MY06 (aftermarket) HID headlight issue

[SirPete]

Hey all,

My driver's side headlight (HID kit - installed by previous owner) sometimes takes a couple of tries to turn on. Some days I'll turn them on and they'll both come on no problem, other days I have to flick the lights off and on again a few times before the driver's side headlight comes on. I've been told this is just the way it is for cheap kits. Is that true or should I expect it to turn on first time, every time? Does my issue sound like it is just because I've got a cheap kit or could it be something else?

Thanks!

[WIDELOAD]

It could be a dodgy ballast or bulb thanks to the cheap kit, or just old components starting to wear out.
Alternatively it could be that the factory wiring to that side it not providing enough power to the ballast to get the bulb to ignite.

I've got the same problem with my Plug n play HID kit that i know is caused by a wiring problem.

[SirPete]

Ok, thanks for that. I'm guessing it would be trial and error to narrow down the issue then? Although, if it's wiring, I would think there would be a way to test that?

[WIDELOAD]

You could probe the wires with a multimeter and see what the output voltage to the stock headlight plugs are compared to what the minimum operating voltage of the HID ballast is.
Other thing to do is swap ballasts side to side and see if the problem follows to the otherside. Same with the bulbs.