Guntar13

I have an 89 and a 98 that am getting ready to do the H4 conversion on. found a great price on some Autopal lenses with bulbs, but the seller has multiple bulbs they can include (different wattages). What is the max wattage bulb that can be installed without changing the harness? I might upgrade the harness later but at this time it isn't feesable. Thanks for your input!

93XJLI

i wouldnt go above 65 on the factory harness. you probably could get away with more, but i wouldnt want to.

lostbuckaroo

I did a bunch of research on the H4 upgrade and everyone highly recommended getting the harness .... I ended up with a harness from LMC.. $30... part # 36-3590.. it didnt take long to install and ensures you won't burn up the underpowered stock harness.

cruiser54

None. Harness is $31. Autopals are $40 delivered to your door.

Headlight switch when it burns out at night is $25 plus a pain to install after the tow home. Think about it.

Trumpster

55w/65w max in my opinion, basically stock wattage. Upgrading the harness and having the current run through that instead of the switch will also make a big difference and (from what I've read) is worth the cost/time.

cruiser54

The harness alone will make your stock headlights about 30% brighter. Costs a few bucks more than a headlight switch and easier to install.

RWKHausSupply

HID conversion kit is only 55$ +/-10$.

HID will get you MUCH brighter light out put...

cruiser54

Without scatter and offending oncoming traffic and getting the attention of the cops?

RWKHausSupply

Without offending others, likely.
Without offending cops, possible.

If its raised, and then the output of a higher wattage H4 bulb, likely in some gay blue tint, will get just as much attention though.

cruiser54

I have the Autopals with 90/100 bulbs, not blue, and I don't get anyone's attention but my own as I see far down the road.

cruiser54

Here's a good read:
Originally Posted by xjsnake https://www.cherokeeforum.com/f2/headlights-151196/index2/ - post2069179https://www.cherokeeforum.com/f2/headlights-151196/index2/ - post2069179
Upgraded headlights the legal (ish) way...

1) Get a new headlight harness.

You can make your own http://www.go.jeep-xj.info/HowtoHeadlightLoom.htm

Or you can buy one: http://www.eautoworks.com/Putco-H4--...s-PRD7540.aspx

The eautoworks harnesses used to be quite cheap until everyone on this forum started recommending them and the price was raised accordingly.

You can pick them up for $29.99 here http://www.lmctruck.com/icatalog/csd/full.aspx?Page=48 part number 36-3580. It says it fits a chevy blazer but it's the same as the eautoworks harness and I'm running the LMC harness in my XJ.

There are other more expensive options for pre-made harnesses but I'm not super familiar with those.

2) Upgrade to H4 housings

There are two types of regulations pertaining to headlight housings. There are DOT approved housings which are legal in the US and there are Ecode lights which are European housings and aren't legal in the US although many people use them as they are considered superior housings due to the light pattern.

DOT
Rampage http://www.quadratec.com/products/97009_501.htm
IPF http://www.quadratec.com/products/97017_1600.htm
Delta http://www.quadratec.com/products/97009_121.htm
Hella http://www.quadratec.com/products/97009_02.htm

Ecode
Autopals (look on ebay for Autopal 200mm H4 housing)
Hella http://www.rallylights.com/detail.aspx?ID=744
Cibie http://www.clearcorners.com/products/cibie/

Personally I won't buy housings that have plastic lenses, I much prefer glass but your mileage may vary.

3) Get good bulbs

Some of the above housings come with bulbs included with them. I tend not to recommend bulbs as the choices are extremely vast and everyone has their own preferences as to color and wattage.

4) Aim your headlights properly!

I can't say enough how much improperly aimed headlights annoy me on the road plus you are wasting all that time and effort to upgrade the lighting if you don't aim the light where it does the most good... http://www.naxja.org/forum/showthread.php?t=78017

5) On HID Lights

I do not recommend HID's for use in XJ's... People will show links to cheap HID kits and "Projectors" off of ebay and other sites which will give you a lot of light and will also throw a lot of light in all directions making you very visible to police and possibly blinding other drivers.


Read http://www.danielsternlighting.com/t...nversions.html for a well written description of the problems with HID kits.

When using HID's you need a true projector housing. I'm sure people will chime in and say they run HID's and ebay housings and have had no problems but I'm describing the legal (ish) way.

If you want to go down the road of HID's, take a look at what true projector housings cost http://www.kbcarstuff.com/6054-200mm...-p/xd-6054.htm
http://www.brightheadlights.com/hid-upcoming.htm
or you can buy the projectors and retrofit them into existing housings if you are so inclined: https://www.cherokeeforum.com/f58/hea...9/#post1391556

There are a myriad of options available to consumers with the limiting factor being cost. One can spend under $100 and have significantly upgraded their lighting or they can spend $1000 and upgrade their lighting more. It's all in how much money you want to spend.

For those wanting to do some of these upgrades but not necessarily all I would do them in the following order:
1) Headlight Harness (major improvement even with sealed beams)
2) Housings and Associated Bulbs
3) Hid and Projectors (Cost prohibitive to do correctly)


For installation of the harness and housings see this excellent write up: https://www.cherokeeforum.com/f59/my-h4-upgrade-114440/

Disclaimer: Always check your local and state laws as some places have more stringent lighting laws than others... I am in no way associated with any of the above companies and none of what I say should be taken as the absolute truth or only way to do things. Flame on...

5-90

I've run 55/80W on RENIX (1990 and earlier) without trouble - ChryCo is a bit cheaper on wiring, so I'd stick to 55/65W.

Or, do a relay harness, and you can run whatever you like (I've got 90/130W in my 88!)

lostbuckaroo

x2

93XJLI

damn i remember when i got my first one... it was 11 bucks shipped i think.

cruiser54

$18 apiece. Free shipping on orders over $50. Did all 3 of my fanily's Jeeps.