Welcome to the North American Subaru Impreza Owners Club Thursday March 28, 2024
Home Forums Images WikiNASIOC Products Store Modifications Upgrade Garage
NASIOC
Go Back   NASIOC > NASIOC Technical > Electrical & Lighting

Welcome to NASIOC - The world's largest online community for Subaru enthusiasts!
Welcome to the NASIOC.com Subaru forum.

You are currently viewing our forum as a guest, which gives you limited access to view most discussions and access our other features. By joining our community, free of charge, you will have access to post topics, communicate privately with other members (PM), respond to polls, upload content and access many other special features. Registration is free, fast and simple, so please join our community today!

If you have any problems with the registration process or your account login, please contact us.







* As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. 
* Registered users of the site do not see these ads. 
Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
Old 12-10-2005, 11:52 PM   #1
cringeR
Scooby Newbie
 
Member#: 80100
Join Date: Jan 2005
Chapter/Region: VIC
Location: Victoria
Vehicle:
2008 STi
SSM

Question Do HID bulbs change color just before burning out?

Maybe this is a stupid question but i noticed tonight that one of the lights on my jdm hid's has changed color from the normal bluish tint to an orangish/pink. It seems that the light output has faded quite a bit as well. I'm just wondering if this is typical of hid bulbs when they die or if i should be checking to see if something else is awry?
* Registered users of the site do not see these ads.
cringeR is offline   Reply With Quote
Sponsored Links
* Registered users of the site do not see these ads.
Old 12-10-2005, 11:54 PM   #2
Hank3
Scooby Guru
 
Member#: 16157
Join Date: Mar 2002
Chapter/Region: South East
Location: Tallahassee, FL
Vehicle:
'03 Mazda P5 <><
'02 WRX & '08 MS3 SOLD!!!

Default

HID bulbs will typically go through a "color shift" phase after certain amount of hours.

Check this thread for some great info:

http://forums.nasioc.com/forums/show...ht=color+shift
Hank3 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-11-2005, 12:17 AM   #3
cringeR
Scooby Newbie
 
Member#: 80100
Join Date: Jan 2005
Chapter/Region: VIC
Location: Victoria
Vehicle:
2008 STi
SSM

Default

thanks. This color shift is different from what was discussed in the link you gave me though. The color shift is EXTREME, one is 4300k bluish/white and the other is pinkish/orange now. Anyone have this happen to them?

I should add the hid's have been in my car for a year now and were obviously used when i got them. As i'm in Canada the light are on whenever the car is turned on as we must have daytime running light here in Canada.
cringeR is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-11-2005, 12:35 AM   #4
ATX25RS
Scooby Guru
 
Member#: 4597
Join Date: Mar 2001
Chapter/Region: TXIC
Location: Laredo, Texas
Vehicle:
2011 Mitsu Outlander
Sport (Ex-Suby owner X3)

Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by cringeR
thanks. This color shift is different from what was discussed in the link you gave me though. The color shift is EXTREME, one is 4300k bluish/white and the other is pinkish/orange now. Anyone have this happen to them?

I should add the hid's have been in my car for a year now and were obviously used when i got them. As i'm in Canada the light are on whenever the car is turned on as we must have daytime running light here in Canada.
that me be the p[roblem...most owners will as a rule disable the drl's.... any pics?
ATX25RS is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-11-2005, 12:40 AM   #5
cringeR
Scooby Newbie
 
Member#: 80100
Join Date: Jan 2005
Chapter/Region: VIC
Location: Victoria
Vehicle:
2008 STi
SSM

Default

no pics at the moment, i may be able to take some. Disabling the drl's is not an option for us. If anything i would think having the lights on all the time would just wear the bulbs out faster. Don't canadian hid systems just leave the lights on when the car is running as well? I seem to recall hearing that somewhere.
cringeR is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-11-2005, 02:18 AM   #6
scoobdude
Scooby Specialist
 
Member#: 50699
Join Date: Dec 2003
Chapter/Region: TXIC
Location: austin
Vehicle:
2004 WRX
Platinum Silver

Default

also DRL leave the lights on. This does horrible things to the igniter. may also have an affect on the ballast. disconnect the DRL and just run with you rlight on. The DRL also lowers the voltage to the headlights.

