Hid light problems continue

[bloombloom88]

I've had no low beams for a few weeks now, everything else works fine. I've emailed retro solutions and they sent me out a whole new wiring harness with relay. Installed it and still have no low beams.

Waiting on a email back, but I decided to read what ever codes the computer might be throwing,this is what I got






What does this mean?

 

[Etroze86]

I would imagine you have a relay that isn't switching closed. If the system works like that but its been a long time since I got into a headlight circut really deep.

 

[bloombloom88]

The relay with the harness they just sent me should be brand new, are there other relays for the headlights somewhere?

 

[Etroze86]

Someone else might need to chime in but on older vehicles if I remember my fuse boxes right relays control the factory one too. Now that might have changed on the Rams I will have to check this weekend. Also its not really uncommon for relays to be bad from the factory so i would see if you can hear them click when you turn your lights on and off.

 

[bloombloom88]

The only noise I hear when the lights/ or high beams for now, come on are the ballasts buzzing which is normal.

How do you check a relay to see if it's bad?

 

[BlackedOutHemi]

Here's my take on how it works:

Switch in cab ---> Signal wire to Headlight relay---> relay to OEM harness---> OEM harness to headlight plug (the one you plugged your aftermarket harness into).

If that relay is stuck open (could be multiple reasons) then power will never get to the OEM plug to tell your aftermarket harness to close to relay the power to the low beams. Thus, no headlights.

 

[Etroze86]

Easiest way is to turn on the circut and see if you can hear and audible click. If you hear it that means the really is still working. Here is a website for little more indepth testing. How to Test a Car Relay | eHow.com
Hope this helps.

 

[bloombloom88]

Awesome info guys, ill look into it and hope it's just something as easy as a relay.

I also took a multimeter to the factory headlight plug to read the voltage. On the green plug the middle wire is black so that should be ground, the outside wires had voltage depending on if the high/low beams were on.

Is there a way to figure which of those wires are for the lows? That way if it gets voltage when the lights are on that means the factory relay is working i assume?

 

[audio1der]

You siad your lows don't work, so we assume your highbeams DO? Test for voltage at the plug with your highbeams on (the other one will be the low)

 

[bloombloom88]

Yes my high beams work.

At the factory plug, low beams read 12v when on

Highs read the same when switched on.

So does this mean the factory relay is good since the plugs are getting power for highs and lows?

 

[audio1der]

I would say yes. What is the next piece down the line after where you are measuring 12V?

So you had low beams for a while; did you change anything, that the wiring could be wrong now? Not sure how else a new wire harness would not solve the issue unless something was not hooked up correctly.
-What if you use 'power jumpers"(2 wires) for +12V and ground directly from the battery to the HID harness, bypassing all factory switches and relays? Does it work then?

 

[bloombloom88]

I would say yes. What is the next piece down the line after where you are measuring 12V?

So you had low beams for a while; did you change anything, that the wiring could be wrong now? Not sure how else a new wire harness would not solve the issue unless something was not hooked up correctly.
-What if you use 'power jumpers"(2 wires) for +12V and ground directly from the battery to the HID harness, bypassing all factory switches and relays? Does it work then?

I'm not sure what else to test after the factory plug.

Everything was working fine from day 1. I was on my way to work one morning, made a stop and when I came back out and started the truck the low beams were dead. I don't see how it can be installed incorrectly if it has worked with no problems up until now.

I installed the new harness exactly like I had my first one hooked up, I didn't change anything.

I have not tried the jumper wires yet like you suggested

 

[Etroze86]

Do HIDs have a seperate filiment for the low beam?

 

[bloombloom88]

I think it depends on the type of bulb, on my kit the high/low beam uses 1 bulb

 

[BlackedOutHemi]

I would be surprised if both went out like that that quickly, so you checked all prongs on the headlamp with it off, and then with just the low beams on, and it did have power running to it?

 

[Litenyaup]

I had this same thing happen in my 02 ram. I first go resisters and put them in line which fixed it but still showed "lamp out". So I purchased a set of 55 watt ballasts and got rid of the harness all together and it worked perfect. No codes no dummy lights no flickering.

I now have a 2011 and just purchased a set of 55 watt "canbus" ballast kits for the lows and fogs. They should be here next week so ill let u know how they work.

 

[jake09]

Sure both ballasts are working?? it would be weird that both went out at the same time but are they buzzing right when turned on?

 

[bloombloom88]

I would be surprised if both went out like that that quickly, so you checked all prongs on the headlamp with it off, and then with just the low beams on, and it did have power running to it?

yes, the plug has power for both low and high beams

 

[bloombloom88]

Sure both ballasts are working?? it would be weird that both went out at the same time but are they buzzing right when turned on?

if one or both ballasts were bad, i wouldnt have any light output at all on the side with the bad ballast, my high beams work on both sides.

 

[0212353]

doesn't make sense that they would work for months, then.......boom.......

Crazy question, reset the computer? give that a whirl?