Calgary Jeep Association

4x4 Related Groups => Tech Talk => Topic started by: Knox on May 10, 2013, 09:37:42 PM

Title: Headlight Replacements
Post by: Knox on May 10, 2013, 09:37:42 PM
So I've been running the Chinese hids from Chanda  for the last two winters, they've worked well overall, definitly an improvement over stock, but I'm starting to have the problem of the passenger side not turning on randomly.

My question,

Does anyone have any experience with LEDs to fit the 7" rounds? Would you recommend a particular Hid/Zenon whatever?
Looking for a complete set up, new ballasts lenses etc. Let me know what you have and like versus what you have an wouldn't do again!
Title: Re: Re: Headlight Replacements
Post by: w squared on May 11, 2013, 11:36:58 AM
HID's and LED's are cool....but performance for the dollar, I think that it's hard to beat a good quality e-code lamp that has a halogen bulb. The stock wiring keeps halogens from working properly - but that's an easy fix with a couple of relays and a new headlight wiring loom. The Hella headlights that I put on my JK work just as well as the HID's in my girlfriend's Audi....and I got the complete kit (lamps, bulbs, relays, wiring loom) from Susquehanna motorsports for $200.

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Title: Re: Headlight Replacements
Post by: Endless on May 13, 2013, 12:49:07 PM
I to have a set from Chanda with the same issue except its the drivers side.  Started out as intermittently  it wouldn't come on but now it just lightly flashes at start up and then nothing.  I'm curious on other option and input as well.
Title: Re: Headlight Replacements
Post by: morerpmfred on May 13, 2013, 04:08:23 PM
X2 on what W square says. I did my own headlight wiring harness. Wiring harness alone will almost double brightness of stock head lights.
Title: Re: Headlight Replacements
Post by: SwampSinger on May 13, 2013, 08:48:30 PM
check this out voisin...

http://www.pirate4x4.com/tech/usmcdoc/lights/index.php

Title: Re: Headlight Replacements
Post by: Dingleberry on May 16, 2013, 02:03:30 PM
X3 on what Todd suggested.

I'm also running an upgraded wiring harness and halogen bulbs in a good e-code headlight housing (Hella). This is especially important! I had previously run with cheap e-code housing purchased on eBay (AUTOPAL) that I soon realised were garbage, the reflective film on the inside of the housing peeled itself off pretty quick.

I would highly recommend a good quality brand of H4 conversion housings (Hella, IPF etc) and making yourself an upgraded wiring harness http://jeep-xj.info/HowtoHeadlightLoom.htm (http://jeep-xj.info/HowtoHeadlightLoom.htm) if you plan to run halogen.
Should you choose to stick with Xenon/HIDs, still a good quality housing/lens will make all the difference :)
Title: Re: Headlight Replacements
Post by: JENSSEN on May 16, 2013, 06:20:46 PM
I have Hella's in all our Jeeps and don't plan in ever buying anything else. In the 2004 Rubicon we have the first shipment of Chanda HID's with zero issues, now in the 1993 2Dr I have the second or third run of Chanda HID's , now that set have given me a few issues with lamps not lighting up. Have to turn them on and off a few times to get them to ignite. White Comanche has Hella's with a good quality bulb with no issues
Title: Re: Headlight Replacements
Post by: bullitt85 on May 27, 2013, 09:26:31 AM
I went with these, had great online reviews about quality and light focus

http://www.quadratec.com/products/97009_802X_PG.htm
Title: Re: Re: Re: Headlight Replacements
Post by: binare on May 27, 2013, 09:48:54 AM
I went with these, had great online reviews about quality and light focus

http://www.quadratec.com/products/97009_802X_PG.htm

Any reviews on people using them in the winter?
Title: Re: Re: Re: Headlight Replacements
Post by: bullitt85 on May 27, 2013, 10:21:30 AM
Any reviews on people using them in the winter?

did a little digging on that, they have a circulation fan built in moving heat from the rear to the front of the light, so they don't freeze in the winter.
One forum claimed originally built for the US military, so I would guess they have all climates integrated into its functionality.
Title: Re: Re: Re: Re: Re: Headlight Replacements
Post by: binare on May 27, 2013, 11:07:30 AM
did a little digging on that, they have a circulation fan built in moving heat from the rear to the front of the light, so they don't freeze in the winter.
One forum claimed originally built for the US military, so I would guess they have all climates integrated into its functionality.

Nice, I'd definitely be interested in seeing how they handle blowing snow on the highways.