Recoding to HID (Using Vag-Com)

[Silverstreak98]

Ever since I installed my OEM HID's a few years ago I get a bulb out warning whenever I turn on the headlights.

This isn't a huge issue but it is a little bit annoying to have the car beep at you whenever you turn them on.

Anyways I got a Vag-Com for Christmas (Love it..btw!), and I was wondering if there is a way to recode the system to HID so that I don't get this error message anymore?

I've been searching around the last couple days and haven't found much, so any insight would be appreciated!

[Siena]

I doubt the beeping is a VAG-COM recode issue.

Sounds more like a resistance issue.
Is the HID set-up OEM?

[zrowcool]

yeah cant be done through vag-com. you have to install a resistor to get rid of the bulb out warning. do a search and you'll find the size you need

[Silverstreak98]

Yep, I've tried the resistor thing, but I am running a wiring harness so the power to ignite the bulbs comes straight from the battery. This is probably why that doesn't work.

Yea its OEM Valeo ballasts, ignitors, and Osram D2S bulbs in HID Valeo Ecodes.

Thanks for the info guys! I guess I'll just live with it and continue to fiddle with it to see if I can get something to work.

[pac1085]

there's more to OEM hids from what I understand - they have their own control module which connects into rest of the car's electrical system then you can log into that module in vag-com (xenon range) and it also has the leveling motors. those components probably keep the lights happy.

[Poopie]

i have oem HIDs in my 01 avant. It came factory with halogens. It was plug and play and i don't have a bulb out light, unless i have a bulb out. lol

[Silverstreak98]

there's more to OEM hids from what I understand - they have their own control module which connects into rest of the car's electrical system then you can log into that module in vag-com (xenon range) and it also has the leveling motors. those components probably keep the lights happy.

Right, ya thats true. I dont have any of that, I just meant that its OEM components.

[Silverstreak98]

I'm starting to think that it is the wiring harness that is causing this, but when I didnt have it I would blow headlight fuses.

[Siena]

^^^ The problem lies in your method of wiring.

It doesn't need to be wired directly from the battery - that means your switch is just triggering relays to switch on the lights.

So, your bulb-warning module can't "see" the bulbs, they're reading the relays.

[onemoremile]

^^^ winner winner chicken dinner!!

The system can't tell they are on so it triggers the warning light.

[onemoremile]

there's more to OEM hids from what I understand - they have their own control module which connects into rest of the car's electrical system then you can log into that module in vag-com (xenon range) and it also has the leveling motors. those components probably keep the lights happy.

The stock HID lights have a leveling system but it doesn't have anything to do with the warning light. The leveling system has little arms on the control arms that sense suspension travel. They feed this to a module that figure out the angle of the car and signals the motors to level the headlights. A leveling system of some sort is DOT regulated on stock HID systems. The STi and Evo (I think) have knobs for manual level control. The A4 has a similar system in other countries. I retrofitted that knob and wired it to S4 leveling motors and now have manual control.

[Silverstreak98]

^^^ The problem lies in your method of wiring.

It doesn't need to be wired directly from the battery - that means you're switch is just triggering relays to switch on the lights.

So, your bulb-warning module can't "see" the bulbs, they're reading the relays.

Ahhh, genius! That makes a lot of sense, thanks Siena.