View Full Version : Stangmods HID kit


plutnicki
05-09-2008, 07:20 PM
I just got my stangmods HID kits (6k headlights and 3k fogs) and I don't think I've ever been quite so
disappointed. The instructions are terrible. Text only (no photos, no wiring diagram, nothing), incomplete
(the kits come with brackets and screws that are never even referred to). The one for the fogs appears
to omit an entire connector that come off the bulbs and would appear to go to the ballasts.

I gotta say, I don't think I want to install them now. I sent them an e-mail asking a few questions, but
it says on their website that they won't accept returns on HID kits (although, on the HID webpage itself
they claim they will take returns if you are unsatisfied with light output). I've heard they have good
CS, I guess I'll find out...

I know there are a bunch of folks on here with them, any pictures, photos, etc of ballast locations
wire routes, etc?

I guess if they won't take them back, I may end up with some never installed HID kits to sell and try
get some money back out of...

So_Cali
05-09-2008, 07:24 PM
Wow and I was just thinking about getting a kit from them..... Good luck with that man, let us know how it goes...

rmssch89
05-09-2008, 07:39 PM
Go ahead an install the kit, you should not be disappointed. The brackets and screws are there for you if you want to mount your ballasts in a place that would call for them. I just used double sided tape and placed the ballasts near the strut towers. One next to the fuse box and, if you have a CAI, behind the heat shield. With the stock box the ballast can be mounted right onto the box itself. Installation is actually very simple. For the headlights: Just run the wiring harness across the engine bay any way you see fit and then just make all the electrical connections. Each plug only has one plug it can connect to so it is fairly straight forward. I returned mine, but that is only because my vehicle does not want to work with the kits for some reason. My car just refused to ignite the drivers side bulb on occasion. They even sent me a replacement kit for free to try and get it working. I never tried the foglight kit so I can't help you there. Their customer service is great judging by what I experienced so you shouldn't worry if their are any issues. And from what I could see though when I drove the car at night the kit is definitely worth it.

schapman
05-09-2008, 07:44 PM
Its only 3 wires that need to be connected. low, high and ground. What color wires oar on the harness? Im guessing there a black, red, etc.

plutnicki
05-09-2008, 07:48 PM
The foglight setup doesn't come with a harness. It comes with two metal ballasts. The Ballasts have a red/black wire set coming out,
and a receptacle for a plug. The bulb has 2 wires coming out, that enter a rubber grommett (not mentioned in the instruction).
Coming back out of the grommet are a red/black with blade connectors. Coming out the other side are a red/black with plastic
connectors and a plug. The instructions mention the red/black wires, but nothing about the plugs.

I really wish there was at least a wiring diagram of the whole thing, I guess I'll have to make one.

Personally, I think the instructions are borderline pathetic without a diagram or photos, but I guess I'll give it a shot.

rmssch89
05-09-2008, 07:53 PM
At least the headlights are easy and you should be impressed by those. Worst case you talk to StangMods about returning the fogs.

plutnicki
05-09-2008, 08:02 PM
The stangmods webpage states that there is a special new relay required. Mine doesn't
appear to have come with a relay.

I did lay out the headlight wiring and it does seem more straightforward than it first appeared.

Still can't figure out what I'm missing about the fogs. I think it's missing the part about where the
car's wiring system plugs into the ballasts...

rmssch89
05-09-2008, 08:10 PM
The relays are required for people that bought kits not made for our cars. Look at your headlight harness and follow the wires. Do they all end up meeting together in a small black box? If they do you have the relays and all StangMods headlight kits are supposed to come with them as part of the harness. I did say that I never used their fog kit, but I can tell you that the fog lights do not need relays. You pretty much just have to run the factory fog wire into the ballast and then connect the ballast to the bulb.

plutnicki
05-09-2008, 08:34 PM
OK, so the relay is part of the wiring harness. Got it, good to go then on that.

For the fogs, let me see if the picture can help. On the right you see the bulb, which runs
back to the grommet. There are 2 wires going forward, which the instructions say connect to the
foglight housing. There are 2 wires, and 1 braided bundle that run to the left. The wire coming
off of the ballast connectos to the 2 wires coming off of the bulb, clearly. But, where does that
braided wire bundle connect? And where does the car harness connect? It appears that the
braided wire could also be plugged into the ballast. The instructions do not mention this wire...

