[greenwayer]

Recently installed a set of hid bulbs and ballasts by vvme but every now and then it gives me a battery light on the dash when the car is running. They are hooked up with a relay harness directly to the battery and are 35w hids. Why is this happening?

 

[offroader]

If your battery is over 3 years old, replace it.

 

[iboughtajeep]

If your battery is over 3 years old, replace it.

Thats silly. Ive got a van with 240,000 klm on it, 9 yrs old had it since new, and still on the original battery. The light is simply telling you that the battery charge voltage is low, and 85% of the time this is the voltage regulator or alternator requiring to be looked at, not the battery.

 

[dr.lee.baugh]

I agree with both comments above...sort of.

There are quite a few people that run through batteries in the 3-5 year range on the wks, and it would not be that silly of a suggestion to get the battery checked. Not all vehicles are equal in the demand they place on the battery and the types they use. Just because a battery will last 200k in one vehicle does not mean a different battery in a different vehicle will last 200k as well.

I do think that the charging system should also be checked (and that is the more likely reason for the battery indicator light to come on).

 

[lstowell]

Recently installed a set of hid bulbs and ballasts by vvme but every now and then it gives me a battery light on the dash when the car is running. They are hooked up with a relay harness directly to the battery and are 35w hids. Why is this happening?

Does it do this all the time, or only when you turn the lights on?
If this only began on the install, consider the simple answer--something is wrong on the last thing touched. It could be the relay wiring.

What is the battery voltage with no load?

With lights on?

With lights and engine on and charging?

Could be your battery is old... and skin charging. Some makes do this worse than others.

 

[greenwayer]

Does it do this all the time, or only when you turn the lights on? If this only began on the install, consider the simple answer--something is wrong on the last thing touched. It could be the relay wiring. What is the battery voltage with no load? With lights on? With lights and engine on and charging? Could be your battery is old... and skin charging. Some makes do this worse than others.

Yup only happens when lights are on. Started only after the hid install which I did 2 weeks ago. My battery looks pretty new but I don't know when the previous owner replaced it. The relay wiring looks good though. Can ballasts be bad?