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Troubleshooting & FAQ

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General Tips / Common Issues Safety Tips
LED Troubleshooting HID Troubleshooting
H7 Adapters Mopar Vehicles

General Tips & Common Issues 

  • Check our Installation Guides before attempting installation. If there is no install instruction available (common with LEDs), you can use another brand's guide as they are typically the same in terms of installation
  • Test all components once connected prior to fully installing inside bulb housings to ensure functionality. 

Bulb does not fit

  • Check in your owner's manual for the correct replacement size needed (H11A vs H11B see below). It is also a good idea to pull the actual bulb and validate the size, as some vehicles utilize different bulbs on different trim models.
  • If fitment is simply too tight where the bulb cannot click or seat into place, try swapping the o-ring (orange ring around the base of the bulb) from the original halogen bulbs with the LED or HID bulb. As tolerances differ between headlight manufacturers, a small difference in the o-ring may allow the bulb to seat correctly into place.

If one component seems to be failing or is not working

  • Reverse the polarity. Remove the connection which is used from the vehicle and flip the connection. Some LEDs are polarity sensitive (although most are not), and HID is polarity sensitive. 
  • Ensure all connections are fully seated. If there is no 'click', or you are able to pull the cables apart without unclipping, use zip ties or electrical tape where possible to ensure connections do not become disconnected during use. 
  • Check vehicle fuse, as the application (i.e. headlights) may have a broken or blown fuse which needs replacement. 
  • Swap the component (i.e. ballast, HID bulb, LED bulb, decoder, etc.) in question to see if the issue moves to the other side, or stays. This is a common check required prior to any warranty claim, so it's a good idea to try this first prior to requesting assistance. 

Bulb Out Warning on dash

If at any point you see a bulb out warning on the instrument cluster, first check to ensure all exterior (other than the newly or recently) installed bulbs are functioning properly. If so, the LED or HID system may not be using enough power within the range of the CANBUS system, so the vehicle falsely thinks a bulb is out and is warning the driver. 
A decoder or canbus system will help to 'trick' the system by pulling more power initially. See our CANBUS and Decoders page for more details on if your vehicle may require these modules. 

Dual-Beam Bulbs - Low vs. High Setting Not functioning properly

If either the low/main beams or high beams do not trigger, it is typically a pinout problem. A re-pin may be necessary in some cases between the 3 terminals. Most LED and HID bulbs are designed with the ability to change the pins depending on the vehicle's configuration. LED bulbs are designed to be universal. For 9004 vs 9007 pinouts, see our Installation Guides for diagrams. 

Safety Tips (prior to installation) 

  • Headlights should always be turned off 
  • Ensure Vehicle ignition is off and in park (or gear if standard transmission) 
  • Engine bay should be cool to the touch 
  • Use protective wear such as safety goggles and gloves (to avoid oil transfer to HID bulbs which will cause premature failure) 

LED Specific Troubleshooting 

LED Positioning or 'Clocking'

When it comes to positioning the LEDs bulbs, there are a few different types of LED styles, but they are all generally positioned the same way.

  • If installing into a reflector style housing, try to ensure the smallest end or opening of the LED bulb is facing upward in a low beam installation, and downward for a high beam installation.
  • If installing into a projector style housing, try to ensure the smallest end or opening of the LED bulb is facing upward in a low beam installation

NOTE: The diodes (light source) should face left to right, and NOT up/down.

ADDITIONAL ADJUSTMENTS: If the bulbs are on a slight angle, it may be based on the original design of the headlight or fog light. This is okay, however if the LED has the ability to clock (or adjust the angle), it is recommended to attempt to make an adjustment per the instruction above, as to closely match the original halogen bulb’s beam pattern and hotspot. Make small adjustments, as necessary.

