Improving headlights

[benjy_26]

I made my own harness with 40A relays and 10 guage wiring as well as high heat sockets. MUCH better performance out of standard sealed beams. I recently picked up a set of Anzo H4 conversion housings and noticed a slight improvement over the sealed beams. I am runnibg the cheap H4's the housings came with, but I think that the wiring upgrade is the best thing you can do to improve your lighting.

[GrizzzzBear]

I went with a Plain Glass face Replacement Lens.

Using High Power H4 Bulbs. Replaced the Relay.

Here is where I got some Extra Replacement Bulbs, http://www.memotronics.com/

They have a number of higher wattage bulbs.

Yes, I have ordered from them, Yes the Bulbs are reliable.

I bought a set at Advanced Auto, they lasted 5 months.

I got a few sets ($4.39/bulb for 130/90W, H4) Still on First set after 5 years.

[Project Comanche]

I am interested in upgrading and plan on using the putco harness. Will 100/80w hella halogens be too much for the harness or will it handle it properly?

 

How high of bulb watt will the putco harness handle?

 

Any info would be greatly appreciated.

[Lee21490]

I am interested in upgrading and plan on using the putco harness. Will 100/80w hella halogens be too much for the harness or will it handle it properly?

 

How high of bulb watt will the putco harness handle?

 

Any info would be greatly appreciated.

I'm using 80/100w bulbs with a putco harness & hella h4 housings

 

 

They work just fine~ I've had mine on for nearly a year now, I typically turn on my lights whenever I'm driving.

[Project Comanche]

Very pleased with that combo?

[cruiser54]

90/100s here with excellent results. Putco is rated for 100 watts by the way. 

[88whitemanche]

I got the hella 90-130 bulbs and they work with ease...only $7 a pce...

[Lee21490]

Very pleased with that combo?

 

90/100s here with excellent results. Putco is rated for 100 watts by the way. 

Actually i think 90/100 is what i have too, Idr tbh.

 

 

I'm very happy with it, They're stupid bright. I have them aimed low enough i havent been flashed for blinding people even once since i installed them. Its great for up in the mountains, when it gets dark!

[cruiser54]

 

Very pleased with that combo?

 

90/100s here with excellent results. Putco is rated for 100 watts by the way. 

Actually i think 90/100 is what i have too, Idr tbh.

 

 

I'm very happy with it, They're stupid bright. I have them aimed low enough i havent been flashed for blinding people even once since i installed them. Its great for up in the mountains, when it gets dark!

 

Easy peasy.....

[Jaime]

Hello

I want to do this upgrade, but when I went to order the PUTCO harness the clerk behind the counter said that I would have to change the lightbulb as it was not a direct replacement. I thought that I would still be able to use my old lights? Can you let me know the part # to get the one so that I can still use my old lights.

 

Thanks

[cruiser54]

Hello

I want to do this upgrade, but when I went to order the PUTCO harness the clerk behind the counter said that I would have to change the lightbulb as it was not a direct replacement. I thought that I would still be able to use my old lights? Can you let me know the part # to get the one so that I can still use my old lights.

 

Thanks

Clerk is a clerk.....

 

http://www.amazon.com/Putco-230004HW-Premium-Automotive-Lighting/dp/B001P29X4G

[gogmorgo]

You do need to change the bulbs... you unplug them from the old harness and plug them into the new one.

 

The clerk's probably looking at the H4 harness vs the H6054(?) factory sealed beams. H4 is a separate type of bulb. The two use the same sockets so it's not an issue. Of course, there are probably some other harnesses out there made by Putco that have different sockets, so if you do go back instead of getting it off amazon, make sure you're getting the right one.

[cruiser54]

23004 putco.

[Comanche County]

You're the man Cruiser, just ordered the harness myself for an XJ I'm working on.

[cruiser54]

You're the man Cruiser, just ordered the harness myself for an XJ I'm working on.

When installing, be absolutely sure you mount the relays with the plug facing down.

