High/low beam kit and an introduction

Soul · 10-22-2003, 06:19 PM

I was racing through the mountains the other nite and realized that I wish I had more lights. I had my fogs and my lows on but still thought i could use some extra visibility. My friend mentioned kits for GMC/Chevy where you can set it up to run highs and lows together..I looked but couldnt find a kit and I have no clue how easy this is to do. Have any of you done it?

Anyway, since I am new to the forums, hello all!
I currently drive an 87' wagoneer limited with the 4.0l..even has that sexy wood siding.

**balloo93** · 10-22-2003, 07:13 PM

The GM trucks use a two piece headlight, so it would benefit from the override you can buy. The XJ is a single sealed unit so it wouldn't really help that much.

You should look into the IPFconversion that is available. Here a couple of write ups to help you out:

http://www.jeepin.com/features/morelight/index.asp
http://www.jeepin.com/features/ipf/index.asp

Welcome aboard!

monkey boy · 10-22-2003, 10:29 PM

If your waggy has the two headlights, one above the other, thier may be a way to do this, I have not seen or heard of it, but,with a little research, I am sure it can be done! Good luck

**EricsXJ** · 10-23-2003, 12:54 AM

Another option would be to just get a set of auxiliary driving lights. I am very impressed with the amount of light my IPF 868's throws out. I wired them just as the instructions recommend which means your Hi-beam must be turned on first, then you can switch the IPFs on or off and they will be on with your stock Hi-beams.

Soul · 10-23-2003, 03:51 AM

Monkey, I have the two sets of headlights..thats why i was thinking it would be so easy to do...just dont exactly know how. I will havta research it abit..
Eric, I thought of that a little bit, but if i can get around adding more lights (for the moment) and maybe just doing a lil splicing. I may end up adding more lights, or following some of the things balloo linked.
I was just curious if anyone has done it..seems like it wouldnt be too painful.
We will see what i figure out and i will keep you posted. :-)

**MSHarnett** · 10-23-2003, 08:54 AM

I've thought of this too, running highs and lows together. I've held the switch right in the middle and both are on and lights up alot. The only thing that worries me is power. Is it to much for one bulb. I think it may put to much of a load plus extra heat could cause it to burst/blow.

As for doing it, if you want, I was thinking of using and aux switch with a seprate wire that turns on the highs. This way you could use the switch on the tree for normal use, and the aux switch for when you want both.

Matt

PS, hey Eric, I never understood why the driving light turn off when you hit the highs. The light I have, IPF900 are way to bright to have on road anyway, so you'd think it would be opposite, off with the lows??? I dunno.

**EricsXJ** · 10-23-2003, 11:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MSHarnett

PS, hey Eric, I never understood why the driving light turn off when you hit the highs. The light I have, IPF900 are way to bright to have on road anyway, so you'd think it would be opposite, off with the lows??? I dunno.

No thats how mine work - they can't be turned on with with the lows. Do you have yours wired differently?

Dirt Surfer · 10-23-2003, 11:13 AM

I never understood why the driving light turn off when you hit the highs. The light I have, IPF900 are way to bright to have on road anyway, so you'd think it would be opposite, off with the lows??? I dunno.[/QUOTE]

I know my name isn't Eric, but technically they are not driving lights, they are fog light. Fogs are mounted low so you don't get as much glare, and obviously, you don't use your brights in the fog, so you don't need your fogs with your brights. Just my $.02.

**MSHarnett** · 10-23-2003, 12:44 PM

Well the IPF 900 are driving lights, they are both spot and wide beam in one lens. Fog lights are usually amber, and are spot lights.

Yeah Eric, you must have reversed the instal then, Cause the instrustions said to tap into the low beam wire so when the highs are on, the IPFs are off. I like your set up better. I may switch the wires. The only things that sucks is my high beams look at the tree tops, even though my lows are level. Crapy lens I guess.

Matt

99XJSPORT · 10-23-2003, 01:13 PM

I replaced my headlights with the Hella H4 conversion lenses and PIAA bulbs. It wasn't cheap but they are much brighter and the aiming of the beam is much cleaner and crisper. These along with the PIAA fog/driving lights(I replaced the Jeep fogs) give me incredible peripheral and straight ahead visibility.

**EricsXJ** · 10-24-2003, 04:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MSHarnett

Yeah Eric, you must have reversed the instal then, Cause the instrustions said to tap into the low beam wire so when the highs are on, the IPFs are off...

I am 100% sure I installed mine correctly per the instructions which I still have. Maybe the 868's vs 900's are wired differently, but the way you describe doesn't make sense at all. The reason mine only come on with the Hi-beams and not the lows are so you don't blind people in front of you. The theory is if you don't need your Hi-beams on, then you wouldn't need the aux. driving lights on either. It just makes no sense for them to come on with the lows but not with the hi's...

