XJ Headlight Upgrade

slategrayXJ · Jan 23, 2009

I just bought a 2000 XJ and the headlights are nowhere near bright enough for where I live. I live way out in the woods and driving on the dark roads at night is scary with good headlights, with elk and deer and bear all over the roads. I am buying some offroad lights, but I also want to upgrade the headlights. What's the best option that I can install quickly, i.e. without re-wiring the rig? Hella has an H4 kit, is that good? Does the Jeep battery, cables etc. put enough power out for those? I don't care that they're not DOT approved, I live in a very small town. Thanks!

Johnnie Walker · Jan 23, 2009

quadratec has several H4 options. I got the IPF's and some xenon bulbs. Your jeep should do fine, but I recommend an upgraded headlight harness. YOu can purchase a pre-made one or there is a write-up somewhere on here.

slategrayXJ · Jan 23, 2009

What does the harness do for me, just allow more power to the lights?

ChiXJeff · Jan 23, 2009

Susquehanna Motorsports for Hella H4 housings and bulbs. Good service.

You also want a relay harness. Use your existing wiring to trigger a relay that will send power straight from the battery to the lamps. The OEM wiring goes through the light switch in the cab, and is skimpy to boot. You're losing voltage due to length and gauge. The relay harness will drastically shorten the wiring, and you do want to use heavier wiring, period. Build your own harness, or source it from any of several vendors. BigOffroad.com (sponsor here) has a harness. Minor caveat, I have not used or even seen this harness, so I can't vouch for it. JohnJohn & Troy are both stand-up guys, though.

DaJudge · Jan 23, 2009

ChiXJeff said:
Susquehanna Motorsports for Hella H4 housings and bulbs. Good service.

You also want a relay harness. Use your existing wiring to trigger a relay that will send power straight from the battery to the lamps. The OEM wiring goes through the light switch in the cab, and is skimpy to boot. You're losing voltage due to length and gauge. The relay harness will drastically shorten the wiring, and you do want to use heavier wiring, period. Build your own harness, or source it from any of several vendors. BigOffroad.com (sponsor here) has a harness. Minor caveat, I have not used or even seen this harness, so I can't vouch for it. JohnJohn & Troy are both stand-up guys, though.

I have the BigOffroad harness. Well constructed and easy to install. I have been running it for two years with no problem. Made a HUGE difference!

TheAlmightySam · Jan 23, 2009

Take a look at this thread: http://naxja.org/forum/showthread.php?t=906034

People are having great luck with the AutoPal E-Codes off Ebay. I've got a set on order myself.

slategrayXJ · Jan 23, 2009

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/79-0...ryZ33710QQihZ017QQitemZ270326225626QQtcZphoto

Yeah, that loosk good. Maybe add those and then do a harness when i get time?

Down at the bottom is says:

You can upgrade H4 bulbs to following:
Ultra Blue 60/55W Add $4.00
Ultra Blue 100/55W Add $6.00
Ultra Blue 100/90W Add $8.00
WHITE 100/55W Add $4.00
WHITE 100/90W Add $6.00

Can I run 100/90W on the stock wiring? Do they get hot?

ChiXJeff · Jan 23, 2009

Bad idea to run anything over stock 65/55 bulbs on the stock wiring. Neither the wiring, or switches will handle it well.

92tahoexj · Jan 23, 2009

slategrayXJ said:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/79-0...ryZ33710QQihZ017QQitemZ270326225626QQtcZphoto

Yeah, that loosk good. Maybe add those and then do a harness when i get time?

Down at the bottom is says:

You can upgrade H4 bulbs to following:
Ultra Blue 60/55W Add $4.00
Ultra Blue 100/55W Add $6.00
Ultra Blue 100/90W Add $8.00
WHITE 100/55W Add $4.00
WHITE 100/90W Add $6.00

Can I run 100/90W on the stock wiring? Do they get hot?

i got the 100/90w bulbs with my autopals and built my own harness using fitchva and gojeeps writeups as a guide. the harness made a huge difference. i don't even use my high beams.

slategrayXJ · Jan 23, 2009

So these harnesses you can buy, do they just plug in or do i have to do a bunch of wiring? I'm capable of doing that but really busy and i don;t have a shop or garage, and it's 21 degrees outside!!!

DaJudge · Jan 23, 2009

slategrayXJ said:
So these harnesses you can buy, do they just plug in or do i have to do a bunch of wiring? I'm capable of doing that but really busy and i don;t have a shop or garage, and it's 21 degrees outside!!!

Plug and play for BigOffroad's.

slategrayXJ · Jan 23, 2009

And that kit can support the 100/90W bulbs? I just hate my crappy yellow lights, i want to light it up dammit!

thebrick · Jan 23, 2009

FYI...HID install/upgrade....

http://www.jpmagazine.com/techarticles/electrical/154_0901_jeep_hid_headlight_install/index.html

joe_peters · Jan 23, 2009

If you have more money than good sense, you could get this:

http://www.electrosport.com/products/product-detail-500.php

And you would still have to buy a pair of Hella Vision Plus housings.

Nice write up in January's JP Magazine.

If I could just win the lottery...

DanMan2k06 · Jan 23, 2009

Neither the wiring, or switches will handle it well.

Handle well? Shit it won't handle it at all. Your wiring insulation, and connectors will all melt.

::Edit, that HID kit is retarded. Good concept, but in the end you're still putting them in a reflective housing which = fail. If you're gona get a kit (they're all the same) buy a shitty cheap on off ebay for $60.

ChiXJeff · Jan 24, 2009

Language, Dan, language, please......

DanMan2k06 · Jan 24, 2009

Apologies, I'll tone it down a notch.

xcm · Jan 24, 2009

search noob, this has been covered a million times.

or just open your eyes, theres a h4 thread RIGHT THERE....

xcm · Jan 24, 2009

BTW, those are retard prices for HID kits, no wonder you rednecks hate HID, theyre ripping you off.

philagony94xj · Jan 24, 2009

Personally i've done the wiring harness upgrade just like the Gojeeps webpage instructs and it definetly worked. I also have the E-codes off ebay with the upgraded 100/55w bulbs and the lows are like the highs on stock lenses and bulbs, the highs on the new bulbs are AMAZING!! Nice white light and sharp cutoffs. I could never own another jeep with stock wiring and bulbs again! Best upgrade EVER! Probably spent around 60.00 for all parts.

XJ Headlight Upgrade

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