Help with HIDs
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Help with HIDs
I have a 97 civic with sonar halo projector headlights. What size bulb do I need? Do I need just the stock size bulb or a different size than the civic one?
I'm sorta new at this, so i'm assuming that the HIDs will just replace the bulbs, and leave the projector lights as is correct?
P.S Can someone explain what retro fitting is? Thanks.
I'm sorta new at this, so i'm assuming that the HIDs will just replace the bulbs, and leave the projector lights as is correct?P.S Can someone explain what retro fitting is? Thanks.
Joined: Aug 2003
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Re: Help with HIDs
retro fitting is taking an HID projector (i.e. BMW E46, TSX, Audi A4, etc) and making it fit in the existing headlight. It usually takes a lot of creativity and a lot of time and patience to make it look right. I was lucky enough to find someone selling their retrofit (because he sold his car) for a good price.
You can get away with getting an h1 HID kit (i'm assuming thats what size bulb those sonars use), but the light output is gonna suck compared to a retro.
here's the retrofit I bought (and a guide to put a TSX projector in a 2001-2005 civic TYC headlight). It'll give you some ideas.
here's the light output difference for my car (top is my H1 HID kit, bottom is the TSX retrofit)
light output with the H1 HID kit
Light output with the TSX retrofit
You can get away with getting an h1 HID kit (i'm assuming thats what size bulb those sonars use), but the light output is gonna suck compared to a retro.
here's the retrofit I bought (and a guide to put a TSX projector in a 2001-2005 civic TYC headlight). It'll give you some ideas.
here's the light output difference for my car (top is my H1 HID kit, bottom is the TSX retrofit)
light output with the H1 HID kit
Light output with the TSX retrofit
and just to clarify, a retro fit is taking the HIDs out of a high end car and making them fit in yours? Joined: Aug 2003
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From: Las Vegas, NV
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more or less, yep.
You can buy the projectors on eBay or theretrofitsource.com
Using a relay harness is also a good idea. If you don't get a digital ballast, hooking the HIDs up to your stock harness will usually blow the OEM 15A headlight fuse due to starting current.
You can buy the projectors on eBay or theretrofitsource.com
Using a relay harness is also a good idea. If you don't get a digital ballast, hooking the HIDs up to your stock harness will usually blow the OEM 15A headlight fuse due to starting current.
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 21,620
Likes: 1,252
From: Las Vegas, NV
Rep Power: 512 Re: Help with HIDs
Oh, and my setup right now is an aftermarket digital ballast, amphenol (aftermarket plug) to D2S (OEM-style) connector, and aftermarket D2S (OEM style) bulb, all connected to a relay harness.
I've also installed a diode between the high-beam ground and the low beam ground (my civic has a shared +12VDC wire and switches from high to low by switching the ground), so that the low beam stays on when the high beam is on. It's bad to keep flipping HIDs on and off.
I've also installed a diode between the high-beam ground and the low beam ground (my civic has a shared +12VDC wire and switches from high to low by switching the ground), so that the low beam stays on when the high beam is on. It's bad to keep flipping HIDs on and off.
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