Are HIDs a problem with Auto Headlights?
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I think they are a problem w/auto headlights but the Malibu is a whole nother story, something about how it wired.
I don't have actual experience with HIDs but there are a lot of posts on here about them from folks who do.
The '08+ models (Gen7) use the low beams as DRLs. When the car is in Park and the key is turned on, the lows are not on. They then turn on after starting and taking it out of Park. When the headlights are on, the lows stay on continually, and are on while the high beams are in use.
From what I read, HIDs don't like to be cycled on and off frequently or quickly. Take that into account if you buy them. You may need a timed delay before they turn on to help prevent them from expiring prematurely.
The '08+ models (Gen7) use the low beams as DRLs. When the car is in Park and the key is turned on, the lows are not on. They then turn on after starting and taking it out of Park. When the headlights are on, the lows stay on continually, and are on while the high beams are in use.
From what I read, HIDs don't like to be cycled on and off frequently or quickly. Take that into account if you buy them. You may need a timed delay before they turn on to help prevent them from expiring prematurely.
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Easiest way is to just disable the DRLs and the HIDs (for lows) will no longer have any sort of issue. It's what I did with my G6
I didn't want to screw with anything like that. I hate the look of Halogen lights, but I don't want to disable the drls.
I thought, when I was looking at the car, that you could switch off the auto headlights to OFF or PARKING LIGHTS or HEADLIGHTS or AUTO. Am I mistaken?
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It is just a matter of pulling a fuse. You can turn the auto lamps off, but they default back every time you turn the car off.
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I've looked into this since i've also heard that, Using HID's as your DRL's can severley shorten the life of the HID. My issue is that i like the look of having a light on when driving, My idea to fix the problem was to install 5k led switchbacks into the blinkers, and disabling the DRL's. During the day i would have a light that mocks 5k HID's, which are what my low and high beams are. and at night the low beams would still come on automatically.
There are several ways to do it. On my '09 I tried to use amber 18-LED bulbs to replace my parking/turn signal bulbs and then use them as DRLs instead of the low beams. The individual LEDs started to burn out, flickering as they went. Since they also weren't as bright as my incandescent bulbs I ended putting them back in and just used them as my DRLs.
I applied that learned lesson to my '11 and modified my car to have the turn signal filaments illuminate as DRLs instead of the low beams. That gives me a bright amber light in the daytime instead of a white light, which at least one Federal study determined was more obvious. But so long as there's a light that's safer than driving dark.
Did you install your 5K switchbacks in place of the parking/turn signal bulbs, or did you add them to the housing by modifiying it? It'd be neat to see some pics, too, please!
I applied that learned lesson to my '11 and modified my car to have the turn signal filaments illuminate as DRLs instead of the low beams. That gives me a bright amber light in the daytime instead of a white light, which at least one Federal study determined was more obvious. But so long as there's a light that's safer than driving dark.
Did you install your 5K switchbacks in place of the parking/turn signal bulbs, or did you add them to the housing by modifiying it? It'd be neat to see some pics, too, please!
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