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Problem with new HID installation (2K1 conversion)

Old Feb 19, 2008 | 06:32 AM
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Problem with new HID installation (2K1 conversion)

Hey all. Hope somebody can help me out with this problem...

Just finished plugging in my HID conversion kit (Xenon Storm) for my 2001 Max. I turned the headlights on... and nothing. The bulbs don't light up and the ballasts don't make any noise. I checked the fuses and they're fine. I plugged the original H4 bulb into the harness and they light up fine. Fog lights and turn lights are fine.

Any ideas? Thanks!
Old Feb 19, 2008 | 11:20 AM
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DVm to verify output? Both lights dont light up? Aftermarket stuff?

Seeing that the H4 works and when you plug in the HID it doesnt should be trouble shooting the harness --> HID assembly.

Not very much information.
Old Feb 19, 2008 | 11:33 AM
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Originally Posted by Colonel
DVm to verify output? Both lights dont light up? Aftermarket stuff?

Seeing that the H4 works and when you plug in the HID it doesnt should be trouble shooting the harness --> HID assembly.

Not very much information.
I don't own a voltmeter, but since the ballasts aren't making any noise, I'm guessing they're not putting out whatever they should be putting out. Yes, the problem is with both the right and left lights, and it is an aftermarket system (Xenon Storm). I don't know what or how to troubleshoot, that's why I'm posting this question here...
Old Feb 19, 2008 | 12:46 PM
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That happen to me once.. Try to change the Negative and Positive wires around they may be connected wrong. Mine was and then there was LIGHT ! . Hope that helps..

Roger
Old Feb 19, 2008 | 01:23 PM
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Double check your headlight fuses just to make sure they didn't blow. Sometimes incorrect wiring can cause them to blow.
Old Feb 19, 2008 | 01:40 PM
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Originally Posted by 808MAX-SPEC
Double check your headlight fuses just to make sure they didn't blow. Sometimes incorrect wiring can cause them to blow.
Originally Posted by 01_Maxine
That happen to me once.. Try to change the Negative and Positive wires around they may be connected wrong. Mine was and then there was LIGHT ! . Hope that helps..

Roger
Originally Posted by futemv
I don't own a voltmeter, but since the ballasts aren't making any noise, I'm guessing they're not putting out whatever they should be putting out. Yes, the problem is with both the right and left lights, and it is an aftermarket system (Xenon Storm). I don't know what or how to troubleshoot, that's why I'm posting this question here...

Doing wiring on a car, especially not being a professional, you should have the tools to make sure you hook things up correctly. Guessing on wether or not they are putting out any volts/amps/power/coils/noise/whatever doesnt help you trouble shoot. Thats why I am posting MY questions. I am not going to look up the specs, wiring, connectors and all the steps. Each after market kit is different. To many assumptions can be made in between.

Last edited by Colonel; Feb 19, 2008 at 01:43 PM.
Old Feb 19, 2008 | 05:48 PM
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Thanks for the suggestions...


Originally Posted by 01_Maxine
That happen to me once.. Try to change the Negative and Positive wires around they may be connected wrong. Mine was and then there was LIGHT ! . Hope that helps..

Roger
The Xenon Storm kit is built completely plug and play, so that the + lead can only fit into one slot, and likewise with the negative. So even if I wanted to try reversing them, I would have to strip and splice the wires, which would ruin my chances of warranty coverage.

Originally Posted by 808MAX-SPEC
Double check your headlight fuses just to make sure they didn't blow. Sometimes incorrect wiring can cause them to blow.
The fuses are all good - I've visually checked them repeatedly, plus the H4 lights still work.

Originally Posted by Colonel
Doing wiring on a car, especially not being a professional, you should have the tools to make sure you hook things up correctly. Guessing on wether or not they are putting out any volts/amps/power/coils/noise/whatever doesnt help you trouble shoot. Thats why I am posting MY questions. I am not going to look up the specs, wiring, connectors and all the steps. Each after market kit is different. To many assumptions can be made in between.
I know I'm not gonna be able to completely troubleshoot it without some tools, dude. I was hoping there was some precedent for this problem that would have allowed me to bypass the purchase of a voltmeter.

