HID / Fog lights don't work

[Jon11582]

DRLs might just be a grey plug under the hood. Its on the passenger side near the hood strut. If its unplugged thats all they did to cut off your DRLs.

and you shouldnt run DRLs if you have HIDs, but it sounds like you have one bad ballast so maybe you should go to halogens til you get it all sorted out anyways.

Yes, make sure the ballast doesnt touch any metal. To test, you can just lay them on top of something non-metal.

In fact, before you go any further, I would suggest unplugging the ballasts and putting halogens in for the time being and see if the fogs work then.

I dont think theres any reason that the fogs wouldnt work after putting in HIDs unless you shorted something and blew a fuse or something. I have HIDs in my 2000 and fogs work with no problem.

[SpeedSTARs]

interesting how your 2001 wiring wouldnt allow you to use your fogs with HIDs installed. I found it more common in just the 2000 model.

but anyway, yes my fogs didnt work either when i put in the HIDs, so i went in the route to do independent fogz n im even happier with them

Wow, That's weid Bro. I had the H4 single (McCulloch) and Bi Xeon (CATZ HI/LOW Beam) HID conversion kits and the fogs worked fine.


Sometimes there is so much current draw from the ballast unit in the initial fire up that it blows the fuses. I ended up uping the fuse to a 30 amper on both the left and right headlamp. The little 5 amp fuse to the left of the relay box (by the battery in the GEN1) is for Day Time Running Lamps and it's also wired to the fog lamp circuity. Or it could be the fuse behind the trinket box to the lower left of the steering column.

I remember blowing the mini 5 amp fuse in the battery relay box that affected the fog lamps functionality . Or... It could be that the terminals were pinned out wrong on the HID conversion kit (only on the low beam HID kits not the Bi xeon kits). If they were pinned out wrong that would mean the high beams are on instead of the low beams. This could be check by the blue light on the instrument cluster. Moreover, when the high beams are on the fog lamps are in the closed circuit state (turned off). At this state, it would be wise to check the interconnect (the HID connector to OEM headlamp connector). Hope info this helps out Bros

Thanks so much man, that helps out a ton. I think the fuses are fine so I won't tinker with that. I'll definitely go take a look at the fuses though, see if they are burnt or not. Also the whole system was set up by PlasmaGarage, they have my Solara on their site http://www.plasmagarage.com/solaraHID.html I have the 6000K H4 Kit.

Also, I know the fog light switch now... and I figured out this:
1. I have the Single Beam HID's... stuck always on "low" beam, which for a HID isn't that low.
2. The blue indicator light on dash isn't showing, meaning my high beams aren't on.
3. I know the fog light button and have tried it, not working.
4. I have a bad Ballast, "Eagleye"... I don't know, previous owner got it installed at a "quality" shop (plasmagarage.com).
5. My DRL's are completely... well let's just say the sensor is no where in sight, the shop did a good job at making them disappear.
6. Ballast... might be touching metal? I'll wrap them but don't know if it'll help.

I think I'm going with WTF? and get the independent fogs, try that out, if that still doesn't work... then well, taking it to a shop.

P.S. Do you guys even use fogs that much? The HID's are so great that I don't think it would matter that much, just I'd like to use fog's when it's pouring (like the storm we just had).

So SpeedSTARs, you plug and played your HID's and the fogs were just fine?

Basically... I'm going to do the Independents... really hope it helps, that's my last resort before taking to shop and spending money that would go to my short ram intake to get my body touched up and finding out this prob.

Thanks to everyone who responded, I'm sorry if I'm noobish.. this is my "first car" I had a '95 Camry that I had for 3 weeks before selling and getting this great Solara.

Well the McCulloch kits (H4 & 9006) I had were pug and play. The Bi Xeon Kit from FET CATZ was a way better kit. It came with the upgraded harness to prevent frying out the wire harness. The fogs worked with both HID conversion kits.

Of course I had to unplug the light sensor for the DRL (day time running lamp). This is located by the passenger side shock tower by the diagnostics plug and dash/cowl apron.

This procedure is done to avoid the DRL system from switching on and off the high beam and low beam. The High beam is used for the DRL's but it is regulated low voltage and not the full high beam function (In other words the are at a dim state). With this DRL feature functioning, there is a likely hood that the HID ballast unit could be damaged in the long run. The result of this phenomenon is the HID flickering like strobe lamps. When this happens, you mine as well kiss the HID conversion kit good bye.

Now on the (#6) wrapping of the ballast unit, it is not wise to do this. The ballast unit needs to vent the heat. Think of this unit as a car audio high end amplifier, it get extremely hot. Keeping it ventilated will prolong the life of the HID kit; let lone it’ll also prevent an electrical fire in the engine bay (if unit is wrapped). There is nothing wrong with the ballast unit touching metal. All OEM HID ballast units are either mounting on metal brackets of such. Now to explain how hot some of these units get, you can basically cook a egg on them especially in the summer months.

