Those who are flexin HID's...where are your ballast located?

[azn_outlaw]

I searched and didnt see any good posts about location of ballasts or pics that could go with it...

so I am wondering where are some places that everyone has placed there ballasts?

specifically, looking for examples of people who actually mounted it somewhere in the engine bay...

thanks everyone

[EvilEric]

How thick and big are your ballasts? mine are huge so i can only mount them in the very very front, tied down with zip ties. Other people use double sided tape to sides.

[WLS ZMZM]

my ballasts aren't huge they are from an ignited kit... I have the driver side one sticky taped to the top of the fuse box, on the passenger side it is on the shock pillar i have it mounted to the side of the pillar between there and the engine... the ballast tucks away quite nicely there I will try and get pix for you as soon as I have a chance

[skunk2]

i have my prolumen kit mounted to a bracket. the bracket is then mounted to the space in the fender if you are looking in from the engine bay. the ignitor is right behind headlight assy. there is a flat spot right there.

not totally stealth but it is out of the way. paint in the ass to troubleshoot too if anything goes wrong.

[sauga_kid]

Good question as I'm going to do the install as well and would like to know the cleanest look. However.....
:ttiwwp

[eqlso]

Lockdown placed both of mine right behind the headlight. This is the only pic I have of it so far:

http://i92.photobucket.com/albums/l14/eqlso/HIDs002.jpg

[-RJ3-]

I placed mine at the top of the engine bay along the sides... Theres a bracket on each side of the bay that you can fit your ballasts in... ziptied them and you wont even notice them... The igniters are hidden in the sides as well... but FAK!!! I gotta remove them to have my headlight housings replaced by mazda.... It was so clean too...

[cwp_sedan]

I don't have a picture but this is how mine are set up. I used 3m double sided tape along with the mounting brackets. Zip ties are holding the wires.

http://i210.photobucket.com/albums/bb106/cwp_sedan/HID_Install.jpg

[KenYork]

cwp_sedan. I'm too lazy to take shots of my engine bay so i'm borrowing yours.

I use 3M tape to secure in the area circled. It's clean and tucked away. The igniters are zip-tied under the light housings.
http://i25.photobucket.com/albums/c67/kenyork/untitled.jpg

[Gizzmo_jr]

I don't have a picture but this is how mine are set up. I used 3m double sided tape along with the mounting brackets. Zip ties are holding the wires.

http://i210.photobucket.com/albums/bb106/cwp_sedan/HID_Install.jpg

+1 identical setup. Always stays dry there that I've noticed. No need to extend wires either with Devon's Prolumen kit.

[yearoftherat]

Same setup here...

[WLS ZMZM]

Okay... so forgot to take pix so followed the others on here sorry for stealing your pic :p but here it is.. as I mentioned one is on the top of the fusebox and one is near the strut pillar housing..... look for the two red boxes....

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v647/Sleeper23/HID_Install.jpg

[FLIPDADY]

Sedans have room in the inner fender area. Like many other I mounted the ballasts on the inside of the rad support.

[sauga_kid]

I've looked around and there doesn't seem to be any threads on where to mount your fog HID's, so I figured this thread is similar enough, so if anyone has pics, post them up! Or even just ideas would be good too.

[cwp_sedan]

I more or less did mine the same as WeatherB (stolen pics :), thanks WeatherB). Only difference is that I mounted the one ballast on top of the airbox resonator and the igniter on the side. You'll have to get the bumper off to see what I mean. Here is the link where I took the pics from. http://www.torontomazda3.ca/forum/showthread.php?t=18671&page=2

http://www.istop.com/~fbiglar/Mazda/IMG_0714.jpg

http://www.istop.com/~fbiglar/Mazda/IMG_0715.jpg

[sauga_kid]

Thanks cwp_sedan, that's wicked, just what I was looking for, keep 'em coming. However, I do like this set up and might follow suit.

[bubba1983]

as flippy mentioned sedans can mount them in your inner fender. thats wehre i have mine. they are bolted on the inner fender, u can't see them at all love it!

[Donutz]

Mine are mounted behind the headlights. I had the bumper and headlamp assembly removed; and the ballast mounted in the space behind.

I'll try and take some pics later if anyone's interested.

[WeatherB]

I more or less did mine the same as WeatherB (stolen pics :), thanks WeatherB). Only difference is that I mounted the one ballast on top of the airbox resonator and the igniter on the side. You'll have to get the bumper off to see what I mean. Here is the link where I took the pics from. http://www.torontomazda3.ca/forum/showthread.php?t=18671&page=2


Hey,

No problem for the stolen pictures. :)

As a note, mounting on the intake resonator is not a good idea. I think it vibrates too much. When I went to install my CAI, I noticed the ballast had fallen off (even though I cleaned the surface with alcohol and used silicon too).