 

Also, for the harness ground terminals, scrape that mounting point to bare metal.

[husky410ohio]

I was thinking of going to Summit to get the Putco harness and Hella housings they have instock.

http://www.summitracing.com/parts/put-230004hw/overview/make/jeep

and

http://www.summitracing.com/parts/hla-003427291/overview/year/1988/make/jeep/model/comanche

the description for there putco harness is for 9004 bulbs?

http://www.tripleswitch.com/vehiclelist.htm

not sure if putco socket will fit the H4 Hella bulbs but I can have the parts pulled and check before purchasing.

When I was replacing my gages with autometers I replaced both my headlight switch and hi/low beam switch.  When I removed the old headlight switch and turned it green dust came out.  And the headlights lost the vacuum seal and reflective material was gone in the old Wagner lights.

[fatboyadams]

I love my IPF housings and silver star bulbs.

[1989 Eliminator]

I actually just did my headlight upgrade with the putco harness, e-code housings, and Hella 80/90 W bulbs. What a difference!!

[gogmorgo]

9004 bulbs don't use the same socket.

Source: I'm sitting in a parts store staring at them.

9003 is the only other bulb I can find with the h4 socket, without cracking open the sealed beans.

[cruiser54]

I was thinking of going to Summit to get the Putco harness and Hella housings they have instock.

http://www.summitracing.com/parts/put-230004hw/overview/make/jeep

and

http://www.summitracing.com/parts/hla-003427291/overview/year/1988/make/jeep/model/comanche

the description for there putco harness is for 9004 bulbs?

http://www.tripleswitch.com/vehiclelist.htm

not sure if putco socket will fit the H4 Hella bulbs but I can have the parts pulled and check before purchasing.

When I was replacing my gages with autometers I replaced both my headlight switch and hi/low beam switch.  When I removed the old headlight switch and turned it green dust came out.  And the headlights lost the vacuum seal and reflective material was gone in the old Wagner lights.

The housings come with bulbs........Read more closely.

[91Pioneer]

If you're going to buy the parts online anyway, save some money and buy from Amazon  :thumbsup:  - http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001P29X4G/ $25.08 for the harness, and http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0002M9QRE/ almost $2 less each for the housings. And free shipping :)

[johnj92131]

If you're going to buy the parts online anyway, save some money and buy from Amazon  :thumbsup:  - http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001P29X4G/ $25.08 for the harness, and http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0002M9QRE/ almost $2 less each for the housings. And free shipping :)

 

The link for the harness says it does not fit a 91 Comanche/Cherokee.  Do we have to buy the housing to make the harness fit????

[gogmorgo]

The link for the harness says it does not fit a 91 Comanche/Cherokee.  Do we have to buy the housing to make the harness fit????

 

 

It's an H4 harness. It'll fit your stock sealed beams, since your sealed beams use the same socket as an H4 bulb. But because the XJ/MJ don't use H4 bulbs, their systems will say they won't fit, despite the fact that the two are use the same socket.

The housings allow you to change out the sealed beams for a brighter replaceable bulb, if you so want. I personally didn't find it necessary, as the harness alone with properly-aimed OEM-equivalent sealed beams was more than enough for me on dark highways at night.

[cruiser54]

 

If you're going to buy the parts online anyway, save some money and buy from Amazon  :thumbsup:  - http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001P29X4G/ $25.08 for the harness, and http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0002M9QRE/ almost $2 less each for the housings. And free shipping :)

 

The link for the harness says it does not fit a 91 Comanche/Cherokee.  Do we have to buy the housing to make the harness fit????

 

Amazon is wrong. The harness fits fine.

[johnj92131]

gogmorgo and cruiser54:

 

Thanks for the clearing that up.  Makes this thread a great resource.

 

The harness alone should be the first step in lighting improvement.  It makes the stock lights much better and makes any additional lighting changes much brighter by simply delivering a full voltage and current load to what ever head lamps you use.  At $25, it is a no brainer