I use the fog lamps as much I can to avoid road debris and pot holes at night

[WTF??]

Yes, make sure the ballast doesnt touch any metal. To test, you can just lay them on top of something non-metal.

you'd only have to re-check this if your HIDs are on all the time once you turn on your car (even without the DRLs disabled)... but recommended to check again anyway... Im pretty damm sure the prev owner took care of this cuz he always seemed to know what he was doing

In fact, before you go any further, I would suggest unplugging the ballasts and putting halogens in for the time being and see if the fogs work then.

I dont think theres any reason that the fogs wouldnt work after putting in HIDs unless you shorted something and blew a fuse or something. I have HIDs in my 2000 and fogs work with no problem.

I actually put my stock halogens back in as well as to test my fogs and it actually turned out that my fogs STILL WORKED after installing the HIDs, so for sure the fuses were okay and ballasts didnt burn anything out... I even used fuse testers to check and they were okay...

so my last resort was to do the independent fogs and like i said... im happy

[bluesolara]

Yes, make sure the ballast doesnt touch any metal. To test, you can just lay them on top of something non-metal.

you'd only have to re-check this if your HIDs are on all the time once you turn on your car (even without the DRLs disabled)... but recommended to check again anyway... Im pretty damm sure the prev owner took care of this cuz he always seemed to know what he was doing

In fact, before you go any further, I would suggest unplugging the ballasts and putting halogens in for the time being and see if the fogs work then.

I dont think theres any reason that the fogs wouldnt work after putting in HIDs unless you shorted something and blew a fuse or something. I have HIDs in my 2000 and fogs work with no problem.

I actually put my stock halogens back in as well as to test my fogs and it actually turned out that my fogs STILL WORKED after installing the HIDs, so for sure the fuses were okay and ballasts didnt burn anything out... I even used fuse testers to check and they were okay...

so my last resort was to do the independent fogs and like i said... im happy

Well, thanks SpeedSTARs and WTF? I think my resolution now (Since my ballasts should be fine according to WTF?.. still gona check 'em but they should be fine, my HIDs aren't on all the time and don't flicker) is to just do the independents. I don't have the original Halogens but I'll get them from the previous owner.

Yeah, apparently the previous owner was knowledgeable about this kind of stuff so it's weird that he would leave the fogs disconnected/broken.

I'll update once I get the independent fog installed. I'm praying that it'll work...

As for the DRL's, I have a 4-cyl (slowwww) and the engine compartment is way different, my DRL sensor is on drivers side (I popped the cap and theres.. just a torn hole, I seriously think they ripped out the sensor) and as for the gray plug.. I don't have one, I'll take a pic and post sometime but it's just empty where everyone seems to have those wires, maybe they removed it?.. I'll take some pics.

Thanks again bro's.

[Jon11582]

I also have a 4cyl and it most definitly is a grey plug on the passenger side. Everything outside of the engine, connecting tubes, and rear brakes are identical in Gen1 from 4cyl to 6cyl.

[bluesolara]

well, I settled for this.... I contacted the previous owner and he's going to check up on the fog's for me... whew, i'm glad so I don't have to tamper with the independents.. I just want the fogs to work!

I seriously don't see any gray plugs, I've seens pics and whatnot from other posts about DRL's... basically my HIDs are controlled by me, so that's all good. Maybe the garage removed the plugs and ziptied it in some hard to see spot... oh well, s'all good.

hahaha the battery in my car was loose! i had to go to Kragen and get some bolts to secure it, I think the HID garage loosened it to put in the Ballast and forgot to put it back...

Well, I'll keep you all updated on what happens, crossing my fingers and hoping it all works...

[bluesolara]

jon, did you get my PM?

Basically I was wondering if the beam height of the HIDs are adjustable and where the bolts are located, sholud I just take out the housing and check it out?

Also, who has clear corner w/ clear bulbs? I heard it was illegal... (daytime white light isn't "eye-catching")

Thanks jon

[Jon11582]

Just saw your PMs. Ill answer here. theres two bolts on the headlight housing, one to move it up and down and one to move it left and right. I forget which is which right now, but aim it at a wall and youll be able to figure out which is which. Its a 10mm bolt i think, so you need a 10mm socket or wrench. I forget if you can get to it with a socket too...I think you may need to use a wrench due to how its angled.

Also, officially, clear corner housings are illegal (no orange reflector), but white bulbs for the corners aren't. Law is anything from white to amber as a front corner light, and anything from red to orange as a rear corner bulb, but front must have an orange reflector on each side and back must have a red reflector on each side.

[WTF??]

as for the gray plug.. I don't have one

Maybe you dont have DRL's on your car, which is good in your case

Basically I was wondering if the beam height of the HIDs are adjustable and where the bolts are located, sholud I just take out the housing and check it out?