The instructions also do not cover where the car harness plugs, probably the ballast?

rmssch89
05-09-2008, 08:42 PM
Ok, the two wires with the blade connectors get plugged into the factory fog light harness. You can just stick them into the slots on the connector I assume. I don't know why factory connectors where not included. The large plug with the sheathed harness is the one that plugs into the ballast. Then just connect the small ones together and you should be good to go. The grommet is just there to keep the wires bundled together. It confused me at first because it made the wires look like they lead to odd places, but now I see it's just there to keep things neat. You may think that these kits are poorly designed, but they are superior to almost all the Ebay kits you can get out there when it comes to ease of installation and reliability.

plutnicki
05-09-2008, 09:37 PM
Not so much poorly designed, as poorly described. I think if Stangmods included a diagram
or picture of how these plug together, it would be helpful. All the parts seem very solid and
the wiring is all neat. Just not so clear where it all goes ... :)

The instructions don't say anything about the sheathed plug connecting to the ballast, just the
plastic ended ones connecting together between ballast and light.

Thanks

rmssch89
05-09-2008, 09:49 PM
Of course pictures would be nice. Or at least directions that where much clearer. But yeah, I guarantee you that the way I mentioned above is the way the fogs get installed. Maybe you should do a Tacobill-style writeup when you install your kits so no one else has the same problems.

plutnicki
05-09-2008, 10:45 PM
I'm charging up my camera tonight. I plan to install some hood struts I got from
a fellow forum member, the C&L CAI and tune, plus the HID headlights and foglights
if I get the time.

Assuming my pictures comprise a decent story, I'll give it a shot...

ohfiveride
05-09-2008, 11:54 PM
hey thanks fr the free discount code on the business card in that pic

plutnicki
05-10-2008, 06:04 AM
Oops.

picture deleted.

Should have kept quiet.

plutnicki
05-10-2008, 06:46 PM
Did the install. Didn't get to the fog light kit. Did the headlights. Went ok, fairly straightforward except
for mounting the ballasts.

When lights first come on, the relay in the wiring harness buzzes. Pretty loud at first, then quieter, then
gone. Keeps buzzing if car is off, seems to go away if car is running. Is that just warm up? Still waiting
for a response from stangmods.

Sorry I didn't get to the fogs, but when I do, I'll post about it.

Thx,

rmssch89
05-10-2008, 06:53 PM
The buzzing is perfectly normal. It's just the ballasts doing their thing. They tend to do it most when the bulbs are new and on occasion when the bulbs have been off for a while and cold. You could always find a creative way to soundproof the are you put the ballasts but I would just leave it. Since the ballast location was not designed into out cars they are usually mounted in open areas where the sound is most noticeable. It may just be me but I find it kinda cool.

plutnicki
05-10-2008, 07:09 PM
Again, this sounds like the relay, and not the ballasts, but it does sound like the situation you describe
so I'll live with it for now. The relay and passenger ballast is mounted well, I'm not totally satisfied with
the drivers side ballast.

Took about 3 hours, for hood struts, C&L, program and HIDs, including a short test drive after the C&L
and program, plus adjusting the headlights and setup/cleanup. Reading the instructions fully too.

I'll have some install photos up this weekend.

Mustang3GT07
05-10-2008, 09:13 PM
I've had mine for like a year now and love them. It was a simple install for me, pretty straight foward. They have awsome customer service. Sorry i don't have any pics for you thoe.

rezarxt
05-10-2008, 11:21 PM
Stangmods has always been awesome to me. Great deals, fast shipping, great customer service. They are equal to AM imo.

jaguarking11
05-11-2008, 02:10 AM
I mounted the fog balasts on my car right ontop the fogs themselves under the cover. The shape there fits the ballasts completly and it hides them away. I put the rad cover back on for a shake free screwless mount of my balasts.

The headlight balasts I mounted onto the sides of the headlight housings (the metal jacket that houses the housing)..

I am very happy with my e-bay kit. I do 95% of my driving at night and the headlights come in handy. I turn on the fogs when the lighting is non existant as all 4 together is too bright. The cut off of the headlights is perfect btw.

dynamicmustangt
05-11-2008, 03:46 AM
Maybe TacoBill can do a write up, those directions sound terrible.

Androdz2
05-11-2008, 04:09 PM
Hid kits are all plug and play I have no idea why you are having problems. If anything they should take the decency of making better dirrections after what they are charging for them. There are basically two types of hid kits the one that take the power source directly from a 12v(battery) and the ones that just plug into the headlight harness of the car only. I recommend mounting them on your bumpers safety bar.

Andrew

plutnicki
05-11-2008, 05:36 PM
The fogs are the kind that plug into the light harness, the headlights are the kind that
connect to the battery.

Here are some pics of my ballast locations:

http://web.mac.com/plutnicki/iWeb/Site/Mustang_files/DSC02180.jpg

This one, I'm not happy with, but it's in there...

http://web.mac.com/plutnicki/iWeb/Site/Mustang_files/DSC02183.jpg