XSeries-forum

Just fitted a new 900 Crank Amp Battery...
The previous battery was only holding 13 volts with engine running, and even tho was an 800 Crank Amp battery, it was only throwing out 600 on the tester device.

Additionally, with the old battery, when the lighting WAS on Dip Beam + Front Fogs selected....
When - Main Beam was selected, the whole front light set momentarily shut down, then Main Beam comes on...
AND the mechanics of the motorised Headlamp Units lower the beams to a crazy low angle, which then picks up to the correct height... and extinguishes the Front Fogs.... which I have to fumble around to switch on again....
As and when this lighting glitch happens (not always) the dash then warns of "Self Level Suspension Fail"

The suspension is working fine, and if I drive enough miles without selecting main beam (with or without the fog-lights on), the Suspension Warning will disappear of its own accord & all is fine...

So........
Understand LOW VOLTAGE battery issues play havoc with the warnings & computers etc.. I assumed the replacement to a NEW fantastico battery would cure the lighting and Suspension warning issues..

NO - the warnings still pop up when the front light set is all on.

If I switch between Main & Dip beams WITHOUT the front fogs switched on, none of the warnings of lighting momentary shut-downs occur...

I am running 55 Watt HID's on ALL of the front lights, including the fogs & have done for months... but the problems are only a recent issue,
and a NEW monster battery has not made any difference... other than the engine spin up on starting is amazingly fast now.

I have fitted a replacement relay for the air suspension pump, but the primary issue still seems to be with the front lighting drawing lots of power &/or causing a momentary voltage drop around the vehicle...

***Could it be that the HID's are pulling more than the loom can supply ???
***Any one had this issue before ???
***Maybe I should power the HID's from the Jump start Power posts via relays to take power load off the loom its-self ??

Any suggestions please ?

Regards
Grant B

try reverting back to normal bulbs-this should prove if the hid,s are causing your issue,s!

It could also be an issue with the LCM (Lighting Control Module) detecting a lamp fault and getting in a tizzy.  The module is all part of the light switch assembly.  A lot of the lighting control is computerised rather than directly switched so moving to the battery terminal jump points may not help.

What is the voltage now with the engine running?  The difference between the 55W and 35W isn't huge, less than 4Am (less than 2A per side) but low voltages could be an issue which the LCM isn't happy with.

All the wiring OK - no bad earths?  It might also be an issue with the of the ballasts goung faulty so try disconnecting one at a time to see if that clears it.  As suggested an overdraw on current might upset the system but the fog lights were 55W anyway, so if the ballasts only draw 55W each you are fine. 

Assuming you have four, if one is going bad then the ignition surge used to generate the arc in the HID may be what is causing the problem and the LCM turn the circuit off again.  HIDS use a very high voltage (anything up to 25kV) to generate the arc which then drops to under 100V once stable.  Worth checking all of them as some are not built very well.

Richard

Good information
Will look into this in the morning..

I was wondering about the poor earth issue earlier.

Fiddling with wires is on the agenda tomorrow then lol.

Regards

GB