HID to Halogen Conversion

[Ozzieli]

Hello guys and gals,

Wanted to see if maybe some one had some knowledge on the subject. I searched the inter web and didn’t find much. Looking to re-wire factory HID headlight plugs to factory halogen plugs. Is this possible? Will there be any lights on the dash as there would be some wires not used, possibly?

That is the existing HID plug.
This is what I am trying to re-wire to. Any help would be appreciated.


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[Tonyuk]

The voltage drawn by the HID is significantly more than a halogen bulb, it would throw a code on a VAG vehicle and likely blow the bulb unless you wired in some form of resistor to reduce the voltage.

Strange that you want to change to halogens, its always been the other way around as far as i've seen, any particular reason for the change?

 

[Ozzieli]

The voltage drawn by the HID is significantly more than a halogen bulb, it would throw a code on a VAG vehicle and likely blow the bulb unless you wired in some form of resistor to reduce the voltage.

Strange that you want to change to halogens, its always been the other way around as far as i've seen, any particular reason for the change?

The vehicle belongs to a friend of mine. He had a fender bender that smashed up the headlights pretty good. Replacement HID headlight assemblies run roughly $300+ depending on condition, a piece. At the lower end of the price spectrum most are missing mounting tabs or have cracks in the assembly. The more decent ones can go for $450+. From the dealership, fuget about it. Lol. So he was lookin at the option of switching to halogens as a pair of after markets could be had for about $200 for the pair. Certainly, the HID’s are superior but his pocket say they are not, lol. Just a cost issue but it’s something I have never attempted. I knew the HID’s use more juice. Just thought that maybe that’s what the ballast was for. So would you guys say it would just be a big PITA? Or is it feasible? Could I test for output on the wires and what should I look for, if so? Just trying to help my buddy. Lol.


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[yeldogt]

It depends on the car -- some cars have a sub-harness that interconnects from the main harness to the headlight harness. But, many have a specific harness that's different depending on the options. If it's the latter -- you will need to get a wire diagram and figure it out.

 

[Ozzieli]

It depends on the car -- some cars have a sub-harness that interconnects from the main harness to the headlight harness. But, many have a specific harness that's different depending on the options. If it's the latter -- you will need to get a wire diagram and figure it out.

I believe it is the latter. I followed the wire harness and there is no disconnect further up the line. Although, I may remove some of the tape to make sure there isn’t something there that I can not see. Although, I doubt they would tape over any sort of plug. I don’t know if it would help with thoughts but it’s a ‘10 Buick LaCrosse that is in question.


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[rayra]

You could go pull a pair from a salvage yard for probably <$100 and not pay anybody's markup, instead of what you are attempting.

and yes you'll need to take out or circumvent the higher power supply of the HIDs, if you press forward with halogens.

Your friend didn't have any insurance?

 

[Ozzieli]

You could go pull a pair from a salvage yard for probably <$100 and not pay anybody's markup, instead of what you are attempting.



and yes you'll need to take out or circumvent the higher power supply of the HIDs, if you press forward with halogens.



Your friend didn't have any insurance?

He only has the state minimum. Already looked around the junkyards in the area in a two hour radius and the only two compatible vehicles had halogens. Lol. So, to eBay I went. How would one go about circumventing the higher power output?


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[kaymccampbell]

You're going to need to locate the igniters and then trace the harness back to the ballasts. Then wire your halogens into the same feed that powers the ballasts, cause it's typically 12v. In a modern car it's very possible that the ballasts, etc are in the power distribution box or even integrated into the car's chassis computer.

 

[Ozzieli]

You're going to need to locate the igniters and then trace the harness back to the ballasts. Then wire your halogens into the same feed that powers the ballasts, cause it's typically 12v. In a modern car it's very possible that the ballasts, etc are in the power distribution box or even integrated into the car's chassis computer.

The ballast is actually after the wire harness. It’s mounted to the headlight assembly.
I have not checked for voltage as I am out of town at the moment. Suppose I check the wiring voltage and find that it’s only putting out the 12v due to the ballast being after the harness, then theoretically I could rewire with no issue, correct? Or is it possible that there would be a ballast before the wire harness even though there is one mounted directly to the headlight? Sorry, I do some light body work for another friend that buys and sells vehicles but have never ventured into the electrical side like this. So I’m green when it comes to this. I mainly swap bumpers, hoods, proper headlights, fenders, etc.


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[MattT]

How would one go about circumventing the higher power output?

You need to find the ballasts. Everything prior to them will be 12v, or possibly lower voltage controls. There's a good chance the ballasts are in the headlight assemblies because the wiring pigtails you posted don't look to have any wires with insulation capable of withstanding the starting kv of HIDs. Anyways once you've found, and unplugged, the ballasts it'll be safe to start testing the vehicle side wiring with a DMM.

 

[Ozzieli]

You need to find the ballasts. Everything prior to them will be 12v, or possibly lower voltage controls. There's a good chance the ballasts are in the headlight assemblies because the wiring pigtails you posted don't look to have any wires with insulation capable of withstanding the starting kv of HIDs. Anyways once you've found, and unplugged, the ballasts it'll be safe to start testing the vehicle side wiring with a DMM.

