Sep 10, 2015, 03:05 PM
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Headlight Upgrades
Thread Starter
::CF Moderator::
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 43,971
Likes: 1,578
From: Prescott, Az
Year: 1990
Model: Cherokee (XJ)
Engine: 4.0
So after upgrading to the new wiring harness with relays it should be capable of handling higher wattage bulbs. I currently have the stock 55/60 watt low/high beam bulbs in place. Can 80/100 be safely used without frying the electrics? I would assume so since now the power is not being sent thru the switch and the relays are responsible for turning the lights on and off that higher wattage bulbs could safely be used.
I use 90/100s in a few of my cars.
Junior Member
Joined: Aug 2017
Posts: 68
Likes: 10
From: Palm Beach Gardens, FL
Year: 2001
Model: Cherokee (XJ)
Engine: 4.0L
Thanks. I thought higher wattage bulbs would work after the harness upgrade with relays. I'm always afraid because I put 100 watt bulbs in the high beams of my 1968 Fiat 128 as a teen fried the electrics and I had to rewire a lot of melted wires and switches under the dash. That's when I learned about relays. You learn more from your mistakes than from your successes. But I'm still a little gun shy.
Ordered some Hella 80/100 halogens to go in the Hella E-Code housings.
Ordered some Hella 80/100 halogens to go in the Hella E-Code housings.
Junior Member
Joined: Aug 2017
Posts: 68
Likes: 10
From: Palm Beach Gardens, FL
Year: 2001
Model: Cherokee (XJ)
Engine: 4.0L
Newbie
Joined: Apr 2018
Posts: 28
Likes: 3
From: Rustville (Maine)
Year: 2000
Model: Cherokee (XJ)
I recently did the harness upgrade using a "Partsam" harness off Amazon (
). Significant improvement.
I never use my fog lights and did not want to accidentally turn them on (given the problems described upthread with fogs and the bypass harness upgrades) so I removed the two fog light relays from the under-hood power distribution center. Now I cannot shut off the headlights unless the car is turned on (at least to ACC if I am remembering correctly). All other running lights can be turned on or off but the headlights do not turn off. Also, I no longer get the "buzzer" warning that headlights are on when I open the door.
Minor problems that I can live with but is there an easy fix to this?
I never use my fog lights and did not want to accidentally turn them on (given the problems described upthread with fogs and the bypass harness upgrades) so I removed the two fog light relays from the under-hood power distribution center. Now I cannot shut off the headlights unless the car is turned on (at least to ACC if I am remembering correctly). All other running lights can be turned on or off but the headlights do not turn off. Also, I no longer get the "buzzer" warning that headlights are on when I open the door.
Minor problems that I can live with but is there an easy fix to this?
Thread Starter
::CF Moderator::
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 43,971
Likes: 1,578
From: Prescott, Az
Year: 1990
Model: Cherokee (XJ)
Engine: 4.0
I recently did the harness upgrade using a "Partsam" harness off Amazon (https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...?ie=UTF8&psc=1). Significant improvement.
I never use my fog lights and did not want to accidentally turn them on (given the problems described upthread with fogs and the bypass harness upgrades) so I removed the two fog light relays from the under-hood power distribution center. Now I cannot shut off the headlights unless the car is turned on (at least to ACC if I am remembering correctly). All other running lights can be turned on or off but the headlights do not turn off. Also, I no longer get the "buzzer" warning that headlights are on when I open the door.
Minor problems that I can live with but is there an easy fix to this?
I never use my fog lights and did not want to accidentally turn them on (given the problems described upthread with fogs and the bypass harness upgrades) so I removed the two fog light relays from the under-hood power distribution center. Now I cannot shut off the headlights unless the car is turned on (at least to ACC if I am remembering correctly). All other running lights can be turned on or off but the headlights do not turn off. Also, I no longer get the "buzzer" warning that headlights are on when I open the door.
Minor problems that I can live with but is there an easy fix to this?
Yeah it is. I have a writeup that someone else did years back.
Can't find it now.
CF Veteran
Joined: Jan 2014
Posts: 1,533
Likes: 349
From: District of Columbia
Year: 1998
Model: Cherokee (XJ)
Engine: 4.0
Thanks. I thought higher wattage bulbs would work after the harness upgrade with relays. I'm always afraid because I put 100 watt bulbs in the high beams of my 1968 Fiat 128 as a teen fried the electrics and I had to rewire a lot of melted wires and switches under the dash. That's when I learned about relays. You learn more from your mistakes than from your successes. But I'm still a little gun shy.
Ordered some Hella 80/100 halogens to go in the Hella E-Code housings.
Ordered some Hella 80/100 halogens to go in the Hella E-Code housings.
Moderator CF K9-unit
Joined: Apr 2012
Posts: 5,842
Likes: 12
From: Alaska
Year: 2000 sport
Model: Cherokee (XJ)
Engine: New 4.0l from s&j engines
I recently did the harness upgrade using a "Partsam" harness off Amazon (https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B078XV8PL7/ref=oh_aui_search_detailpage?ie=UTF8&psc=1). Significant improvement.
I never use my fog lights and did not want to accidentally turn them on (given the problems described upthread with fogs and the bypass harness upgrades) so I removed the two fog light relays from the under-hood power distribution center. Now I cannot shut off the headlights unless the car is turned on (at least to ACC if I am remembering correctly). All other running lights can be turned on or off but the headlights do not turn off. Also, I no longer get the "buzzer" warning that headlights are on when I open the door.
Minor problems that I can live with but is there an easy fix to this?
I never use my fog lights and did not want to accidentally turn them on (given the problems described upthread with fogs and the bypass harness upgrades) so I removed the two fog light relays from the under-hood power distribution center. Now I cannot shut off the headlights unless the car is turned on (at least to ACC if I am remembering correctly). All other running lights can be turned on or off but the headlights do not turn off. Also, I no longer get the "buzzer" warning that headlights are on when I open the door.
Minor problems that I can live with but is there an easy fix to this?
See if they turn off.. My 2000 is funky that way,, I have new harness,,no relays for fogs my Jeep didn't come with fogs,
But I still hit the highs after pushing in switch to get them all the way off..who knows,Ive been doing it that way for years..lol
Last edited by Dumajones; Nov 29, 2018 at 07:54 PM.
Member
Joined: Apr 2018
Posts: 196
Likes: 45
From: Grand Junction, Colorado
Year: 1997
Model: Cherokee(XJ)
Engine: 4.0l
Orderd mine through ksuspension.com. Great quality. He has the housings if you need them too. He actually has some really cool things for the xj, check them out
Junior Member
Joined: Jun 2016
Posts: 39
Likes: 0
Model: Cherokee
