Stock lights suck...
01-20-2015, 09:14 PM
#1
Junior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jan 2015
Location: New York
Posts: 47
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Year: 2000
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0L
Stock lights suck...
I just started driving my Cherokee and I realized that the headlights suck... I was wondering what the cheapest and best fix for this.. Either new lights or light bar maybe two square LEDs?
01-20-2015, 09:27 PM
#2
Member
Join Date: Dec 2014
Location: Southern Utah
Posts: 122
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Year: 1997
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0L
Start with upgrading the harness. The Putco harness on Amazon is decent, although the relays could be more reliable. If you need more, then swap to H4 housings and put in brighter bulbs. The IPF Fatboy bulbs claim to be the brightest H4's without going to insane power levels.
Adding a light bar or pods is only useful offroad. They'll be illegal to use on the street. If offroad is where you plan to use them, then the ones on ebay and Amazon offer a lot of value.
Adding a light bar or pods is only useful offroad. They'll be illegal to use on the street. If offroad is where you plan to use them, then the ones on ebay and Amazon offer a lot of value.
01-21-2015, 05:24 AM
#4
I just did this on mine.
https://www.cherokeeforum.com/f67/e-...r-10-a-204713/
This is probably the cheapest way to fix the factory headlamp wiring.
https://www.cherokeeforum.com/f67/e-...r-10-a-204713/
This is probably the cheapest way to fix the factory headlamp wiring.
Last edited by Firehawk068; 01-21-2015 at 09:41 PM.
01-21-2015, 01:51 PM
#6
Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: Russellville, Arkansas
Posts: 957
Likes: 0
Received 2 Likes
on
2 Posts
Year: 1991
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0 I-6
Yeah, upgrade the harness first. It will make a big difference with stock lights. I have read that it will increase light output by @ 35%. I made my own from stuff I had sitting around left over from other projects so, basically, mine was free.
01-21-2015, 07:41 PM
#7
::CF Moderator::
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: Prescott, Az
Posts: 43,876
Received 1,527 Likes
on
1,239 Posts
Year: 1990
Model: Cherokee (XJ)
Engine: 4.0
Trending Topics
01-21-2015, 08:05 PM
#8
Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2014
Location: Saginaw Mi area
Posts: 580
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Year: 1994
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0
Mine seem "adequate" but there's room for improvement. One is brighter than the other... Rewiring the harness seems like a good idea on most cars.
What's the recommended gauge ? #12? or maybe even #10 ? 10 gauge is good for about 60 amps, so very little voltage drop to the headlamps would be the result, but maybe a bit over-kill....
What's the recommended gauge ? #12? or maybe even #10 ? 10 gauge is good for about 60 amps, so very little voltage drop to the headlamps would be the result, but maybe a bit over-kill....
01-21-2015, 08:09 PM
#9
::CF Moderator::
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: Prescott, Az
Posts: 43,876
Received 1,527 Likes
on
1,239 Posts
Year: 1990
Model: Cherokee (XJ)
Engine: 4.0
Mine seem "adequate" but there's room for improvement. One is brighter than the other... Rewiring the harness seems like a good idea on most cars.
What's the recommended gauge ? #12? or maybe even #10 ? 10 gauge is good for about 60 amps, so very little voltage drop to the headlamps would be the result, but maybe a bit over-kill....
What's the recommended gauge ? #12? or maybe even #10 ? 10 gauge is good for about 60 amps, so very little voltage drop to the headlamps would be the result, but maybe a bit over-kill....
01-21-2015, 09:33 PM
#10
Newbie
Join Date: Oct 2014
Location: Ohio
Posts: 21
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Year: 1999
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0
Definitely harness first. I was going to grab the putco harness from amazon but a few of the reviews about cheap relays and plugs pushed me to make my own. I followed the directions here http://jeep-xj.info/HowtoHeadlightLoom.htm and everything works great. It was much more expensive to make my own but I need my headlights to work and I need to be able to trust them. In the winter about 90% of my driving is at night, my headlights need to work.
There are some great write-up on the the headlight harness upgrade in the write-up section. If you have fogs lights there is an extra step to keep them working.
There are some great write-up on the the headlight harness upgrade in the write-up section. If you have fogs lights there is an extra step to keep them working.
01-21-2015, 09:43 PM
#11
Member
Join Date: Nov 2014
Posts: 157
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Model: Cherokee
Is that a different alternative to the putco?
01-22-2015, 08:41 AM
#12
Newbie
Join Date: Oct 2014
Location: Ohio
Posts: 21
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Year: 1999
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0
Yes that is another harness but at $10 shipped you might wonder about the quality of the parts. Also it says it's 1.5m long... my harness was over 2m long to get from the battery to the driver side headlight.
01-22-2015, 08:49 AM
#13
It's the one I just used in this write-up.
https://www.cherokeeforum.com/f67/e-...r-10-a-204713/
It is (Just!) long enough.
01-22-2015, 09:43 AM
#14
Member
Join Date: Nov 2014
Location: Woodstock, GA, originally from S. CA.
Posts: 150
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Year: 1987 149k, original owner
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0
Definitely harness first. I was going to grab the putco harness from amazon but a few of the reviews about cheap relays and plugs pushed me to make my own. I followed the directions here http://jeep-xj.info/HowtoHeadlightLoom.htm and everything works great. It was much more expensive to make my own but I need my headlights to work and I need to be able to trust them. In the winter about 90% of my driving is at night, my headlights need to work.
There are some great write-up on the the headlight harness upgrade in the write-up section. If you have fogs lights there is an extra step to keep them working.
There are some great write-up on the the headlight harness upgrade in the write-up section. If you have fogs lights there is an extra step to keep them working.
01-22-2015, 09:57 AM
#15
Member
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: Easton, PA
Posts: 210
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Year: 1998
Model: Cherokee
Engine: 4.0
I didn't realize how bad they were. I upgraded my harness, and switched to H4 housings in my '98 XJ 10 years ago. I just picked up a '94 XJ, and couldn't believe how bad the stock lights are. I have been working on it, but before I put it on the road I will upgrade it also. I have the parts for the harness. I just have to break out the soldering iron.