Here's a pic of the knob you will use to adjust the height:


As far as Clear Corners, this is the least of your worries since you already have HIDs, where those are illegal already

[bluesolara]

Hahahaha, it's so funny, I was reading some faq and info about HIDs and it said they were illegal so I was like.. huh? and it went on to say how it's illegal to even import them, etc. hahahaha that's pretty funny.

Yeah, the previous owner got pulled over for his tint and the clear corners so he put two tiny red reflectors and that counts as the yellow reflectors, I'll take some pics sometime to let y'all see it.

I'm going to go get some clear bulbs, do any of you have it? I don't think it'd be as "noticeable" as the yellow ones, and this sounds lame, but I would like safety over looks (with some exceptions.. or a lot of exceptions...) I just don't want people not to know I'm turning, I hate people who don't use their turn signals.

Well, the prev owner is looking into the fog's for me, thanks so much for all your replies man, means a lot to me, especially since this is my first car.

Thanks WTF? for the pictures, I was looking at that and wondering if it was that one, but I wasn't sure. Pictures help a heck of a lot, thanks man!

Thanks jon too for letting me know, I think i'm gona stick with a wrench, (Thanks for the law info too =) I'm going to go pick up some sylvania corner bulbs. They don't carry silverstars at my store so I'm getting the Longlasting ones, s'all good, don't want to blind anyone. (except with HIDs)

[bluesolara]

Oh yeah, another quick thing.. what's an "ideal" beam height, my car's lowered on tein springs about 1.5" (I think) and the beam right now only goes about 15-20 feet (not even that far) in front of me. Here's pics:




What do you think... make it higher a little bit more? I was thinking so I can get at least 30 or more feet in front of me (since I don't have high beams & my fogs don't work..) I don't want to be a lame person shining it glaring at everyone though. I read a faq and it said about 30-40 feet was ideal, what do you think?

[silversurfer220]

Stupid question- did you check the fog lamp bulbs themselves to make sure they weren't burnt out? That could be why they dont work.

I have HID 6000K and do not use fog at all- I dont like the yellow halogen color it throws out, and I'm to lazy to HID my fog.

[bluesolara]

Stupid question- did you check the fog lamp bulbs themselves to make sure they weren't burnt out? That could be why they dont work.

I have HID 6000K and do not use fog at all- I dont like the yellow halogen color it throws out, and I'm to lazy to HID my fog.

That's not a stupid question.. I'm really really sure the bulbs aren't burnt... that would be weird for both to be burnt out, also I'm kind of lazy to get under and having to jack up the car because it's lowered so I can fit under and pull out the splash...

Actually I have a stupid question.. if they are burnt out, how do you tell? The filament being loose or just the bulb being blackened?

Also, SilverSurfer, are you happy with your beam height? (is your car lowered?) I don't like mine right now so I'm going to get it higher sometime.

Thanks for your suggestion, I think I will eventually go check out the actual fog bulbs, after the previous owner asks the garage what they did.

[silversurfer220]

Stupid question- did you check the fog lamp bulbs themselves to make sure they weren't burnt out? That could be why they dont work.

I have HID 6000K and do not use fog at all- I dont like the yellow halogen color it throws out, and I'm to lazy to HID my fog.

That's not a stupid question.. I'm really really sure the bulbs aren't burnt... that would be weird for both to be burnt out, also I'm kind of lazy to get under and having to jack up the car because it's lowered so I can fit under and pull out the splash...

Actually I have a stupid question.. if they are burnt out, how do you tell? The filament being loose or just the bulb being blackened?

Also, SilverSurfer, are you happy with your beam height? (is your car lowered?) I don't like mine right now so I'm going to get it higher sometime.

Thanks for your suggestion, I think I will eventually go check out the actual fog bulbs, after the previous owner asks the garage what they did.

I'm not quite sure how to tell if they are burnt out, except for putting a new one in there. I had a dud fog lamp bulb in my 2003 Grand Am that looked like new- filimant wasnt loose and the bulb wasnt black. I put a new one, and boom- it worked great. I have seen cars where both fog lamp bulbs are burnt out, it can happen. My parents have a 2003 SLE V6 and went to turn the fog lamps on once and neither worked- put 2 new bulbs in and they worked great.

I am very happy with my beam height- I am lowered. My car is a 04 with the projectors, so that may make a little bit of a difference.

Hope this helps.

[bluesolara]

Yeah... I heard the projectors are awesome, I think I'm going to experiment with the height, get it to somewhere that's decently far (after all.. HIDs... you want them to be full potential right?)

I think I'm going to do that, when I pick up some clear bulbs for my corners I'll pick up a pair of Sylvania Silverstar fog's and try them out, hopefull that's the only problem...

Thanks silversurfer!