Benefits and Installation of Ford HID lights
Over the past decade one of the greatest things to happen to automotive lighting has been HID lights. HID, or high-intensity discharge, are headlights designed to maximize night time viewing by heating an inert gas called xenon. These bulbs are brighter and capable of having a wider and farther span, giving the driver better vision at night.
These lights were actually first introduced to the industry in 1991 by BMW when they released their 7 Series and ever since cars of all makes and models have utilized these amazing headlights. You can find specialized kits for cars ranging from old classic muscle cars to Ford HID kits.
When considering whether or not to add HID lights to your Ford, consider that when a person drives at night, 90% of what they do while actually driving relies completely on information gathered by sight. When you use inferior lighting you are not only putting yourself unnecessarily at risk, but also others as well. Even with 60% less drivers at night, of those involved in accidents 40% of them will die. Ford HID lights can help to dramatically increase what you can see while driving and increase your chances of driving safely.
In addition to Ford HID lights adding to what you are able to see, these remarkable lights are also simple to install and aside from the standard wiring only require an addition of a ballast. This special ballast is required to convert your Ford’s battery to a power rate high enough to heat the xenon gas.
Although Ford HID kits are simple to install, before beginning the process it is wise to make sure what you are working on is in the safest state possible. You can do this by turning off your Ford, unplugging the battery, and then waiting until the vehicle’s engine is completely cooled off.
Removing the Halogen bulb
To beginning installation, start by removing the Ford’s original halogen bulb located in the low beam dust cover. To find this look in the back of the headlight assembly. Once you locate this, to open it you will simply need to twist it. When you have access to the inside you can disconnect the old bulb by unplugging it from the wiring.
Installing the xenon ballast
To complete installation of your Ford HID lights you will need to mount the special ballast in a place that is out of the way and secure. Keep in mind that this is an addition to your vehicle that it was not originally designed to house so you will need to find a place that is not only safe, but also in range to both the new bulb, and the wiring.
When you have securely fastened the ballast, plug in the new xenon bulb. Be careful not to touch the bulb’s glass. Once you have finished it is a good idea to go back through and make sure all connections are secure and the ballast is mounted properly. When this is complete you can test out your new headlights.
