Headlight project update

[Legacy777]

I finally got the headlights all cleaned up, levelers re-attached, and ready to be installed.

I tested the wiring to make sure the lights worked. I ran into something a little weird while testing. I wanted to make sure the headlights worked, and when I connected the wiring directly through the battery, the low beams were really dim. The high beams seemed ok though. I decided to hook up the wiring to the stock headlight wiring, and the lights seemed ok in terms of brightness.

Any idea why it would do this?

You can see in this pic the fact that it's dimmer
http://www.main.experiencetherave.com:8 ... P_3874.JPG

And when I hook it up to the main wiring, it seems fine
http://www.main.experiencetherave.com:8 ... P_3877.JPG

You can also see from the pics how much better the beam pattern is.


I also ran into some issues with fitment. Things in the front end have never been 100% right since the little fender bender I had in portland, plus the dipshit body shop that fixed it. So I had to take the hammer to the bumper beam & core support a little to get things to fit. I've got pics of the front end torn apart as well.


Last on today's plate was relocating the switch for my driving lights, since the location it was at is where the leveler switch goes. I actually was able to use the switch that came with the driving lights, and mounted it next to the cigarette lighter
http://www.main.experiencetherave.com:8 ... P_3886.JPG


I'm just waiting to get the wire I ordered, and I'll be able to finally get this project finished.

Here's all the pics from today
http://www.main.experiencetherave.com:8 ... dmproject/

[Legacy777]

One other thing I noticed. The H4 lights are 55/60 Watts, and the 9004 lights are 45/65 Watts.

Are all standard H4's like this? Does the better beam pattern make up for the high beams not having as much wattage?

[vrg3]

Excellent. Everything is falling into place.

That's weird that the light was dimmer... all I can think of is that either the battery's voltage was lowered by having to power three bulbs instead of just two, or that your temporary connections to the battery may not have been solid.

I hope you'll start using your driving lights as they're meant to be used now.

Keep in mind that the amount of power drawn by a lamp is only vaguely related to the amount of light the lamp provides. The H4 high beam filament produces much more light in most headlights than a 9004 high beam filament.

The H4 is a much more efficient bulb; the 60-watt high beam filament of the H4 bulb produces 1650 lumens, while the 65-watt high beam of the 9004 bulb produces only 1200 lumens. Furthermore, the 9004 filaments are transverse, so most of the light produced ends up at the top and bottom of the reflector, where it can't really be used for a parabolic-reflector headlamp; the H4 filaments are axial so a good chunk of their light goes where it's useful.

Really, the 9004 bulb is a piece of crap. The so-called "engineers" who designed it ought to be punished.

[Legacy777]

Yeah I don't know what's up with the light being dimmer. It might have been the connections.

That's good to know that the H4 bulbs are that much better then the 9004 bulbs. I'm excited to get everything done.

I've spent a fair amount of time just getting all the little crap on the lights working and up to par. Guess I should've expected that much from used stuff that's 14+ years old.

[IronMonkeyL255]

It's looking pretty sweet.

Can't wait to see everything back together and working properly.

[Legacy777]

I don't know why.....but I think this looks mean
http://www.main.experiencetherave.com:8 ... P_3909.JPG

[scottzg]

I don't know why.....but I think this looks mean
http://www.main.experiencetherave.com:8 ... P_3909.JPG

it looks like its blind

[Nomake Wan]

Blind but evil.

[Legacy777]

That's weird that the light was dimmer... all I can think of is that either the battery's voltage was lowered by having to power three bulbs instead of just two, or that your temporary connections to the battery may not have been solid.

I got to thinking about this last night, and remembered something. When I hooked the lights up to the stock harness I used the connectors provided in DS's kit. When I hooked it up to the battery, I used the stock wiring that came with the lights, so I bet the wiring/connector was screwed up some how.

[Legacy777]

Well after about 8 hours of wiring, I'm about 90% done. I ran the wiring for the levelers, and the headlights on saturday. I ended up mounting the relays inside the fender because I didn't have any room in the engine bay. But it actually turned out pretty good, because I ran all my wiring from inside there, and along with the wiring loom that goes across at the bottom of the radiator.

All that's left to do is make sure the length of wire for the headlight bulbs is good, put the connectors on for the headlights, zip tie all the wiring looms secure, install the headlights, and button everything up. Hopefully I'll have time after work tomorrow to finish.

I would've finished yesterday, but I told a friend I'd help with this turbo kit install.....as figured, it was a clusterfuck