just installed a set of Goldeneye hid kits in my 04 av......with the lights on, radio stations that I could normally receive clear are very fuzzy...turn the lights off and the same station is clear again...

I even went as far as a) moving the ballast around...b) disconnecting one ballast at a time to see if they are defective..


Any thoughts or ideas to resolve this?....I like the new vision, but I still want to listen to the radio
 
Dont think its a ground..plug and play kit..work when they are supposed to...except for the additional EMI
 
Maybe wrapping the ballasts in aluminum foil would help.  :dunno: Just don't let them overheat.
 
i have the same issue but i know it a bad ground because it only started when i dropped the yellow low wire to have both highs and lows at the same time
 
Can you elaborate on "when i dropped the yellow low wire" I also have the all on hi mod ...but I did it with a resistor in the underhood fuse box
 
this is a picture from a member of what i did for high and low at the same time.
i just attached a wire to the frame of the vehicle to the yellow wire from the headlights
making a ground connection
 

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timvan,
you mentioned in your first post you had an 04. Some other's don't make mention of their model year or have it in their sig. Especially when it comes to wiring, this can cause a lot of confusion as 02's, 07's and 03~06's are wired differently! Especially the headlights between the 02's and the other model year Av's.
 
I found another thread with the same issues...
http://www.chevyavalanchefanclub.com/cafcna/index.php/topic,54429.0.html

Does anyone know if the antenna is the primary ground for the radio? I read on antother thread that it is...didnt say a specific model year though
 
I finally noticed it a little bit with the radio tuned at the lower stations (FM modulator).  Just wish I could get an AUX input adaptor that will last more than a month before crapping out. :E:
 
I took a look at the Golden Eye kit.  I see that they use the (very old) Hella HID ballast.  This ballast dates back to the 90's, but remains popular for the aftermarket because customers generally don't have very stringent demands for a robust product.  So why is this important?...

That ballast unfortunately did not meet the GM specification for Radiated Emissions (part of the EMC requirements).  It was actually pretty bad, so Philips developed a power source to meet the requirements (first use '99 GMC Envoy, then the design progressed from there).  Even though the ballasts may have a Philips label (LVQ 212 is the part number)  on them, they are actually a Hella product (not a Golden Eye product, they just added their sticker).

What do try...
I don't have the '04 lighting schematic burned in my head like I do the '02, but it may make a difference where you place your power and ground.  And shielding may help.

Power, I'm assuming that you are using a relay driven from the original headlight wiring (if not, do this).  Grab power directly from the underhood Bussed Electrical Center (on an unused accessory feed).  If  you're not using a relay, I'd strongly suggest it.  Make the power feed run as short as you can.

As for ground, on the 2002 vehicles the ground side of the Low beams went back into the IP harness and connected to the Multifunction Switch (turn signal, cruise, wiper, etc) before being grounded inside (yep same ground as the radio - #1:cool:.  That's why, at least on 2002 vehicles, you shouldn't replace the HID system without a relay (you don't want to inrush and startup current to go that far to ground, it acts like an antenna).  Check the 2004 schematics and find out where the ground side of the bulb goes.  If it is shared with the radio, that's trouble.

Shielding - in someone's infinate wisdom (sometimes called wisdumb).  They got rid of the shielded jacked between the bulb and ballast.  If you can, shield the high voltage wiring from the ballast to the bulb.  Make sure the ballast case is grounded.  It's easy to try aluminum foil to start, then use something more robust (like copper mesh or something) for the long term.

Question...  During startup, the ballast will drive the bulb at about double the power to get it up to 70% brightness in 3 seconds (a requirement).  After that, there will be a time of what is called "runup" that will last 10 to 60 seconds at less current.  After that, the bulb should be in steady state.  Start the system up (with the radio on) and note if the interference decreases from initial start to steady state.  That may help diagnose the problem.

Good luck...
 
805dre said:
I took a look at the Golden Eye kit.? I see that they use the (very old) Hella HID ballast.? This ballast dates back to the 90's, but remains popular for the aftermarket because customers generally don't have very stringent demands for a robust product.? So why is this important?...

That ballast unfortunately did not meet the GM specification for Radiated Emissions (part of the EMC requirements).? It was actually pretty bad, so Philips developed a power source to meet the requirements (first use '99 GMC Envoy, then the design progressed from there).? Even though the ballasts may have a Philips label (LVQ 212 is the part number)? on them, they are actually a Hella product (not a Golden Eye product, they just added their sticker).

What do try...
I don't have the '04 lighting schematic burned in my head like I do the '02, but it may make a difference where you place your power and ground.? And shielding may help.

Power, I'm assuming that you are using a relay driven from the original headlight wiring (if not, do this).? Grab power directly from the underhood Bussed Electrical Center (on an unused accessory feed).? If? you're not using a relay, I'd strongly suggest it.? Make the power feed run as short as you can.

As for ground, on the 2002 vehicles the ground side of the Low beams went back into the IP harness and connected to the Multifunction Switch (turn signal, cruise, wiper, etc) before being grounded inside (yep same ground as the radio - #1:cool:.? That's why, at least on 2002 vehicles, you shouldn't replace the HID system without a relay (you don't want to inrush and startup current to go that far to ground, it acts like an antenna).? Check the 2004 schematics and find out where the ground side of the bulb goes.? If it is shared with the radio, that's trouble.

Shielding - in someone's infinate wisdom (sometimes called wisdumb).? They got rid of the shielded jacked between the bulb and ballast.? If you can, shield the high voltage wiring from the ballast to the bulb.? ?Make sure the ballast case is grounded.? It's easy to try aluminum foil to start, then use something more robust (like copper mesh or something) for the long term.

Question...? During startup, the ballast will drive the bulb at about double the power to get it up to 70% brightness in 3 seconds (a requirement).? After that, there will be a time of what is called "runup" that will last 10 to 60 seconds at less current.? After that, the bulb should be in steady state.? Start the system up (with the radio on) and note if the interference decreases from initial start to steady state.? That may help diagnose the problem.

Good luck...
Click to expand...
Thanks for the help/insight
I put a relay in the setup...as you described..although before reading your post LOL. I Have noticed a better signal, although not 100%  maybe 40%. I also covered the ballast with tin foil...this did not help any....I would like to try a braided copper mesh on the cable, Where Can I get It?
I know my escalade had Phillips ballast, and the output cables were covered in a type of mesh cover.

The issue exist both at start up and during steady state
 
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