Classic AquaSport

Aquasport Mechanicals - things that need a wrench, screwdriver or multimeter => Trailers => Topic started by: gran398 on January 31, 2014, 08:11:16 PM

Title: Replacement Headlights
Post by: gran398 on January 31, 2014, 08:11:16 PM
Been sprucing up the old Tahoe.

The bluish-beam headlights....are they legal everywhere? Are these the ones known as projectors?

Been checking the net...some seem to be halide, some LED. Is there a "best" brand, one you guys know of and are pleased with?

Thanks! :thumright:
Title: Re: Replacement Headlights
Post by: Capt. Bob on January 31, 2014, 08:51:20 PM
HID (high intensity discharge)
Xenon gas excited between an arc.
 Color produced is the bluish you see.

High pressure sodium (crime lighting) is pinkish.
Low pressure sodium is yellowish.
Metal halide (mercury) bluish white
All are light produced by exciting gas between an electric discharge.
Wife has them on her car.

Good luck.
Title: Re: Replacement Headlights
Post by: seabob4 on January 31, 2014, 08:56:26 PM
From the Tahoe forum, Scotty...http://www.tahoeyukonforum.com/forum/sh ... hp?t=42042 (http://www.tahoeyukonforum.com/forum/showthread.php?t=42042)

Might want to join.  Jessie and I both have Grand Cherokees, jeepsunlimited.com has helped us a bunch... :salut:
Title: Re: Replacement Headlights
Post by: Aswaff400 on January 31, 2014, 09:20:34 PM
Quote from: "seabob4"
From the Tahoe forum, Scotty...http://www.tahoeyukonforum.com/forum/sh ... hp?t=42042 (http://www.tahoeyukonforum.com/forum/showthread.php?t=42042)

Might want to join.  Jessie and I both have Grand Cherokees, jeepsunlimited.com has helped us a bunch... :salut:
and you know me with my Ford truck forums!

I would just replace the headlights with factory style units, and replace the bulbs with better brighter ones. most factory head light assemblies done work well with HID's as the beam pattern is quite different.
Title: Re: Replacement Headlights
Post by: seabob4 on January 31, 2014, 09:59:54 PM
Quote from: "Aswaff400"
Quote from: "seabob4"
From the Tahoe forum, Scotty...http://www.tahoeyukonforum.com/forum/sh ... hp?t=42042 (http://www.tahoeyukonforum.com/forum/showthread.php?t=42042)

Might want to join.  Jessie and I both have Grand Cherokees, jeepsunlimited.com has helped us a bunch... :salut:
and you know me with my Ford truck forums!

I would just replace the headlights with factory style units, and replace the bulbs with better brighter ones. most factory head light assemblies done work well with HID's as the beam pattern is quite different.

And my Maxima forum!  http://forums.maxima.org/1st-2nd-genera ... 5-1988-19/ (http://forums.maxima.org/1st-2nd-generation-maxima-1981-1984-1985-1988-19/)
Title: Re: Replacement Headlights
Post by: wingtime on January 31, 2014, 10:52:45 PM
The Sylvania Silver-Star Ultra bulbs are the best bang for your buck Scotty.  You might need some new plastic housings...  check with LMC truck for those.
Title: Re: Replacement Headlights
Post by: seabob4 on January 31, 2014, 11:06:17 PM
Quote from: "wingtime"
The Sylvania Silver-Star Ultra bulbs are the best bang for your buck Scotty.  You might need some new plastic housings...  check with LMC truck for those.