**MSHarnett** · 10-24-2003, 06:19 AM

99XJSPORT, how much do those Hellas cost. I got some cheap ones made by Eurolite or something. The look great and low beams are awesome but highs are just to high. Maybe I'll switch to the Hellas if they aren't to bad.

Eric, I looked at my instruction sheet today and it does say the go off with the high beams. So mine are hooked up right too. I'm gonna change them tonight.

Matt

b(k)ill94xj · 10-24-2003, 09:10 AM

matt before you do that, call the dmv and ask them, im pretty sure that they have to be wired so that they will come come on with the highbeams on. if you have them on a switch were you can turn them on whenever u want you wont pass inspection...but idont if its true for PA since u are going over there now.

99XJSPORT · 10-24-2003, 10:07 AM

Matt - I think they were like $30 each, but it could have been.

here's a link for 70/pair
http://www.jeepline.com/store/itemdetail.asp?ID=4774702

As far as the high beams and "extra" lights they are not supposed to be on together, hence why the factory wiring from Jeep automatically turns the fogs off when the highbeams go on.

Chris

**MSHarnett** · 10-24-2003, 11:48 AM

As far as passing inspestion, I really don't care about that. There is so much stuff I have to play with to pass that taking them off really doesn't matter. Let me think, I need to put stock headlights in, Amber turn signals, take off fogs, fix reverse lights, balljoints possible use stock bumper??? possible lower a few inches??? Oh yeah, I Jersey you can't have a check engine light anymore, good thing I'm in PA now. I think thats it, but i'll probably fail for some other BS after doing all that stuff. I'm gonna be pissed if they make me lower it a few. I think I don't have to worry about emissions, but thats not a problem, yet. i think thats about it. I need to find a garage that'll pass anything.

So PA people, who does your inspection????

10-24-2003, 09:10 AM	#13
b(k)ill94xj Registered User Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: nj Posts: 708 Profile Gallery Classifieds My Jeeps	matt before you do that, call the dmv and ask them, im pretty sure that they have to be wired so that they will come come on with the highbeams on. if you have them on a switch were you can turn them on whenever u want you wont pass inspection...but idont if its true for PA since u are going over there now. __________________ Rocks bite hard, but trees just piss me off... 97 Wrangler sport - 2 inch RE BB - Teraflex adjustable trac bar - 3.73's d30 and d35 - 31x10.5 yokhama geolander's - 15X8 American Racing Outlaw 2 wheels 3.75 backspacing - JKS LCA skids - hella vision headlights - Alpine amp and 6.5 type S speakers 94 Cherokee Sport - 3.5 Rubicon Express Kit - RE adjustable trac bar- 31X10.5 Kumho Venture MT's - 15X8 Crager Soft 8 Class III Hidden Hitch - Hand Throttle - High flow cat w/ Delta Flow 40 muffler Transfer Case Skid Plate Removable Doors --SOLD :( :( i miss it so much

10-22-2003, 10:29 PM	#3
monkey boy Registered User Join Date: Oct 2003 Posts: 8 Profile Gallery Classifieds My Jeeps	If your waggy has the two headlights, one above the other, thier may be a way to do this, I have not seen or heard of it, but,with a little research, I am sure it can be done! Good luck

10-23-2003, 03:51 AM	#5
Soul Registered User Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Moscow, Idaho. Posts: 223 Profile Gallery Classifieds My Jeeps	Monkey, I have the two sets of headlights..thats why i was thinking it would be so easy to do...just dont exactly know how. I will havta research it abit.. Eric, I thought of that a little bit, but if i can get around adding more lights (for the moment) and maybe just doing a lil splicing. I may end up adding more lights, or following some of the things balloo linked. I was just curious if anyone has done it..seems like it wouldnt be too painful. We will see what i figure out and i will keep you posted. :-)

10-23-2003, 01:13 PM	#10
99XJSPORT Registered User Join Date: Oct 2003 Posts: 9 Profile Gallery Classifieds My Jeeps	I replaced my headlights with the Hella H4 conversion lenses and PIAA bulbs. It wasn't cheap but they are much brighter and the aiming of the beam is much cleaner and crisper. These along with the PIAA fog/driving lights(I replaced the Jeep fogs) give me incredible peripheral and straight ahead visibility.

10-24-2003, 10:07 AM	#14
99XJSPORT Registered User Join Date: Oct 2003 Posts: 9 Profile Gallery Classifieds My Jeeps	Matt - I think they were like $30 each, but it could have been. here's a link for 70/pair http://www.jeepline.com/store/itemdetail.asp?ID=4774702 As far as the high beams and "extra" lights they are not supposed to be on together, hence why the factory wiring from Jeep automatically turns the fogs off when the highbeams go on. Chris