This is why I'm so perplexed, there does not seem to be any way I could have messed up this install. It seems completely foolproof. But I guess not...
Old Feb 19, 2008 | 06:21 PM
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Try contacting xenon storm for advice. Plus, they will let you know how far you can troubleshot before voiding warranty.
Old Feb 19, 2008 | 06:50 PM
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Originally Posted by cefiro80
Try contacting xenon storm for advice. Plus, they will let you know how far you can troubleshot before voiding warranty.
You know, that seems like such an obvious thing to do and I went all day without even considering it. I'm gonna do it tomorrow when they're open. I think Xenon Storm is a division of Helios, so I'll try calling Helios. If someone has any other info, please let me know...

Also, can this have anything to do with the "auto on" headlights in the 2001 Max? I don't think that it has daytime running lights, does it?
Old Feb 19, 2008 | 06:57 PM
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The wires are prob reversed. IIRC the Xenon Storm ballast's power wire has another extension to be used for H series plugs. What I mean is the wiring is:

H4 plug > wires (black, red) > interconnect > ballast wiring > ballast

If so, you'll have to cut the extension wires and reverse the two. Had to do that for my friend's Toyota Matrix.
Old Feb 19, 2008 | 07:52 PM
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Relax ... Were all giving our 2 cents .. My kit is a plug and Play and the wires connecting to the ballast from the bulb (which are plugs no splicing needed) were reversed thats why mine didn't turn on , ballast didn't make noise just like the OP had mention..

Here are the plugs I was talking about . No splicing needed to change the "plugs"..



Originally Posted by Colonel
Doing wiring on a car, especially not being a professional, you should have the tools to make sure you hook things up correctly. Guessing on wether or not they are putting out any volts/amps/power/coils/noise/whatever doesnt help you trouble shoot. Thats why I am posting MY questions. I am not going to look up the specs, wiring, connectors and all the steps. Each after market kit is different. To many assumptions can be made in between.

Last edited by blkAEmax82; Feb 19, 2008 at 11:37 PM. Reason: Added Pics
Old Feb 20, 2008 | 02:53 AM
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The reason why you have to switch the wires is because of how Maxima headlights work. They function in reverse to what most standard vehicle headlights do. At least with my 2k it was like that. My plug'N'play kit had a diode wired in (small black fuse looking thing). All I had to do was pull it out, and put it in the other way and I had no problems. I forget what the directions called it (it was written in a very poorly translated english so it probably wouldn't have helped anyway).

So I'd check to see if you have something like that. The diode was close to the headlight itself.

Hope this helps

Jay
Old Feb 20, 2008 | 07:57 AM
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Here is your problem right here.... this plug (in the red circle) is in the ballast upside down. Pull it out, flip it over, and plug it back into the ballast. and you will have light..... your welcome.

If you went through the trouble of cutting those wires and slicing them back together, you just wasted a LOT of time and energy, (not to mention voiding the warrenty of the kit) when the real problem was that you had it plugged into the ballast backwards. (the instructions even tell you, plug that wire it into the ballast with the little "prong" parts of the plug going over the side that is like a "ramp/triangle" and not the side that is has the straight/square protrusion.)

Last edited by ReauDog; Feb 20, 2008 at 08:07 AM.
Old Feb 20, 2008 | 08:45 AM
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Originally Posted by ReauDog
Here is your problem right here.... this plug (in the red circle) is in the ballast upside down. Pull it out, flip it over, and plug it back into the ballast. and you will have light..... your welcome.

