Questions About Key Turns With Hid

georgerosen06 · August 15, 2009

so i got my vvme hid lights and turned them down so i wouldnt blind other drivers at night and I realized when i cycle my key at night when the key gets right before the starting position the lights come on....and then they turn off and on when i start my truck. I heard that its bad for the hids so i was wondering if there was a way around this... I'd rather not have any problem with them since they add sooo much more light that my other silverstars. and I know this is getting old but do i have to pull the drl fuse because im pretty sure my drl lights are on the bottom set of lights not the top...thanks for any help yall can provide

BuckFeverZ · August 15, 2009

A simple fix would be to turn the parking lights on before you cycle the ignition. Then, when the truck is running, flip on the headlights

And no, you don't have to pull the DRL fuse.

georgerosen06 · August 15, 2009

even if i turn on the parking lights whenever the key gets to right before i start the truck they turn on. is there anyway to turn the automatic lighting off?

BuckFeverZ · August 15, 2009

Yes, you can disable the auto-headlights by placing a diode in place of the light sensor. Do a search on here for it.

georgerosen06 · August 15, 2009

everything i've found requires didodes.....anything else that doesnt require that?

BuckFeverZ · August 15, 2009

Not that I am aware of. It's a pretty simple swap. Can easily be done in 10 minutes. I did it on my '99 Sierra.

georgerosen06 · August 15, 2009

anybody have any pic's of how to do it on an 04??? and where to buy the didoes what kind etc. when it comes to electrical i'm lost

georgerosen06 · August 15, 2009

bump

georgerosen06 · August 15, 2009

?afternoon bump?

BuckFeverZ · August 16, 2009

Check out GMFS.com. You'll find all the info you need. I don't feel like looking around for it.

P71_CrownVic · August 18, 2009

I heard that its bad for the hids so i was wondering if there was a way around this...

Can anyone verify this? Why would it be bad? Is it supposedly bad for the bulb? The ballast?

What are the consequences? Has anyone with a GMT800 not worried about this issue?

I am so damn close to getting HIDs...but I refuse to put a diode in place of my light sensor. Why? Because I paid for the option...and I want to use it.

brims · August 18, 2009

I heard that its bad for the hids so i was wondering if there was a way around this...

Can anyone verify this? Why would it be bad? Is it supposedly bad for the bulb? The ballast?

What are the consequences? Has anyone with a GMT800 not worried about this issue?

I am so damn close to getting HIDs...but I refuse to put a diode in place of my light sensor. Why? Because I paid for the option...and I want to use it.

I think it's bad for the bulb, arcing (spelling?) the bulb and not letting it get to temp is hard on it I believe.

WilliamsVMAX · August 18, 2009

I heard that its bad for the hids so i was wondering if there was a way around this...

Can anyone verify this? Why would it be bad? Is it supposedly bad for the bulb? The ballast?

What are the consequences? Has anyone with a GMT800 not worried about this issue?

I am so damn close to getting HIDs...but I refuse to put a diode in place of my light sensor. Why? Because I paid for the option...and I want to use it.

I had one of my bulbs burn out the other day actually, and I went and had it replaced under warranty. The place where I had bought them asked if I used the auto feature for my lights, I told him I did, and he said that's the biggest killer of HID's. The lights turning on before the vehicle is cranked. It takes so much to light the bulbs, and by having them light and turn off and light again, kills the life of the bulbs a lot faster.

SparkySparks · August 18, 2009

I will be installing HIDs in the truck tonight. I've been trying two different ways to get around the auto lights when starting.

Option 1: Turn and hold the light knob to the left (the way you would turn off the lights if you didn't want them on) by holding the knob and starting the truck the lights don't come on.

Option 2: Turn the key really fast when starting the truck and the lights don't have a chance to come on before it is started.

I have also made sure to turn the approach lighting off using the DIC so the HIDs don't turn on while locking or unlocking the truck in low light.

C. Charles Hahn · August 18, 2009

Just a thought, but would using a relay harness help this situation at all? For example if I were to wire in a capacitor on the "switched source" lead so the HIDs would think they're supposed to stay on for a few seconds when first starting the truck (presumably meaning they wouldn't go out at all while the engine cranks over)....