HID Lighting Issues

[trevcda]

I just picked up a 99 Ducks Unlimited Tahoe and put a stereo and some HID headlights from DDM Tuning that I had on a GMC Safari. The stereo went fine as did the HID lights, but when I turn on the lights the stereo, a Kenwood KCD-X995, goes into protect. The only way get it out of the protect mode is to reset it by button or pulling the harness, which defaults all the factory settings. Once the headlights are on and I reset the stereo everything works fine unless I use the high beams or stop some place and have to start the process over again. It did appear to trip the headlight circuit breaker once. I'm thinking that I need to get a relay system and run larger power wires to the ballasts, but I wanted to see if anyone else has had any experience with this, particularly as applies to the stereo.

 

[SunlitComet]

you could try a replacement headlight switch or use a relay harness or put a power capacitor on the power feed of the radio like you would do an amp. any of those ways may remove the power spiking that may be triggering the protect mode.

 

[trevcda]

Thanks for the quick answer. I should also add that my daytime running lights are not working, although the indicator works as it should. Would this affect current draw? Based on what the previous owner said I'm thinking I may need to replace the DLR control board. Or possibly another device somebody mentioned with a heat sink under the dash. Anyway, I just bought it last Thursday, so I'm still learning my way around the thing.

 

[SunlitComet]

so the indicator goes on and off as you turn the headlights on? do you hear a clicking sound under the dash as well.

 

[trevcda]

Yes a relay clicks in sync with the DRL indicator when I turn on and off the headlights.

Interestingly enough, when I went outside to check the above with out actually starting the vehicle, it did not send the radio into protect. But it did this afternoon when I was leaving work. I'm convinced it waits until I've set up all the parameters on the radio before it locks up and had to be reset... How does it know?!! Anyway I'll do whatever I need to do to fix the DRL before I move on to the radio issues. Process of elimination and all.

 

[SunlitComet]

In that case test the drl relay with a multimeter, as well as the big diode under the dash and check the fuse feed for the DRL/FOG lights.

 

[trevcda]

I bought relay harnesses to hopefully get the start up spike out of the headlight circuit. I'll report back when I get those installed. I was curious though; the previous owner mentioned that one time the headlights just quit working for awhile and then came back on and never did it again. This was with the standard 9005 and 9006 factory bulbs. This sounds like the circuit breaker in the headlight switch tripping and auto-resetting. Are these known to go out of spec or get weak or does mine possibly just have a easily tripped circuit breaker?

 

[trevcda]

Update: Added the relay harnesses to both high and low beam HIDs. They appear to have taken the surge out of the headlight switch as it hasn't tripped all afternoon, but it's too soon to know for sure if has solved that piece of the puzzle. What it hasn't done, however, is kept the stereo from going into protect when I turn on or when I switch to high beams, which was the whole point of this exercise. Mostly anyway. I guess the next step is to replace the light switch assembly, since I kind of suspected it as having an issue as well. Frustrating.

 

[trevcda]

Update: So twice now, over the course of dozens of ignition cycles, the daytime running lights have decided to work out of nowhere. First time, I just started it up and had been driving a few moments and realized that they were on when I pulled up behind someone. A week or so later (last night) I was waiting with engine running to stay warm for about twenty minutes when out of the blue, the DRLs pop on. Sending the radio in to protect of course!

 

[trevcda]

And now they're working all the time. I've been trying figure out why. It's been really cold around here lately. It's been a couple of months without the load of the headlights being on the electrical system as I installed a relay system on both high and low beams. I suppose I shouldn't look a gift horse in the mouth (what a weird turn of phrase!), but electronics fail for a reason and very rarely fix themselves. I have a feeling this may be a short lived "win". I still need to address that radio issue though...

 

[LaYukon]

Did you ever get this issue fixed? I just picked up a Kenwood radio that is doing the same thing, as soon as I turn on my HIDs the radio will go into protect mode. I do not have a relay harness on the lights but that was my next step. According to Kenwood, the radio goes into protect mode when there is a blown speaker or a short in the speaker wires. Ive checked each speaker and all is working fine. Anyway, I was just wondering if you ever found a solution to this problem. Thanks.