If you went through the trouble of cutting those wires and slicing them back together, you just wasted a LOT of time and energy, (not to mention voiding the warrenty of the kit) when the real problem was that you had it plugged into the ballast backwards. (the instructions even tell you, plug that wire it into the ballast with the little "prong" parts of the plug going over the side that is like a "ramp/triangle" and not the side that is has the straight/square protrusion.)
My kit is a little different, but there is another connection that can be reversed without too much trouble. I've only tried it in the "correct" configuration on my install but if the Maxima wiring is reversed, then I guess plugging it in backwards should actually fix the situation. I'll try this as soon as I have access to the car again (it's at my parents house at the moment). I'm sure there's a diode somewhere in the circuit that'll prevent me from frying the electronics. Hopefully it's as simple as that. Thanks everyone for your input...
Old Feb 20, 2008 | 08:52 AM
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....believe me all that stuff about that maxima having "reversed" wiring is a bunch of BS.
Old Mar 1, 2008 | 05:08 AM
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I had trouble with PnP Hids not an my Max but on my previous accord.
The wiring was all correct but still did not have ignition. After hours and trying everything I ended up clipping the factory headlight plug and HID plug and hardwiring/soldering the two together, Bingo, super-bright light!
I guess there was not enough current through the connectors to power the ignitors. Not the first thing I would try but if it comes to that it will probably fix your problem. I believe newer kits actually run a relay off the headlight wiring and power from the battery which would probably fix that problem, good luck.
Old Mar 2, 2008 | 10:19 PM
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like he said add a relay i had to just to get min to work and they wasnt pnp
Old Mar 2, 2008 | 10:39 PM
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Originally Posted by ReauDog
Here is your problem right here.... this plug (in the red circle) is in the ballast upside down. Pull it out, flip it over, and plug it back into the ballast. and you will have light..... your welcome.

If you went through the trouble of cutting those wires and slicing them back together, you just wasted a LOT of time and energy, (not to mention voiding the warrenty of the kit) when the real problem was that you had it plugged into the ballast backwards. (the instructions even tell you, plug that wire it into the ballast with the little "prong" parts of the plug going over the side that is like a "ramp/triangle" and not the side that is has the straight/square protrusion.)
Yes sir ..your problem is you didnt follow directions and plugged it in backwards to begin with ..lol...
Old Mar 14, 2008 | 05:58 PM
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Hey all,

For those interested, I got a chance to work on it again. I took the advice regarding polarity and it worked! Apparently the polarity specifications of the kit are reversed with respect to 2K1 Maxima wiring. So in summation: for anyone with a similar plug and play kit, reversing the one connection that is reversible (matching black to red instead of black to black) should make the setup functional.

Thanks for your help!
Old Mar 15, 2008 | 01:25 AM
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yeah that happens alot with HID kits...every car is a little different and the wiring harness can be swapped easily, glad u got that fixed
Old Jul 16, 2008 | 07:22 AM
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i'd like to know where you placed the ballast on the passenger side
Old Jul 16, 2008 | 08:19 AM
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where did you locate the ballasts?? especially on the passenger side?? I installed the HID's yesterday but don't know where to put the ballasts of the right side......I put it between the coolant tank and the windshield cleaner tank with a tie wrap for the moment.

any suggestions???

by the way I have after market headlights with halo and proyector...

Last edited by Rossello; Jul 16, 2008 at 12:04 PM. Reason: Edit: I corrected "left side" to "right side" it's the right side...
Old Jul 16, 2008 | 08:45 AM
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^^lol i did the same..i'm trying to figure another location too
Old Jul 16, 2008 | 10:01 AM
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Originally Posted by Rossello
where did you locate the ballasts?? especially on the passenger side?? I installed the HID's yesterday but don't know where to put the ballasts of the left side......I put it between the coolant tank and the windshield cleaner tank with a tie wrap for the moment.

any suggestions???

by the way I have after market headlights with halo and proyector...
Originally Posted by phatboislim
^^lol i did the same..i'm trying to figure another location too
you could buy 5.5gen headlights and do it the right way
Old Jul 16, 2008 | 11:11 AM
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Where did you guys end up buying the HID kits?
Old Jul 16, 2008 | 11:33 AM
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Originally Posted by Rossello
where did you locate the ballasts?? especially on the passenger side?? I installed the HID's yesterday but don't know where to put the ballasts of the left side......I put it between the coolant tank and the windshield cleaner tank with a tie wrap for the moment.

any suggestions???

by the way I have after market headlights with halo and proyector...
There is plenty of sheetmetal just below the battery tray. Or you can put it on the inside of your driver fender frame ( there's even more room there than on than passenger side). I mounted my foglight HID Ballast and igniters in those same areas using some rivnuts and AN hardware! Good luck!! Inside the wheel well splash sheilds is plenty of sheetmetal and cool air!!!

