Quick question about headlights

It's late, rainy, and cold so I can't easily go out and look. Coming home I noticed both of my brights are burnt out as I rarely drive at night. I'll be doing night driving now due to daylight savings. I've been running with a hid conversion for 3 years now. Unfortunately due to placement or whatever reason, they suck in rain/snow especially at night.

Is it possible to install low beams in place of the high beam lights using the high beam harness? My initial guess is no due to voltage or plugs being different, but just want to check.

Yes, you can do this, but you'll need to modify the plugs on the bulbs to fit. I think one or more of the ridges needs ground off. Info provided below. Note: most people try to do the opposite of what you are doing - fit 9005 (high beam) bulbs in 9006 (low beam) harness plug. You need to work in reverse:

http://www.suvlights.com/information.php?info_id=47

How to modify a 9005 to fit 9006

Many automakers use 2 similar bulbs: 9006/HB4 for low beams and 9005/HB3 for high beams. The standard 9006 (55W) bulb produces 1000 lumens of light while the 9005 (65W) produces 1700 lumens. With a simple modification you can convert the 9005 to fit into 9006 housings.

Note: 9005/6XS base bulbs do not have the right angle and are shorter & can be used in most instances with 9005/6 bulbs as long as the plug can be inserted.

Viewed from the back you will notice the top plastic tab of the 9005 bulb has more material towards the left, you will need to remove approx. half to get the bulb to fit into 9006 headlight/foglight housings

Note: some Toyotas can fit a 9005 into the 9006 housing without modification of the tab.

You will need:

File/chisel tool or Dremel type tool
Toe nail clippers, or cutting pliers
Two 9005 bulbs
Protective eye glasses

1) Remove 3mm of plastic from the left side of the center until you have 5-6mm left. Don't worry this does not have to be precise.



2) Remove the two guides inside the socket.



This modification can also be done to convert 9005/HB3 to go into housings for 9145/H10 (45W)

Caution: this “mod” is not endorsed by either the manufacturer or Suvlights.com, it has been applied to some vehicles but will probably work on others. Additionally the modifications may involve work best done by a qualified mechanic. You may wish to check with your local governing agency for being "street legal".

Awesome! Thanks alot!

Now, what is your thought on wiring it up per your write-up to run 2 sets of lo-beams simultaneously?

I don't see why it couldn't work. Use the 12v from the brights to energize the ballasts for the HIDs. To be safe, I'd run a relay between the brights and the ballasts - the brights energize the relay, which triggers the ballasts (just like the write up, except HIDs instead of OEM bulbs).

NOOB ALERT:::

Do I need to take anything off to replace the headlight bulbs or can I just mangle my hands in the small holes and just do it from overhead?

Passenger side....easy. Driver side, take out the air box. You can change the High Beam bulb, but unless you have unusually small hands, take out the air box.

After you do the FWI mod, the driver side will be easier than passenger side. Both sides take about 1-2 minutes.

Thanks, team!

If you're careful and good enough, you can use a pair of needle nose pliers to act as fingers. It's what I did for my HID install. Just make sure to be careful and not break anything. And as always do 1 at a time, check the level of the light, and adjust as needed. I did have to remove the airbox either way though.

That was fun. Lights look great. This is a must do mod if you wanna 'modernize' your Riv.

Thinking of picking up some Wagner briteview or truview headlights. Headlights are working fine now, but like to be proactive on needed parts. They currently have rebates that would bring the cost down to around $17 total for all 4. Anyone had luck with these or recommendations ?

High Chaparral wrote:

Thinking of picking up some Wagner briteview or truview headlights. Headlights are working fine now, but like to be proactive on needed parts. They currently have rebates that would bring the cost down to around $17 total for all 4. Anyone had luck with these or recommendations ?

My experience with most of these bulbs is that you shouldn't replace one proactively - wait until they go out. If you are replacing them to get a 'brighter' or 'whiter' light, that's a different reason. Most of those 'whiter' bulbs that we've dealt with seem to burn out in close timing to each other, so carry spares! I used to buy a pair, and when one went out I would replace both and put the other still working in my glove box as a spare.

So go ahead and buy a pair of lows... but in the 10 years my Riv has been on the road, I've replaced the low beam bulbs lots of times and only one high beam bulb from the factory ones.

Just getting them now so I have them handy when needed. Also seems like a pretty good deal with the rebates. Wasn't sure about the reliability of Wagner lighting products compaired to GE, Sylvania, etc.

Anyone know if my Riv can handle HID 50W units in both Lo and Hi beams, without stressing power needs?

As far as I know power consumption is not the main concern when we talk about HID lamps in older headlights. The main issue is that it is illegal almost everywhere and for a good reason.
As for the power consumption - generally, HID lamps need less power to produce more light than halogen ones.

Thanks for the heads up.

All that said, any input on LEDs?

manofmany wrote:

It's late, rainy, and cold so I can't easily go out and look. Coming home I noticed both of my brights are burnt out as I rarely drive at night. I'll be doing night driving now due to daylight savings. I've been running with a hid conversion for 3 years now. Unfortunately due to placement or whatever reason, they suck in rain/snow especially at night.

Is it possible to install low beams in place of the high beam lights using the high beam harness? My initial guess is no due to voltage or plugs being different, but just want to check.

My guess is your HID conversion's hotpoint for the bulb isn't correctly oriented in the reflector. For DOT code lights to work at all the bright part of the filament must be a certain placement w/r/t length and orientation.

I have led bulbs and they work great. The will not light on reduced power so no drl's but that is ok with me. All led's are not equal, some look bright but you can't see. I used United U8 bulbs, hope it helps.

Thanks Brian.
Wish projectors were available, dang it.

denim wrote:

Thanks Brian.
Wish projectors were available, dang it.

I am in NYC and I never get flashed. Bought a different brand for my TA and they suck, can't see.