hid install help (ground)

[caineroad]

so i got my ddm tuning HID (slim ballast) there's a positive wire and two negatives. I connected the positive and negative to the battery terminals, and then the other negative i am trying to figure out where to connect. i think it is for ground, i tried tapping to a bolt it works both lights come on but the bolt is so tight it's not possible for me to unscrew it, i don't think it is made for ground. Which bolt is made for ground? right now only 1 side of the hid comes on. thanks!

[Betrivent]

So when you ground this wire your lights work normally? You can turn them on and off?

[caineroad]

So when you ground this wire your lights work normally? You can turn them on and off?

yes that's right!

[Betrivent]

You can really ground it on anything in the engine bay. Find a bolt that you CAN unscrew and use that.

[caineroad]

thats the thing.. i can't really unscrew any of the bolts lol... mainly the placement of them are awkward, couldn't get my wrench to work or it's too far in the back couldn't get the leverage, is there anyway i can just stick it on top of the bolt? there are not many bolts honestly i can choose from...:(

[SineWave]

Connect both negatives together on the battery negative.

[yaris2010RS]

man their are lots and lots of bolts in the engine bay......

my passanger side ground it on the engine itself

if u jsut cant seem to get it there are quite a few GTA members around here im sure some would be willing to meet and help

[caineroad]

man their are lots and lots of bolts in the engine bay......

my passanger side ground it on the engine itself

if u jsut cant seem to get it there are quite a few GTA members around here im sure some would be willing to meet and help

i'll give the engine a try!

[caineroad]

Connect both negatives together on the battery negative.

that leaves with no ground, don't know what will happen

[caineroad]

thanks guys, able to unscrew the engine nut, wohoo I'm going out to test my HIDs!

[SAV912]

There should be a bolt on the passenger side strut tower behind the headlights that you can use as a chassis ground. That's where mine is. It also holds on my relay box just fine. Sorry it isn't super detailed but I'm at work and just went out and shot it with my phone. Hope this helps.

http://i45.photobucket.com/albums/f53/SAVdub/IMAG0737.jpg

http://i45.photobucket.com/albums/f53/SAVdub/IMAG0738.jpg

-C

[SineWave]

that leaves with no ground, don't know what will happen

battery negative is ground/earth

[caineroad]

There should be a bolt on the passenger side strut tower behind the headlights that you can use as a chassis ground. That's where mine is. It also holds on my relay box just fine. Sorry it isn't super detailed but I'm at work and just went out and shot it with my phone. Hope this helps.

http://i45.photobucket.com/albums/f53/SAVdub/IMAG0737.jpg

http://i45.photobucket.com/albums/f53/SAVdub/IMAG0738.jpg

-C

thanks! there is a hole but no bolt in my case!

[SAV912]

Should be two holes. One directly above another. There are matching holes on the strut tower on the driver's side that should have battery/ECU grounds attached to it.

I'm not sure on the size bolt that fits in there, but it seemed to be a common size and should be available at your local Home Depot or equivalent hardware store. I'd feel much better using that location rather than grounding directly on the engine. The engine moves. The strut tower, unless you get in a huge crash, doesn't.

-C

[caineroad]

Should be two holes. One directly above another. There are matching holes on the strut tower on the driver's side that should have battery/ECU grounds attached to it.

I'm not sure on the size bolt that fits in there, but it seemed to be a common size and should be available at your local Home Depot or equivalent hardware store. I'd feel much better using that location rather than grounding directly on the engine. The engine moves. The strut tower, unless you get in a huge crash, doesn't.

-C

definitely! thanks!:smile:

[SAV912]

definitely! thanks!:smile:

No problem. If I get a minute tomorrow, I'll see if I can take that bolt out and give you a rough idea of what size you might need to look for.

-C

[caineroad]

sounds good!

[caineroad]

does anyone know why my hids will only turn on after a few tries switching the light on?

it always takes the second attempt for the lights to come on

[SAV912]

They take a minute to warm up, especially if turning them on "cold". They respond much quicker after warmed up. If turning them on and waiting doesn't work, your ground may not be secure or the fuses might be loose. Make sure they are in snug.

Sorry I couldn't grab a pic of that bolt. Pharm was hella busy today. Damn sick people!

-C

[caineroad]

i'll make sure they are secured. I'm going to the dealership tomorrow to see if they have the bolt i want, is smaller than those license plate bolts.

I've got two negatives connections on the hids, according to the manual i should connect both of them to ground but i only connected one and the other one to the battery terminal... that might be the problem..

[SAV912]

i'll make sure they are secured. I'm going to the dealership tomorrow to see if they have the bolt i want, is smaller than those license plate bolts.

I've got two negatives connections on the hids, according to the manual i should connect both of them to ground but i only connected one and the other one to the battery terminal... that might be the problem..

Yes. There shouldn't be anything going to the negative battery terminal. Both ballasts have positives that should be attached to the positive battery post, and negatives that should be attached to grounds on the chassis of the car. The ballast with the very long positive cable should be the ballast that goes to the passenger side headlight.

-C