I posted one minute ahead of you. Lol. You are correct. The ballast is mounted to the headlight assembly. There is an example picture in the post prior to your reply. So, the harness should only have 12v power coming from it, correct? I am assuming the different wires are turn signal and high beam low beam, maybe?


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[MattT]

I posted one minute ahead of you. Lol. You are correct. The ballast is mounted to the headlight assembly. There is an example picture in the post prior to your reply. So, the harness should only have 12v power coming from it, correct? I am assuming the different wires are turn signal and high beam low beam, maybe?

I type real slow

The harness should have no more than 12v coming from it. You don't have to worry about blowing up your DMM or getting shocked once the ballast is disconnected.

The halogen pigtail you posted looks like high beam, low beam, park, turn and ground. Guessing the black is ground and the two thinner wires are park and turn.

Should be easy enough to find the park and turn and the ground. The high/low is where things get interesting. Aside from ballast power and high beam there are also a bunch of extras which could be control or feedback. Just going by the color and size the yellow is probably ballast or high. But you'll have to probe each one with a DMM to try and figure out what it is.

 

[Jarhead0408]

Funny. I just went through this on a 2008 Prius that had a broken headlight lens. The bare HID housings go for $250 whereas a halogen housing is around $60.

We bought a junkyard halogen housing, baked it at 250 degrees for twenty minutes, and pulled the lens off. We did the same with the old HID housing after removing the circuit boards and motors. Then we cleaned out the goop, laid a thin strip of butyl rubber windshield sealant in the grooves, put the new lens on, and baked it again to seal it up tight. Looks and functions just fine and saved a good bit to boot.

If your friends housing is good but he has a broken lens, he might be able to do the same.

 

[Ozzieli]

MattT - lol. Sounds good. I will give it a try and see what happens. Worst case scenario he will just have to pony up the cash for proper headlights and I can re-wire the original plug back in.

Jarhead0408 - I also pondered this idea. The electronics in the damaged assemblies work just fine. I thought about swapping the insides to halogen assemblies. Just wasn’t sure how to take the housing and lens apart. I will try to re-wire the plug first and see how that goes.

I appreciate the help with this fellas.


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[CJM8515]

For all the bs involved and possibility of it not working its easier and cheaper to install the right head lamps. your friends too cheap to buy them? tell him buy once, cry once.

 

[Ozzieli]

For all the bs involved and possibility of it not working its easier and cheaper to install the right head lamps. your friends too cheap to buy them? tell him buy once, cry once.

He is. Lol. If it were my car I would find the way to make the cash to buy the HID’s. Alas, he is a friend and if I can achieve the goal and help him save some Benjis, I figure why not. I’m looking at it more of a learning experience and a challenge (not that there is money to be made going from HID’s to halogens). Lol. I’m really not racking my head over it. I told him if I can I will, if I can’t oh well. Lol. Either way I’m good with it.


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[MattT]

MattT - lol. Sounds good. I will give it a try and see what happens. Worst case scenario he will just have to pony up the cash for proper headlights and I can re-wire the original plug back in.

If you've got room to do it just splice the new connector into the existing wiring. That way you can switch back to HID easily.

 

[Ozzieli]

If you've got room to do it just splice the new connector into the existing wiring. That way you can switch back to HID easily.

That’s a good idea as well.


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[paranoid56]

what kinda car is it?

 

[Ozzieli]

what kinda car is it?

It’s a ‘10 Buick LaCrosse.


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[Twisted Sid]

Www.car-part.com

 

[Ozzieli]

Www.car-part.com

Are they a reputable site?


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[Ozzieli]

I’m sure not too many are concerned with this topic but I did get it figured out. I just used a fuse tester to figure out what wire was the turn signal by turning the signal on. Lol. Same with the high beam. It was easy enough since the ballast was after the harness.

I ended up making a harness adapter by cutting the plug from the headlights (since they were no good) and attaching the halogen plugs bought from the junkyard. That way, if he ever decides to go back to HID’s (not be a cheap *** lol) he just disconnects the make shift adapter and its plug and play for the HID’s. I forgot to look and see if there was a service message on the headlights. If anyone is interested I can look next time I see him. It worked well though, the auto headlight function works as well.


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[like2wheel]

In for the dash results.

 

[Ozzieli]

In for the dash results.

Sorry for taking so long but I hadn’t seen the car for a bit. Lol. This is the only message that comes up when you start the car.



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[LS6 Tommy]

Adaptive Forward Lighting Lamp. The Halogens don't have that, it was only on the HID setup.

Tommy

 

[Ozzieli]

Adaptive Forward Lighting Lamp. The Halogens don't have that, it was only on the HID setup.

Tommy

Yup yup. Sooooo, if someone can live with seeing the message at start up, going to halogens is a cheaper but effective way to go.


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[marz242]

Hello is it possible if you remember the wires (colors) you connected to both sides

 

[nadogail]

When I broke a HID Headlight on my Volvo I was able to buy a reasonably priced replacement from Rock Auto. The idea of changing the HID lights to Halogen sounds like maybe the owner of the car has more car than they can afford.