[cwp_sedan]

As a note, mounting on the intake resonator is not a good idea. I think it vibrates too much. When I went to install my CAI, I noticed the ballast had fallen off (even though I cleaned the surface with alcohol and used silicon too).

This is also why I put mine on the top of the resonator and not on the side.

[WeatherB]

This is also why I put mine on the top of the resonator and not on the side.

Good call.

[sauga_kid]

:bang doh! Guess I gotta go back in and move it, ah well, thanks for the advice.

[cwp_sedan]

:bang doh! Guess I gotta go back in and move it, ah well, thanks for the advice.

I'm sure it will be fine as long as you didn't skimp out on 2-way tape. It also needs to be the good stuff from CT or Home Depot not Devin's stuff. :)

[sauga_kid]

Yeah, Devin gave me some industrial double sided tape as well as the couple of strips that come with the set, but I'll stop by CT on the way home. What do you recomend, just 3M double sided? I guess the best way to take off the existing is to take a blow dryer and some floss to it eh? Thanks for the help cwp

[cwp_sedan]

Yeah, Devin gave me some industrial double sided tape as well as the couple of strips that come with the set, but I'll stop by CT on the way home. What do you recomend, just 3M double sided? I guess the best way to take off the existing is to take a blow dryer and some floss to it eh? Thanks for the help cwp

Yeah. I just bought some red 3M heavy duty double sided adhesive from Home Depot for around $5. That stuff will hold almost anything you need it to.

I think that it wont hold that much. Even a little bit of heat might allow you to pry off the ballast. :)

[JonsMazda]

http://www.istop.com/~fbiglar/Mazda/IMG_0714.jpg

http://www.istop.com/~fbiglar/Mazda/IMG_0715.jpg

I have the same setup... :chuckle

[thrasher]

I don't have a picture but this is how mine are set up. I used 3m double sided tape along with the mounting brackets. Zip ties are holding the wires.

http://i210.photobucket.com/albums/bb106/cwp_sedan/HID_Install.jpg

When installing my hids I could not fit the ballasts in that location. I have the thin ballasts and the cords are pretty short for the igniter. Also the brackets are long and the plastic part above the rad has notches in it that makes the brackets not fit there.

I have an 07.. any suggestions??

Also I noticed that people zip tied the ballasts... Is this sufficient enough with out attaching them with screws to something?

Thanks.

[Dave_The_BMXER]

I have my passenger one on the strut tower, and my drivers one on the battery box (I have a cai and my battery box cover is removed for my strut bar so theres tons of space on the drivers side)

[thrasher]

Right now I have one on the strut tower and one attached to the plastic part over the rad pointing out towards the engine..

I wanted to mount them under the front plastic bar over the rad but I don't know how people did it considering the rad hoses are very close to the wiring and because there is no way to use the brackets to mount them there.

[cwp_sedan]

I have an '07 and they fit fine. I didn't use a wiring harness that connects to the battery since I just plugged them right into the stock harness. I have the slim ballasts as well. I used the mounting brackets and 3m double sided tape There are holes in the plastic part over the rad and I used the provided bolts to hold the brackets in place for extra support. I can try to take some pics but it's hard to see.

[thrasher]

thanks cwp but a few questions..

are your ballasts flush with the plastic? or are they hanging down? Also are your ballasts mounted straight on the bracket? Under the bar over the rad there are raised plastic parts that prevent the brackets from fitting with the ballasts attached.. unless I cut the bracket end off?

Pictures would be great when you get a chance even though it is hard to see...

I found the igniter wire to be somewhat short as well...

[cwp_sedan]

thanks cwp but a few questions..

are your ballasts flush with the plastic? or are they hanging down? Also are your ballasts mounted straight on the bracket? Under the bar over the rad there are raised plastic parts that prevent the brackets from fitting with the ballasts attached.. unless I cut the bracket end off?

Pictures would be great when you get a chance even though it is hard to see...

I found the igniter wire to be somewhat short as well...

Everything is flush. I will take some pics tomorrow. Stay tuned. :)

[thrasher]

Hey CWP Sedan,

Any luck with the photos?

Thanks!

[cwp_sedan]

Hey CWP Sedan,

Any luck with the photos?

Thanks!

Sorry, I took some but they turned out really bad. I will go take some pics right now. Check back in a little bit. :)

[cwp_sedan]

Here are a couple of pics...

