OK, I've read around and apparently it can reduce the life of the HID to not run at full power. No one states how much or how dramatic this is, but it is a concern nonetheless. Also, you tend to get HID flickers when not at full power.

I have an SS, so option 1: remove #31 fuse. Option 2: Apparently, on other forums (with other cars) they enable DRLs at FULL power for HIDs replacing the resistor with a jumper. I am no expert at this stuff and couldn't tell you how to do it, but its another path. Though most in this thread do not want DRLs and do not have HIDs...

But, FYI...

 

Info only:
I have an 07 and I put in a 06 lighting wire harness in because I added fog lights and the whole harness was cheap. To my surprise it knocked out my DRL? All other functions work OK.
I first thought the turnsignal light would be the new DRL because it was that way on the 06.
It really dosnt bother me though. Id rather have working fog lights.

I need to compare the 06 and 07 DRL wire diagram to see where the change is. I only have the 06 print now.

Cheers !
Craig~

 

I have an '06, so I would love to know how you managed to know them out.

 

He didn't manage to knock them out. The wiring harness he got does not have the option of DRL. It is an option for all US vehicles. It is not an option for Canadian vehicles, they all have it and in Canada you can be stopped for having it not functioning if you live there.

 

OK so can someone (i.e. ME) run HID's without worrying about burning out the HID bulbs OR the wiring? I'm thinking of getting HID's for both the headlights and the fogs (6K for the headlights, 4300K fogs)??

Later
Allex

 

Running HIDs on the stock wiring is not a problem. They use less power than the halogens. You must disable the DRLs to run HID as the lower voltage will burn up the ballasts, as they try to repeatedly and fail to fire off the arc for the bulbs.

 

Good stuff to hear then. So I just have to pull the DRL fuse once the HID's are installed and we're good to go then!


Later
Allex

 

One thing I just thought of (sorry if I'm threadjacking!): which wattage is best on HID's, 35W or 55W? What's the difference if there is any?????

 

HID headlamps produce three times or more the light output than standard halogen headlamps (e.g. 3000 lumens [35w] and 5000 lumens [55w] versus 1000 lumens per halogen lamp), they also require less overall energy. There are four 10 amp fuses in the 06 HHR drawing (assuming the 09 is the same) one each for the left and right headlamp, low beam and high beam, hence with a typical HID startup draw of about 6 amps this would be within the limits of safe operation using a 10 amp fuse, the run current of an HID is about half the startup current. I believe the 35 watt HID was the industry standard, not sure if the higher wattages have become more popular.

 

Great info unique w! I appreciate the follow up.