My Civics HID DIY Installation

[datbacker59]

just awesome



2rotormotor how did you install in 15 minutes? i havnt done it yet but i sure would ilke to know to save time

[TurboGC8]

car on jacks, remove wheels and wheel liners very quickly, cause thats the longest part.
plan where to run the wiring looms before hand, and get them in and zip tied quickly.

and liner retainers are a bitch, make sure you get a good flathead deep in them or they will tear and shred, i killed 2.

[GETxERxDONE]

Originally Posted by TurboGC8

and here is a video of my the headlights i took.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7qp-A1Hpyp4

mmm nice..what song was playing? sounded good

[TurboGC8]

Originally Posted by GETxERxDONE

mmm nice..what song was playing? sounded good

im not sure of the song but the group and album was
bloodlined calligraphy - they want you silent



also check out
all that remains
underoath
atreyu
hand to hand
the burning season
myspace.com/bravethefire
myspace.com/adyingregime
myspace.com/fireatwillfl
myspace.com/beneaththesewords
myspace.com/weareactionrock
myspace.com/shadowagency
myspace.com/ten13concept

sorry for

[joenguyen]

sweeeet. I hope i'll do it right

[dario]

that write up was AWESOME!!! i actually feel comfortable enough to do this myself! thanks! +1

[Facedagod]

I threw my HID's on my ishh, today. Process went smooth the most annoying thing is getting the light in on the right side, taking off the fasteners and getting the HID socket to go into the Lamp socket. Took me about 3 hours cuz i'm slow like that. Thanks for the DIY

[HondaFREAK]

Originally Posted by TurboGC8

simple wiring diagram for using the relay and fuse kit.
if you want to use this in the original post feel free so people dont have to search all the way to the 14th page to see this diagram.



and here is a video of my the headlights i took.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7qp-A1Hpyp4

Just to be safe, I'd put 10amp fuses in between the relay and the ballast connectors...just to be safe.

[Orient Express]

With the redundant and unnecessary relay harness again.

So for the umteenth time again:

There is no need for a relay harness on an 8th Generation Honda Civic. It is completely redundant to the built-in wiring down to the gauge of the wire. Save yourself the hassle, and just PnP!

The current generation Chinese Pnp kits available today draw less than 8 amps inrush at start-up and have a steady state draw of 3 amps or less. All of the chatter of 30 amps or more of current inrush are for the ancient HID ballasts that are out there, not the modern ones.

The paranoia of frying the electrical harness on your car from an HID kit is a total urban legend and has no basis in fact!

[datbacker59]

Originally Posted by Orient Express

With the redundant and unnecessary relay harness again.

So for the umteenth time again:

There is no need for a relay harness on an 8th Generation Honda Civic. It is completely redundant to the built-in wiring down to the gauge of the wire. Save yourself the hassle, and just PnP!

The current generation Chinese Pnp kits available today draw less than 8 amps inrush at start-up and have a steady state draw of 3 amps or less. All of the chatter of 30 amps or more of current inrush are for the ancient HID ballasts that are out there, not the modern ones.

The paranoia of frying the electrical harness on your car from an HID kit is a total urban legend and has no basis in fact!

so i can just buy a HID kit... pop out the old one and put in the new one? does this mean i dont have to do stuff with the ignitor and ballast or whatever? im a n00b i know

[striker_1818]

Originally Posted by datbacker59

so i can just buy a HID kit... pop out the old one and put in the new one? does this mean i dont have to do stuff with the ignitor and ballast or whatever? im a n00b i know

follow that advice and PM me or call me in 3 yrs

[Orient Express]

Originally Posted by datbacker59

so i can just buy a HID kit... pop out the old one and put in the new one? does this mean i dont have to do stuff with the ignitor and ballast or whatever? im a n00b i know

Yes, that is sorta correct. All you have to do is to unplug and remove your current halogen bulbs, plug that wire into the new HID ballast, and lastly install the new HID bulb in the headlight reflector, and connect it to the ballast.

The biggest issue is securely mounting the ballast in your car, and getting the new HID bulb to seat properly. The tolerances of the new bulb are very tight. Scroll down to the first entry of this thread to re-read my install story.

Also keep Striker's email address handy so in 3 years you can write him to tell him how much you still like your HID bulbs!

[striker_1818]

Originally Posted by Orient Express

Also keep Striker's email address handy so in 3 years you can write him to tell him how much you still like your HID bulbs!

yup yup

[FBPcsi2k7]

Alright, well, I had my friend (BMW mechanic, real pro) install my two 4300K HID PnP kits: 9006 for low beams and H11 for fog lights.

Thoughts on install:

1.) Easier to get at the bulbs and find mounting points by removing front bumper.

2.) Easier to get at the bulbs by removing headlight assembly.

3.) Frickin' PnP not so PnP as the stock plug does not make adequate contact w/ ballast leads. Remedy: ripped out the ballast leads from the casing and inserted metal clips directly into stock plugs, applied gasket sealer to water-seal & electrical tape to make it look pretty.

4.) Install of foglight kit a lot easier than low beam kit.

5.) Total install time: 3 hours!!! We're not exactly novices, so eegads.

Thoughts on product:

1.) Looks great!!

2.) Only had an issue on first powering on: one foglight wouldn't turn on... no probs since.

3.) Light pattern throws out a lot of light everywhere.

4.) Left headlight seems brighter than right headlight (aiming issue perhaps).

5.) Color-match fogs and low beams FTW!

Summary:

1.) I'd do it again for such a cheap DIY.

2.) Happy with the overall execution.

3.) Ripping apart the front end is like a fun puzzle; I'd recommend it for everyone. Kinda like taking the scenic route; you get to experience things about your car by taking the extra steps. By disassembling the front bumper and headlights, it made the caution and care a little less troublesome. If I went w/ the wheel well method, I woulda gotten all sorts of irritated and annoyed w/ how cumbersome trying to get at the components woulda been.

4.) I'll take all vital pictures in a week or so.

[Yodums]

You removed the entire headlight assembly to get to the bulbs? I think that's a bit extreme. It wasn't a problem for me to go through the wheel well at all. You just got to make sure you don't touch the bulbs. You can also find a place right there to mount the ballasts.

[Orient Express]

+2 that, taking the headlights out to replace the bulb is overkill. Nothing wrong with going that way, but too much effort when the bulbs are easily accessible from the wheel well. With that said, if fog lights are part of the job, then pulling the bumper off is the best way to go, but not just for an HID low-beam upgrade.

As I have said several times, the only issue with installing the HID bulbs is that they are a tight fit. However lubricating the bulb mount and using a jewelers flat bladed screwdriver to push the bulb mount locked is the key.

I am interested in what brand of light you got that required you to modify connectors to work correctly. I would steer away recommending any kit like that.

[HondaFREAK]

the only thing the relay harness did for me was get rid of that annoying flicker I had a problem with

[asndragonboii]

What is that gasket sealer that you said you used to water proof it?

[HondaFREAK]

Goop seems to work well...any silicon sealant would work...Goop works the best though, from a friend's experience.

[LACIVICSIGUY]

I hid my ballast and wiring behind the wheel well cover, there was a perfect spot to place it. Probably a stupid question, but i will ask anyway. I am planning to install the OEM fog lights, actually i am planning to have it done by the dealer. I know they will remove the front bumper to install the fogs, what is the likely hood that they will notice my HID's and the balast hidden behind the wheel well? I don't want to have them confront me about the aftermarket lights and risk my warranty getting void. I guess I should have waited to have the fog's installed first, or I can remove the HID's and reinstall after. thanks