Once I get new housings for the Jeep, that's what I'm going with.  On a side note, the Maxima has glass housings...basically perfect after 27 years... :cheers:  :cheers:
Title: Re: Replacement Headlights
Post by: Aswaff400 on February 01, 2014, 06:00:01 AM
I replaced one of my headlights on the f250 a couple months ago, ordered from rockauto.com good prices, and quick shipping
Title: Re: Replacement Headlights
Post by: seabob4 on February 01, 2014, 07:56:08 AM
Quote from: "Aswaff400"
I replaced one of my headlights on the f250 a couple months ago, ordered from rockauto.com good prices, and quick shipping

Rockauto is used a lot by the Jeep guys... :thumleft:  :thumleft:
Title: Re: Replacement Headlights
Post by: gman 82 aquasport on February 01, 2014, 10:47:15 AM
Another thing to consider Scott, if your Tahoe is like mine when you switch your high beams on the low beams go off, Summit Racing and others sell a kit with relay that allows the low beams to stay on with the high beams thus getting you 4 lights on instead of 2 :thumright: Supposed to be a very easy wire up...have one on order for my 97 Tahoe..I'm also running "Silver Star" lights..
Title: Re: Replacement Headlights
Post by: gran398 on February 01, 2014, 11:09:01 AM
Sweet!!

Thank you all for your responses....nothing like trusted guidance! :thumright:
Title: Re: Replacement Headlights
Post by: gran398 on February 11, 2014, 09:13:46 PM
Guys, thanks again for your input.

Played it safe and went with the Sylvania Silver Star Ultras. Did not want to go full-bore with an external power source for the big boys.

The Sylvania's  installed easily on the Tahoe.  A big improvement, especially on low beam.

The high beam, while impressive and a lot more than stock,  didn't seem to be "All That". Coming home every night in the dark, there are deer on my road like you wouldn't believe.

So researched Gary's suggestion. When on high beams, the relay also combines the low beams. You're running all four lights :shock:

Installed today. What a difference. This is a BRIGHT setup, well worth the 28 bucks for the relay assembly.

Couldn't be happier....thanks guys :salut:
Title: Re: Replacement Headlights
Post by: SaltH2OHokie on April 16, 2014, 12:16:04 PM
Quote from: "gran398"
Guys, thanks again for your input.

Played it safe and went with the Sylvania Silver Star Ultras. Did not want to go full-bore with an external power source for the big boys.

The Sylvania's  installed easily on the Tahoe.  A big improvement, especially on low beam.

The high beam, while impressive and a lot more than stock,  didn't seem to be "All That". Coming home every night in the dark, there are deer on my road like you wouldn't believe.

So researched Gary's suggestion. When on high beams, the relay also combines the low beams. You're running all four lights :shock:

Installed today. What a difference. This is a BRIGHT setup, well worth the 28 bucks for the relay assembly.

Couldn't be happier....thanks guys :salut:


While not DOT approved, if you have fog lights...they also disappear on most vehicles when you switch to high-beams.  On both of my F350's, a little google'ing and I found which wire under the dash to clip and ground and now they stay on with the high-beams.  Makes a surprising difference (at least on my 2 superduty's).  Something else to consider.

VA vehicle safety inspectors will sometimes check for fog lamps going off when high-beams come on, so when I did mine I grounded a pigtail and crimped a female bullet connector on it.  Cut the factory wire and put a female on the "downstream" side and a male bullet on the "upstream" side.  Now it takes 2 seconds to switch it back and forth from factory setup to "Ryan" setup.

My door dinger wire, on the other hand, just got snipped.  No connectors necessary, because that ain't ever going back.  Most obnoxious sound I can think of when I'm just trying to leave the doors open to hear the radio while I'm sitting on the tailgate!
Title: Re: Replacement Headlights
Post by: seabob4 on April 16, 2014, 01:31:26 PM
Funny you mention that Ford door chime, Ryan.  Where we live, the closest parked vehicle (other than our driveway) would be like 4-500 feet away.  I can always tell when a Ford truck pulls up and the door opens... :x
Title: Re: Replacement Headlights
Post by: SaltH2OHokie on April 16, 2014, 01:46:49 PM
Black with pink tracer leaving the steering column.  Snip, done.
Title: Re: Replacement Headlights
Post by: icemanbryan on April 16, 2014, 02:30:21 PM
Quote from: "seabob4"
Funny you mention that Ford door chime, Ryan.  Where we live, the closest parked vehicle (other than our driveway) would be like 4-500 feet away.  I can always tell when a Ford truck pulls up and the door opens... :x

That was about the first item I deleted.
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