Joe
scoobdude is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-11-2005, 03:39 AM   #7
CRXguy
Scooby Specialist
 
Member#: 25370
Join Date: Sep 2002
Chapter/Region: W. Canada
Location: Calgary, AB, Canada
Vehicle:
2003 WRX wagon
Played Out Blue

Default

i disabled my drl's, but i just leave the headlight switch to the parking light position. maybe you can wire the fog lights to come on with the parking lights as a substitute for the low beams. that's what i wanted to do, but im too lazy. its cheaper to replace fog light bulbs than hid bulbs.
CRXguy is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-11-2005, 09:31 AM   #8
Impreza2003
Scooby Specialist
 
Member#: 67247
Join Date: Jul 2004
Chapter/Region: Tri-State
Location: UAlbany - Brooklyn
Vehicle:
2003 2.5RS BRP
SQC 189

Default

sometimes they turn pink, other times they just die.

if your worried just look at your bulb and in that buldge in the middle, if its clear ot hazy your fine, if its dark then its dead or going to be dead
Impreza2003 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-11-2005, 11:10 AM   #9
scoobdude
Scooby Specialist
 
Member#: 50699
Join Date: Dec 2003
Chapter/Region: TXIC
Location: austin
Vehicle:
2004 WRX
Platinum Silver

Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by CRXguy
i disabled my drl's, but i just leave the headlight switch to the parking light position. maybe you can wire the fog lights to come on with the parking lights as a substitute for the low beams. that's what i wanted to do, but im too lazy. its cheaper to replace fog light bulbs than hid bulbs.
its best if you turn the lights on AFTER you start the car. I forgot why but it puts alot of stress on teh bulbs if you leave them on while starting. causes them to blow out quicker. its even worse on the DRLs cause they already have a lower voltage.

Joe
scoobdude is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-11-2005, 06:49 PM   #10
cringeR
Scooby Newbie
 
Member#: 80100
Join Date: Jan 2005
Chapter/Region: VIC
Location: Victoria
Vehicle:
2008 STi
SSM

Default

OK well, the light is out now on the one side, so i guess i know it was burning out. Did some research and ordered some 4100K oem Philips D2S replacements from HIDPlanet. Now we just have to drive with one light until they get here.
cringeR is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-12-2005, 10:59 PM   #11
shinsain
Scooby Specialist
 
Member#: 51745
Join Date: Jan 2004
Chapter/Region: NWIC
Location: Wenatchee...WA
Vehicle:
LIKE A
BOSS

Default

Yeah, DRL's I believe place stock hallogens at 60% voltage - which = not good for HID's. Without the proper operating voltage there is stress on the bulbs/ballasts, etc. and I would imagine that will ruin parts of your kit quicker (obviously).

It is better to disconnect the DRL's and just remember to turn your lights on everytime you get in the car IMO (even though in Canadia that can get you a ticket if you forget).

Aaron
shinsain is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-13-2005, 10:50 PM   #12
cringeR
Scooby Newbie
 
Member#: 80100
Join Date: Jan 2005
Chapter/Region: VIC
Location: Victoria
Vehicle:
2008 STi
SSM

Default

I'm pretty sure mine are connected so that when the ignition is turned on the lights come on at full Voltage. If i forget to turn my lights on at night the beam is just as bright as when i turn the headlights on, there's just no parking/running lights if the headlights aren't turned on. I bought the car from a good friend who had bought the HID's and installed them around a month before he sold me the car. I guess i'll just have to replace the bulbs more often as they get used alot more.
cringeR is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-14-2005, 12:35 PM   #13
scoobdude
Scooby Specialist
 
Member#: 50699
Join Date: Dec 2003
Chapter/Region: TXIC
Location: austin
Vehicle:
2004 WRX
Platinum Silver

Default

important thing to remember is turn the lights on AFTER the motor has started. starting drops teh voltage WAY down to 7-10 volts. this has the same affect as teh DRLs. but its even worse because it flutuates during this time.

Good luck
scoobdude is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-14-2005, 04:12 PM   #14
ride5000
Scooby Guru
 
Member#: 32792
Join Date: Feb 2003
Chapter/Region: NESIC
Location: lincoln, ri
Vehicle:
2003 GGA MBP
12.9 / 105+

Default

connecting and disconnecting a highly inductive load (like a starter motor) will cause pretty large voltage spikes in the electrical system of the car.

the ballasts of HID systems are small step up switch mode power supplies which do not like voltage spikes.

hth
ken
ride5000 is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Forum Jump

Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
Non HID Bulb change EvoSpeed Electrical & Lighting 31 11-28-2007 11:38 AM
Why do hid bulbs cost same as entire kit? 2slofouru Electrical & Lighting 27 03-17-2007 09:10 AM
Q: how do u know if your cat is burned out when u have a BOV?? Azn-Jap STI Vancouver Impreza Club Forum -- VIC 2 03-23-2005 08:06 PM
why do my Morettes keep burning out bulbs? bleuquila Electrical & Lighting 9 04-07-2004 01:54 AM
STi Philips 6000K D2R HID bulb change, pics 909 Electrical & Lighting 6 10-24-2003 10:54 AM

All times are GMT -4. The time now is 08:43 PM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.7.0
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.
Powered by Searchlight © 2024 Axivo Inc.
Copyright ©1999 - 2019, North American Subaru Impreza Owners Club, Inc.

As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

When you click on links to various merchants on this site and make a purchase, this can result in this site earning a commission
Affiliate programs and affiliations include, but are not limited to, the eBay Partner Network.