Headlight conversion
- Thread starter OCherokee
- Start date
purplexj
NAXJA Forum User
- Location
- Bronx N.Y.
If you don't upgrade the harness they will get hot and shut off , cool then come on again. Not both at the same time but very pain in the necky.
cruiser54
NAXJA Forum User
- Location
- Prescott, Az
Or better yet, melt the plug at the headlight switch, along with the connectors of the switch, and leave you literally in the dark............
The harness costs not much more than a switch and is easier to install.
Not to mention the lights are about 30% brighter.
SonicCougar99
NAXJA Forum User
- Location
- Williams, AZ
Next thing you know, you're gonna tell us about how lifted vehicle suspensions and modified exhaust systems are illegal too! Honestly, unless you live in a state with very strict inspections where they literally get out the magnifying glass and check and see if you have a "DOT" stamp on it, the Hella/Cibie/Autopal H4 conversions produce a much better (and safer) light pattern than DOT-spec lights do.
DOT-spec for lights sucks in this country, and I can't explain why that is other than the government wants to think it knows better than us and the rest of the world. For another example of this, look at the bumper sizes on new cars and compare that to an identical car from Europe. Which last I checked, wasn't exactly a third-world civilization. Our DOT regulations are so bass ackwards its not even funny.
hubs97xj
NAXJA Forum User
- Location
- Fort Wayne, IN
A while back when I checked, the Autopal ebay page listed DOT spec housings, which I hadn't seen previously. Thought I might give them a shot if I ever break one of my E Codes.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/200mm-H6054...Parts_Accessories&vxp=mtr&hash=item4cf8ce0077
Last edited:
purplexj
NAXJA Forum User
- Location
- Bronx N.Y.
Hey hubs97xj , those look really good. How are your E Codes on unlit backwoods roads ? I have some cheap projector headlights and the harness in my XJ and can really see the difference between the Jeep and my cars when we go away. We go away once a month . It seems like when ever we do go away and there are a lot of unpaved country roads we don't have the Jeep.
hubs97xj
NAXJA Forum User
- Location
- Fort Wayne, IN
Low beams could be a bit wider, but I have stock fog lights which fill in pretty well. Love the high beams. It's a marked improvement over stock, and if I smash something, I'm not going to be out a pile of money. If I did have the money, I would probably buy better housings or maybe switch to LEDs, but I'm pleased with it currently.
I found those on the autopal website after I looked harder.
The anzo's appear to be e-code only.
To everyone that says it's not important, it is if you get safety inspected, and no, it doesn't take a magnifying glass to see the DOT stamp. When I got pullled over randomly in my DD accord for a safety inspection the state trooper looked at all of my lights. Would he have failed me for non-DOT lights? I don't know, but it's not a chance I'm willing to take in my wife's DD XJ
hubs97xj
NAXJA Forum User
- Location
- Fort Wayne, IN
Not living in an inspection state, that's something I often forget about; that's obviously an important consideration for those of you that do. Also presumably why they started offering a DOT version. So who wants to be a guinea pig for the rest of us?
CharlesS
NAXJA Forum User
- Location
- Quezon Province, Philippines
Shortly after purchasing the Jeep in '98 I did some investigating as to why the factory headlights were so dim....
There are several reasons why they are so dim....
The factory wiring is 16 ga and there is quite a length running thru the vehicle so by the time the voltage reaches the headlight connectors you are receiving 11.2-11.6 VDC and the fuse ratings are only 10A for LOW beam and 10A for HI beam.
After building a harness with 12 ga wire, 30A relays and feeding them directly from the battery with 20A fuses; the voltage is now more than 13.5 VDC which is an increase of at least 2 VDC. Just the increase in voltage will make the headlights brighter.
There are several reasons why they are so dim....
The factory wiring is 16 ga and there is quite a length running thru the vehicle so by the time the voltage reaches the headlight connectors you are receiving 11.2-11.6 VDC and the fuse ratings are only 10A for LOW beam and 10A for HI beam.
After building a harness with 12 ga wire, 30A relays and feeding them directly from the battery with 20A fuses; the voltage is now more than 13.5 VDC which is an increase of at least 2 VDC. Just the increase in voltage will make the headlights brighter.
I may.
I'd love to stick trucklites in it, but 400 bucks is a bit steep for me.
I never worried about inspections either, but they're starting to bring them back in OH.