The red circles show where I bolted the mounting brackets to the car for the ballasts. There are also a few zip ties that are holding the wires in place. As you can see there are no visible wires from the front of the car.
http://i210.photobucket.com/albums/bb106/cwp_sedan/hids_1.jpg

Here you can see the ballasts, ignitors and other wiring.
http://i210.photobucket.com/albums/bb106/cwp_sedan/hids_2.jpg

[EvilEric]

Here are a couple of pics...

The red circles show where I bolted the mounting brackets to the car for the ballasts. There are also a few zip ties that are holding the wires in place. As you can see there are no visible wires from the front of the car.
http://i210.photobucket.com/albums/bb106/cwp_sedan/hids_1.jpg

Here you can see the ballasts, ignitors and other wiring.
http://i210.photobucket.com/albums/bb106/cwp_sedan/hids_2.jpg

That's a good set up. But does the bolting make it hard to take off? I'm more comfortable with zips and double sided tape. However yours looks like a really secure set up.

[Gizzmo_jr]

I've got the exact same, and its dead secure. The ballasts ain't going nowhere.
cwp_sedan, did you 'cross' the ballasts, meaning the ballast thats mounted on the left is for the right and vice versa?

[cwp_sedan]

That's a good set up. But does the bolting make it hard to take off? I'm more comfortable with zips and double sided tape. However yours looks like a really secure set up.

It's really secure. The bolts are only holding the brackets and it takes about 2 seconds to take them out.


I've got the exact same, and its dead secure. The ballasts ain't going nowhere.
cwp_sedan, did you 'cross' the ballasts, meaning the ballast thats mounted on the left is for the right and vice versa?

Ya. The length of the wiring was best that way.

[Tokic_o]

found mine hanging in my front bumper :chuckle

[thrasher]

Impressive, that is a really clean install. Easy to pull out too if need be.

Thanks a lot for getting the pics.

Now time to re-position mine. Did you have to play around with mounting the ballast on the bracket (angled it a bit) or is it mounted straight?

[cwp_sedan]

Impressive, that is a really clean install. Easy to pull out too if need be.

Thanks a lot for getting the pics.

Now time to re-position mine. Did you have to play around with mounting the ballast on the bracket (angled it a bit) or is it mounted straight?

The ballasts mount completely straight/flush to the bracket. I cut off part of the bracket that bolts to the car though as it was too long but everything sits flat.

[thrasher]

Ah that makes sense because it seemed like it needed to be clipped to make it flush.

Thanks again.

[thrasher]

Finally got it installed! But given the length of the wiring I could not cross the ballasts. Right is for right and left is for left. I have no idea how you were able to cross them becasue there was hardly enough length is mount them uncrossed. Very clean.

My only concern is what will the Rad hoses do to my ignitor!? They get pretty hot. Can the plastic ignitor and wrapped wiring take this heat well??

Also, does anyone know why the arrow on the weather cap on the back of the light housing has to be on the top? Does it make a diff?

[cwp_sedan]

Finally got it installed! But given the length of the wiring I could not cross the ballasts. Right is for right and left is for left. I have no idea how you were able to cross them becasue there was hardly enough length is mount them uncrossed. Very clean.

My only concern is what will the Rad hoses do to my ignitor!? They get pretty hot. Can the plastic ignitor and wrapped wiring take this heat well??

Also, does anyone know why the arrow on the weather cap on the back of the light housing has to be on the top? Does it make a diff?

I did hear that there was going to be an update to the kits, whether just shorter wiring or whatever, so maybe you have a newer kit then mine.

Is the rad hose actually touching the ignitor? I'm not sure if it will affect it but it might get a little to hot. I'm not sure what to suggest as I don't know what options you have for moving it.

Do you have stock HIDs? I don't recall there being a cap for mine. I don't have stock HIDs.

[thrasher]

Rad hose is not touching it but it's pretty close. My ignitor is in a similar position to yours on the right headlight.

Car came with halogens. I mean the rubber weather seal on the back of the halogen headlight. In the manual it says "When reinstalling the sealing cover, make sure "the arrow" faces up." Does this actually matter?

[cwp_sedan]

No idea but I would assume it does if they went to the trouble to put those directions on it.

[thrasher]

Yea I would think so, but I think mine have 3 arrows 1 for each tab LOL.

Thanks for your help.

[cwp_sedan]

Yea I would think so, but I think mine have 3 arrows 1 for each tab LOL.

Thanks for your help.

No prob. :)

[Whosit]

Just installed mine and not sure where to install the ballasts and looking for your input.

[dentinger]

last ones where under the rad cross member dealie (where the hoodlatch is)
new ones had larger ballasts, so i mounted them on the frame rails