Last edited by CMax03; Jul 16, 2008 at 11:37 AM.
Old Jul 16, 2008 | 11:55 AM
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Originally Posted by Kyle00
you could buy 5.5gen headlights and do it the right way
i cant see buying headlights that i dont like for $500+...

so i bought my AE headlights and HIDs...all i need is a location..keep that to yourself
Old Jul 16, 2008 | 11:57 AM
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Originally Posted by CMax03
There is plenty of sheetmetal just below the battery tray. Or you can put it on the inside of your driver fender frame ( there's even more room there than on than passenger side). I mounted my foglight HID Ballast and igniters in those same areas using some rivnuts and AN hardware! Good luck!! Inside the wheel well splash sheilds is plenty of sheetmetal and cool air!!!
what about the passenger side...
Old Jul 16, 2008 | 12:15 PM
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the guy who sales me the HID's tell me an option that I will see if it works since the ballast came with a bracket i will see if I can put it with two screws with the frame above the right side of the headlight. if it works I will take a picture of it and post it here. The only problem is if I want to change the hi light bulb of the headlight I will have to take out the ballast first.

I have no problem on the left side...I already attached the ballast to the metal....

any other suggestions for the right side are accepted!!
Old Jul 16, 2008 | 12:18 PM
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Originally Posted by phatboislim
i cant see buying headlights that i dont like for $500+...

so i bought my AE headlights and HIDs...all i need is a location..keep that to yourself
I paid $350 for mine

I tend to try and follow the law.... anyhow, carry on
Old Jul 16, 2008 | 12:24 PM
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if the law found my car when it got stolen, or didn't try to give me a bogus speeding ticket maybe i wouldnt have a issue following the law, til then they can kick rocks.

btw u got a good deal on urs..but i hate those lights..except on DaveVQs 5th gen

Originally Posted by Rossello
the guy who sales me the HID's tell me an option that I will see if it works since the ballast came with a bracket i will see if I can put it with two screws with the frame above the right side of the headlight. if it works I will take a picture of it and post it here. The only problem is if I want to change the hi light bulb of the headlight I will have to take out the ballast first.

I have no problem on the left side...I already attached the ballast to the metal....

any other suggestions for the right side are accepted!!
yea post pics if it works..i already have my DS mounted also.
Old Jul 16, 2008 | 12:28 PM
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Originally Posted by phatboislim
if the law found my car when it got stolen, or didn't try to give me a bogus speeding ticket maybe i wouldnt have a issue following the law, til then they can kick rocks.
Old Jul 16, 2008 | 12:51 PM
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Originally Posted by phatboislim
i cant see buying headlights that i dont like for $500+...

so i bought my AE headlights and HIDs...all i need is a location..keep that to yourself

now you can have PLENTY OF GLARE, AND BLINDING other drivers....because thats what will happen.........I myself paid 400 for a pair of 5.5 gen Headlights for my 2k1
Old Jul 16, 2008 | 12:51 PM
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lol sorry..i have no respect for them when they do stupid stuff, just ticks me off
Old Jul 16, 2008 | 12:52 PM
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Originally Posted by hi-tek22
now you can have PLENTY OF GLARE, AND BLINDING other drivers....because thats what will happen.........I myself paid 400 for a pair of 5.5 gen Headlights for my 2k1
more power to u...its call adjusting your headlights
Old Jul 17, 2008 | 05:40 AM
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Originally Posted by phatboislim
what about the passenger side...
underneath the wheelwell, behind the splash sheild, next to the windshield washer reservior, plenty of room and cool air! I guess both those longitudal areas on the pass/driv sides are part of the box beam framing! My Xtralights kit has 2 components (ballast and igniter) so I know you'll have plenty of room!
Old Jul 17, 2008 | 06:03 AM
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hmmm...i looked yesterday a lil more and since i'm going to rewire my fogs i'm going to see if itll fit behind the relay box
Old Jul 17, 2008 | 06:37 AM
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Originally Posted by phatboislim
more power to u...its call adjusting your headlights

been there done that, YOU WILL STILL HAVE GLARE....Get a set of 2k2 headlights or do a projector retrofit, you can re-aim as many times as you want, you will never achieve a decent cutoff
Old Jul 17, 2008 | 07:38 AM
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like i said earlier more power to u
Old Aug 20, 2008 | 10:05 AM
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has anyone tried to wire the bi xenon (high low beam) hid's in their 00-01?

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