SonicCougar99
NAXJA Forum User
- Location
- Williams, AZ
Yeah, maybe it's the fact that I don't have any inspections here in Arizona, but I just couldn't imagine a cop being that particular that a quality set of headlights that have a safer light pattern than normal DOT lights that he would give someone crap for it. Ugh, all the more reason the DOT regulations are such a joke. "Sure, it's better and safer in every way, but it doesn't say DOT, so I'm giving you a ticket buddy!"
purplexj
NAXJA Forum User
- Location
- Bronx N.Y.
Safer light is good. But not at the expense of everyone else on the road. I'm not trying to bash anyone. There are people driving around with there hi-beams on , 1 light out. Or the people who drive with 1 light pointed down and the other hilighting the tree's. All are unsafe. The worst are the ones with the headlights pointed high and driving 2 1/2" off your bumper even in the middle lane with no one in the left or right lanes. Aas far as inspections, i think they are needed due to some people driving around with old worn out parts that would be deamed unsafe even for driving in a junk yard. But people were driving them on the street. I'm not talking about lifting a truck or lowering a car or even altering a car. I've seen people driving cars and steering like it's a boat in a storm !
willsmysticcobra
NAXJA Forum User
- Location
- Lake Zurich IL
Real quick guys opinions on this. We will call it the whats better game. I have the putco harness already installed, looking for a bulb / housing upgrade.
I can get 2 6054 silverstar sealedbeams from advance auto on a promotion discount for $33.03
Or the autopal H4's for 44.16 off ebay including the 60/55w bulb.
Now if you guys agree that the autopals will be better optics/night vision etc, is it worth going with their upgraded 60w lo/ 100w hi for $4.00? I am sure my harness could handle the brights being on for those 30 second intervals on snow ridden roads.
Appreciate it
I can get 2 6054 silverstar sealedbeams from advance auto on a promotion discount for $33.03
Or the autopal H4's for 44.16 off ebay including the 60/55w bulb.
Now if you guys agree that the autopals will be better optics/night vision etc, is it worth going with their upgraded 60w lo/ 100w hi for $4.00? I am sure my harness could handle the brights being on for those 30 second intervals on snow ridden roads.
Appreciate it
cruiser54
NAXJA Forum User
- Location
- Prescott, Az
I have autopals with 90/100s. Real good.
if you stick with sealed beams I've found the "xtravision" to be the best.
wider foreground lighting.
I don't care for the silverstars too much. Coated bulbs generate LESS lumens, regardless of the temperature. I've also found they don't last for crap.
I think I'm going to go the autopal route with an upgraded harness for the wife's DD.
I'd love to do LED's, but just can't justify that kind of money when I can get 80% of the performance for 30% of the price.
wider foreground lighting.
I don't care for the silverstars too much. Coated bulbs generate LESS lumens, regardless of the temperature. I've also found they don't last for crap.
I think I'm going to go the autopal route with an upgraded harness for the wife's DD.
I'd love to do LED's, but just can't justify that kind of money when I can get 80% of the performance for 30% of the price.
willsmysticcobra
NAXJA Forum User
- Location
- Lake Zurich IL
ya those LED'S should be dirt cheap in a few yrs.
maybe.
high output LED's still have a relativly low yield.
There are some new processes though tat should be ready for production in another 3-5 years that will drastically cut costs. I thin kabout that time is when you'll start to see new cars coming with LED headlamps.
willsmysticcobra
NAXJA Forum User
- Location
- Lake Zurich IL
Ya I mean look at TV'S. Kinda the same premise but ya as technology evolves, we get products that are better for cheaper.
On that thought, I really want those LED headlights lol
On that thought, I really want those LED headlights lol
ihscoutlover
NAXJA Forum User
- Location
- Edwardsville
So by upgrading the harness what is the general consensus on which one?? I have heard the Putcos are bad and good, and there are a few others that actually use readily available relays, which is the way I would like to go. I wouldn't have a problem building one, but for the current DD, I really need first to upgrade the harness, then the lights. I was gonna do the SilverStars, since I have had them on all the other XJs, and Scouts, but I am confused since some indicate that they arent worth it, although going E Code on the lamp assemblies seems the right thing, but the Greedbay ad only shows 1 unit, it doesn't indicate 1 pair. Thoughts??
Jeff
Jeff