LED Bulb Not Turning On 

  • Check to ensure the vehicle is powered on, and the headlight selector is on. If the vehicle is equipped with automatic headlights, ensure they are triggered (in a dark environment) so the bulbs will power on.
  • Swap the LED bulb (if possible) from driver's side to the passenger's side, and visa-versa. If the issue moves to the other side, there is an issue with the LED bulb.
    • If the LED bulb has a separate driver that can disconnect from the bulb, also swap just that part as well following the instructions above.
  • If you opted for LED decoders
    • Try the LEDs WITHOUT the decoders
    • Try to double up the decoders on one side of the vehicle to see if that resolves the issue. Specific makes may not function outside of the small range used by the halogen bulb (see Chrysler, Dodge, GMC, Jeep, & Ram vehicle note below) and may require a special harness

LED Bulb is flickering during use (constantly) after installation 

  • A set of decoders may be required in order to properly power the LEDs. See our CANBUS and Decoders page for details. 
  • Vehicle DRL Systems: There may not be enough power going to the LEDs. 
  • A decoder (or capacitor) may be required to combat the PWM (pulse width modulation) system, which does not sync up with some LEDs
  • Some LED bulbs may not be compatible with the low voltage DRL power range. Check the product page for details on compatibility.

LED Bulb is flickering at the start or end of vehicle use (briefly) 

  • Vehicles with bulb-check systems will run approx. 5-10 pulses to the (original halogen) bulbs in order to check the integrity of the bulb at first startup. This was not visible with the halogen, as they require time to light up, whereas an LED will light up instantly, so now this process is visible with your new LED bulbs.
  • Alternatively, when powering off the vehicle, you may notice the LEDs flicker on/off for some time (such as license plate or small LEDs). This is normal as there is a small amount of power still running through the wiring. Due to the LEDs sensitivity, they may flicker until there is no longer any power in the connected wires.

HID Specific Troubleshooting 

PLEASE NOTE: DO NOT TOUCH HID BULB GLASS as this will cause premature wear dramatically lowering the lifespan of the bulb

My Relay Harness is buzzing constantly / lights randomly turn off / flickering during DRL use

A set of decoders (or capacitors) is required, as the vehicle's PWM (pulse width modulation) system is getting an uneven signal, and the relays cannot decide what to do. 

What is the green wire coming from the ballast?

This is a ground wire which is highly recommended to ground the system to the vehicle. This provides a stronger and safer ground over the factory lighting connector.

H11A or H11B, & H7A or H7B, which do I need?

See our page here which explains which may be needed, and what the difference is (not to be confused by H11 vs H11B for halogen, H11A and H11B for HID are used differently). 

35W or 50/55W Ballasts, what's the difference?

35W are typically recommended for use in stock and aftermarket headlight and fog-light housings. While the original halogen bulb may be 55w, 65w, etc. a 50 or 55 watt system in HID will emit a much higher dose of UV light, which may cause burn marks in the headlight reflector or projector bowl, leading to diminished output and dark spots. Unless you are sure the housing can handle the higher power HID system, it is best to stick with 35 watts.

What is an HID Relay Harness used for?

An HID Relay Harness will pull power directly from the vehicle's battery instead of the OEM connector. This is especially important for vehicles with small factory wiring. HID systems will pull a higher wattage upon trigger, and slowly go down thereafter. It requires additional installation steps, but prevents the lights from triggering (and powering on) in some cases, as well as no longer relies on the factory connector to do all of the work. If the vehicle uses bulb warning system, it is better to go with a CANBUS system rather than a Relay system.

H7 Bulb Installation (adapters)

It is common for H7 style bulbs in LED and HID to require a special adapter in order to install properly. This is due to a LED/HID bulb being of a different style compared to halogen, and many vehicles use a special connector which no longer works with aftermarket style bulbs. See our H7 Adapters product page for different styles available. If you are unsure on which style is needed for your install, you can check with online forums and videos. If you cannot find help online, reach out to our support team for help.

Dodge, Chrysler, GMC, Jeep, & Ram Vehicles - TIPM

Many new models by these brands use a TIPM (Totally Integrated Power Module) in system that regulates power to the electrical components, primarily found in the main/low beam headlights. When installing an HID conversion, choose a CANBUS style system to prevent issues. LED bulbs will require a decoder option, which is an additional capacitor to hold temporary power needed. PLEASE NOTE: In some cases LED bulbs may not work on these vehicles in the main/low beams, and an HID conversion is a better option.

Customer Support 

If you still need assistance, please reach out to our support team, and we would be happy to help!

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