please help, retroshop hid's just suddenly went out

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hemi1300

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happened the other night, lights were working fine and then all of a sudden blinked 4 or 5 times and went completely out. Just the lows went out though, highs still work like normal. Weird thing is, was trying to troubleshoot a bit, pulled the positive battery terminal and re-installed. Lights kicked on like normal with the truck off, as soon as i started the truck, same thing happens, 4 or 5 blinks and then nothing. When they are completely out, if i flick the headlight switch 3 or 4 times rapidly it does the same blink process and then go out. What could this be, they have worked perfectly for months and now this. Just weird that the highs still work and i can get the lows working if i remove the pos battery terminal, but they don't work with the truck running?? So obviously my ballasts/bulbs are good, doubt it's a loose connection bc i have all of them securely ty-wrapped and used di-electric, grounds also have a good contact point bolted to the chassis and removed the paint before the ground. Where's JJ at when u need him lol
 

LB3711

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make sure the fuse isnt melted. I had mine go out found my Chinese fuse was melted. I replaced it with the correct amperage and by bussman and been good ever since.
 

EJM05

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Check all your grounds and plugs. Swap the ballast too.
 
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hemi1300

hemi1300

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Fuse is good, hopin someone knows a simple fix before i start tearin into it again

Sent from my DROIDX using Tapatalk 2
 

dmg

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When I had problems with my Retroshop HID's it was because of the capacitor, try removing it from the system.
 

05singlecabHEMI

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I kinda had the same issue. Check the connections to the resistor. And try and pull the wires out from the connector. One of my connections had a loose wire and when i pulled on it it came out of the connector. I ended up just repacing the connecter with one from autozone.
 

dmg

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I hope this has some value:

To check the capacitor function, first confirm that the capacitor link itself is NOT connected directly to a ballast input?

please disconnect the plug/socket here, flip one side around and plug it back in to reverse polarity at the connection. Then try the lamps again and see if they start to operate. If not, please check the voltage between socket pins 1 and 3 again with the relay unplugged, and with the relay plugged in the voltage from socket pin 2 to battery (-).
 
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hemi1300

hemi1300

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Thanks for the help guys, will try within the next day or so to unplug and check all the connections. Hopefully it's a simple fix
 

EJM05

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Also make sure there is no rust on any connection. If so, sand it all away and use dielectric grease.
 
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hemi1300

hemi1300

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just unplugged a few connections and everything looks good, still fresh dielectric in them too, same problem though. Don't think swappin ballasts around will do anything, if a ballast was acting up one light would be operating differently than the other, correct? Plus the highbeams work like normal. Something is definitely up with the blinking though, every time i get them to work they blink exactly 6 times now and then go out. Gonna try and email retrosolutions and see if they have any ideas before i rip the whole system out again. Just ****** me off, had a few strange problems when i first installed the kit, finally got it all sorted out and it worked perfectly for months, until now
 

Trupiano

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I had this problem with one of my ballasts. Retrosolutions has great customer service and replaced the part for me. Just call them up.

Have you checked your grounds first though? That's the first thing they'll ask.

El phono
 
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hemi1300

hemi1300

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Yeah, my grounds are good. Attached to the chassis using a 1/4x20 bolt and removed the paint underneath
 

0212353

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sorry for the delay! Was in the shop for a bit, then moved my "warehouse" to a larger one this afternoon......family fun this evening. Fun day!

But, sounds like the basics are here - the hard part is finding the issue after its been working for a bit. I wish I had a LOT more info on troubleshooting, but I leave that to the experts and my supplier. Makes it a bit easier with warranty stuff too.

In the end, I think we've checked all the basics, but Todd will get ya squared away!
 
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hemi1300

hemi1300

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well, been emailing retro back and forth for the last 2 days and did some troubleshooting tests. Discovered one of the resistors has a break in the circuit. If I take the plug from the resistors into the wiring harness and reverse it (as instructed by retro), my low beams work like normal and the highs do the blink process and go out. Also, not getting a reading with my multi meter on one of the resistors, good resistor measures 6.8 ohms. Waiting on retro-solutions response for the next step, checked the ground for the resistor, wiring for breaks, and pins into the socket (as instructed to do so) and everything looks good. Maybe my resistor just took a crap? About to just buy a whole new kit anyways bc i have been debating upgrading to 55w hid's anyway, instead of my 35w kit
 

0212353

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damn wires. Todd will get you squared away on the harness though! Got ya back on the 55Wers too. ;)
 

BMRbrnSNRbrd

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Wow! This is 100% the same problem my dad has on his truck! Sad thing is I emailed retrosolutions on June 22nd and have yet to get a response...
 

0212353

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While its very rare for Todd to miss an email, I'd bet that he missed that one. Pop him another, he'll get ya squared away!
 

MADDOG

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the resistor, eh? I'll test mine then as mine were working fine and then, ****!

Of course, according to JJ I have a possessed devil truck. :D
 

0212353

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your truck eats HIDs Michael............lol
 
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