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SHIMMER
Shimmer - fluctuation in light brightness but light stays on and does not create strobe effect. Resembles a candle light effect.
Some of these videos have been mislabeled. Most people do not realize there is a difference between flicker/shimmer. All these videos below show Shimmering. Below we will discuss what causes this to find out a solution to our problem. Why does it shimmer?
The shimmering effect is more prevalent with cheaper poor quality kits. Important electronics of a ballast are either left out or the incorrect cheaper component is used and the ballast is not stable. Relay harnesses and capacitors are just band-aides and you will eventually have another problem until the source is changed.
What is the fix?
Purchase a kit that has DSP Chip like ACIS or other. They are a little more expensive kits but in the end are much better for you since you will not have any problems with them not working when you need them to.
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What is the fix?
DRL flickering fix:
Three easy options
0. Disable the DRL. or...
1. A relay harness with a capacitor.
Pros: Cheap fix
Cons: Might not last long as a ballast replacement also if you hoop up the capacitor in reverse polarity you will pop (damage) the capacitor and render it useless.
2. A DSP Canbus ballast.
Pros: Works longer and better.
Cons: More expensive then a relay harness
If your vehicle is a ground pulsing DRL system then option 1 may not work. One way to find out if your vehicle is a ground pulsing DRL system is to ground your negative wire from your HID directly to the chassis. If your HID lights still flicker then one of the options above is still needed, Otherwise this easy fix will solve your flickering issue.
Non-DRL flickering fix:
1. Let's say the driver side lamp is flickering. Take the Driver side bulb out and put it into the passenger side. Take the passenger side bulb and put it into the driver side. We have just swapped the bulbs from one side to the other. We have not yet moved the ballasts. So if we turn on the lights with the car running we check the bulbs. If the flicker is now on the passenger side and no longer on the driver side then we know it was the bulb that was the problem.
So lets double check that and confirm it really is the bulb.
2. Now turn off the engine, turn off the lights, take the driver side ballast and move it to the passenger side ballasts. Take the passenger side ballast and move it to the driver side. Do not move the bulbs. Now turn the car on and turn on the lights and see if the flicking is still coming from the passenger side (that we moved in step one). If the flickering is still from the passenger side then we can conclude that it is the bulb.
NOTE: For fog lights: Most fog lights are on a one wire setup. So if one doesn't work, unplug the ballast and bulb from the side that IS working and turn on the fogs. If the side that was not working before is now working when the other side is unplugged then a relay harness is what you will need.
Three easy options
0. Disable the DRL. or...
1. A relay harness with a capacitor.
Pros: Cheap fix
Cons: Might not last long as a ballast replacement also if you hoop up the capacitor in reverse polarity you will pop (damage) the capacitor and render it useless.
2. A DSP Canbus ballast.
Pros: Works longer and better.
Cons: More expensive then a relay harness
If your vehicle is a ground pulsing DRL system then option 1 may not work. One way to find out if your vehicle is a ground pulsing DRL system is to ground your negative wire from your HID directly to the chassis. If your HID lights still flicker then one of the options above is still needed, Otherwise this easy fix will solve your flickering issue.
Non-DRL flickering fix:
1. Let's say the driver side lamp is flickering. Take the Driver side bulb out and put it into the passenger side. Take the passenger side bulb and put it into the driver side. We have just swapped the bulbs from one side to the other. We have not yet moved the ballasts. So if we turn on the lights with the car running we check the bulbs. If the flicker is now on the passenger side and no longer on the driver side then we know it was the bulb that was the problem.
So lets double check that and confirm it really is the bulb.
2. Now turn off the engine, turn off the lights, take the driver side ballast and move it to the passenger side ballasts. Take the passenger side ballast and move it to the driver side. Do not move the bulbs. Now turn the car on and turn on the lights and see if the flicking is still coming from the passenger side (that we moved in step one). If the flickering is still from the passenger side then we can conclude that it is the bulb.
NOTE: For fog lights: Most fog lights are on a one wire setup. So if one doesn't work, unplug the ballast and bulb from the side that IS working and turn on the fogs. If the side that was not working before is now working when the other side is unplugged then a relay harness is what you will need.