Help with HID lights and Relay Kit

[DohertyCM]

Ok, first thing....
Before I changed everything, I had a bright on my lights, and then I had a dim...
When I was in Europe I notice the same thing and Bright and A very dim light.
Im thinking its an Italian thing or a European thing....

So, This is not working for me here in the states, I want to convert to HID lights.
I order the lights....order the relay kit from Pelican and install just like the instructions tell me to.....

Turn the lights on and wa-la...A bright light....and a Dim light....

I mean WTF...?

I changed fuses....thinking this might help...WELL wa-la...there is an improvement....I put 25 amp fuses in there up from 15 amp.

I dont get it....A bright and a dim... I could understand both not so bright because of the fuses...but really they should be the same....Am i missing a part in the lighting system? Like a resistor?

And before anyone ask.....Yes I verified the light wiring to ensure I was hooking it up to the right system.

[DohertyCM]

Its on a 1974 911...

[zippy_gg]

Maybe your light stalk is the issue... Many posts on DIY easy repair here on the forum.
Also check your ground.

[DRACO A5OG]

Measure the voltage on each socket. Also are the metal lenses in same condition, I noticed on mine the hi-beams, one was more polished then the other.

[wwest]

Originally Posted by DohertyCM

Ok, first thing....
Before I changed everything, I had a bright on my lights, and then I had a dim...
When I was in Europe I notice the same thing and Bright and A very dim light.
Im thinking its an Italian thing or a European thing....

So, This is not working for me here in the states, I want to convert to HID lights.
I order the lights....order the relay kit from Pelican and install just like the instructions tell me to.....

Turn the lights on and wa-la...A bright light....and a Dim light....

I mean WTF...?

I changed fuses....thinking this might help...WELL wa-la...there is an improvement....I put 25 amp fuses in there up from 15 amp.

I dont get it....A bright and a dim... I could understand both not so bright because of the fuses...but really they should be the same....Am i missing a part in the lighting system? Like a resistor?

And before anyone ask.....Yes I verified the light wiring to ensure I was hooking it up to the right system.

HID bulbs, ACTUAL HID bulbs, DO NOT have a bright/dim lighting mode, they're either LIT (like an arc welder), or OFF.

Also, no relay is required for HID as they use less current draw than the OEM candescents.

[gsmith660]

Please post some pics of your set up so we can get a feel for what you have. I had an issue when I first set up my HID lights when I went to brights one shutter would move and the other wouldn't hence a bright and dim. But I agree if these are true HID bulbs then the light is either on or off if you have the fakes that are out there then all you have is an H 4 bulb.

[DohertyCM]

Im Sorry they are H4 bulbs... I am currently out of town but will post some pictures when I return home.

I also will check the voltage and post those results...

Thanks for the replies....I will start the troubleshooting..

Chris

[gsmith660]

When I did the relay update for my H-1 setup I ran the same wire from the relay to both bulbs and ran the grounds back to the battery if you have a bad ground on one side it will cause that bulb to not be as bright ala the chevy method of grounding lights.

[DohertyCM]

I see your point and that is a very good point about the ground.... I will birddog that down.

[DRACO A5OG]

Here is my write up on proper upgrade for incandescent bulbs.

Daniel Stern Review

[DohertyCM]

Ok, well I have been troubleshooting all morning...and I have made some discoveries.

First...My car is different from drivers manual, the porsche repair book and the hayes manual.
How do I know...well the fuse cover on the car was the correct....Its different from the books..
Somehow I am not surprised, seeing how these cars were basically handmade.

Now to answer some of your questions about grounding and wiring....Well I wired the lights directly to the battery...no change. I put the wiring back and HOT WIRED the fuses with wire and still had no change.

Now I was fixing to come back on the forums and tell you all the Ohm values of all the wiring, and voltage values ect....But just as I was typing I had an thought...maybe the relay wiring is wrong...I checked it and it was wired exactly like the instructions dictated. So i reversed it.

AND IT WORKED like it was suppose to...BRIGHT, DIM, TEMP BRIGHT. Why? They are just relays
It should not matter which relay goes to bright or dim...they are identical.. The only wire I swapped was the 2 wires that go to the top of the fuse.

The light in the tach must be hooked up wrong as well. Its not bright at all. I guess it will need further troubleshooting...

MY LAST QUESTION IS: The lights...no matter if they are H4, standard or H4 5500K have a bright...which is BRIGHT.... and have a dim...which is not so bright. Why? I thought the H4 lights just changed position of the light to project it down rather than lower the brightness of the light. I have even tested it wired directly to the battery taking the car out of the picture.
WHY IS THIS?