 

[trevcda]

Unfortunately, no. I added the relay harness and it did not fix the problem. Actually the problem just got worse on the road trip I just got back from. As I was arriving at my destination, it went into protect mode for no apparent reason and despite pushing the reset button many times it wouldn't snap out of it. So I pulled it out and cut the rear speaker runs thinking maybe a blown 4x10 and the rear door amp might be too much for it. Still no love. Then I cut the front speakers leaving nothing but the two power wires and the ground and it still went into protect. Well I'm wasn't going to drive six hours home with nothing to listen to but the voices in my head! I ended up stopping at a pawn shop and picked up a cheap Kenwood with the same harness that I could use my satellite with to get home. It doesn't have the blue tooth and hand free function, which I use a lot, so I'll be repairing or replacing my deck.

Purely speculating, I think that the protect circuitry may be deficient in some units causing them to become increasing sensitive to the point that it will not let the unit function. I was able to nurse it along for a couple of years by turning on the lights before the radio came on, but eventually it just stopped working. I can't say it's known problem for Kenwood, but it's not the first time I've seen or heard of this happening.

Added: I forgot to mention that the replacement deck had absolutely no problems with the lighting or the speakers. No protect mode at all. So I'm pretty sure the problem is the deck, not the lights. A little googling brings up an issue with a board level component if it it still goes into protect with no speakers hooked up to it.

 

[trevcda]

And to add further to this- I did get a replacement Blue Tooth deck for it, the same model actually and guess what? It will go into protect just like the other one, although not as easily... Yet. I suspect that, like the old one, I'll get a few years out of it before its symptoms finally get worse and eventually it stops working too. If it weren't for the lifetime satellite subscription, I'd just replace it. I suppose next time I'll probably just do it.

 

[CSX]

Was there an aftermarket stereo installed in the truck when you took ownership of it? I'm having a hard time believing that two different decks are at fault here...I'm leaning more towards shoddy wiring.

Most decks will have an "illumination" wire that will dim the deck backlight when the lights are turned on. Granted, it will do this even when the parking lights are on, not just the headlights. Maybe a longshot, but maybe the previous installed spliced into one of the headlight wires (which may carry more current, depending on the design of the headlight switch) as opposed to any of the other wires that will generate +12V when the parking lights are switched on.

Two questions to narrow this down:

1) Does the deck go into protect mode when just the parking lights are on?
2) Does the backlighting on the deck dim when just the parking lights are on?

The only other idea I may have is a weak charging system in general, but even then, if your battery or alternator were on the verge of death, the deck would simply shut off due to lack of current, not go into protect mode.

 

[trevcda]

It had a factory deck when I got it. I only use the eight speakers wires, three power wires and one amp wire. Dimming feature and other wires are capped off and are not used. I use a factory to Kenwood wiring harness and have verified the wiring. I believe it's when the headlights turn on, not the parking lights. The charging system checked out fine and were that the issue I would expect a good bass hit to draw enough amperage to produce the same symptom easily.

The first deck was factory with no issues, the next deck was a Kenwood KDC-X590 with no problems, the next ibe was a Kenwood KDC-X994-the first one to exhibit the issue and become unusable, a random Kenwood purchased in route to replace the broken one (still works, just no BT) and finally another Kenwood KDC-X994 with will occasionally go into protect mode when the headlights are turned on after it has completed it's own start up cycle. The last one also likes to making thumping noises (most pronounced through the sub) having nothing to do with the audio being played, but sounding more like it's picking up something from the Tahoe's electronics or maybe a dry solder joint arcing.

Just to clarify my qualifications; I have a strong electronics background still working in electronics as an electronic security consultant for healthcare, corrections, government and industrial installations and at one point owned at custom home, commercial and mobile audio installation shop for fifteen years.