The ultimate headlight upgrade H4 (not LED or HID)

So, if I did do the harness mod, would I see a higher output? With the same lamp, compared to stock? Based on the mod being more efficient? i.e. less voltage drop? That is how I am understanding it, just want to make sure I am comprehending the information correctly. Thanks again for all your help, I pretty much spent my entire day reading your posts on lighting mods!

 

Yes, you have it correct. The harness will increase output on any halogen bulb, stock wattage or high wattage.

 

Thank you for all your info!

 

I put my harness in this past weekend. Easy peasy.
Took some pics and I"ll take more and put them up when I put my OSRAMs in.
I'm just hoping I don't have to change them out in mid snowstorm!

 

You certainly won’t have headlight icing issues in a snowstorm.

 

is there a video of someone upgrading the harness and how it is done? I know ppl say its easy, but i like to see how it is done.

 

I have my harness now too, just have to find time to put it in before I head off again. I also have a stack of headlights and fog lights to put in... Same issue. Lol.

 

Here is a video for an XJ.
https://youtu.be/3yGa1DvyluY

Tacoma’s are far easier, you don’t need to remove the headlight assembly or any parts and wire routing is easier and more straight forward. The harness he is using in the video has local grounds at the lights, the harnesses in this thread use full length return to home grounds to have a single ground on the negative battery terminal which is a better design.

 

Hey I sold that harness I bought for 50.00 which do you recommend now sir?

 

You going to finally install it? The Headlight Services harness is a clear winner for higher quality and better built harness, and it is also less expensive. I highly recommend their harness.

 

Thank you sir.

 

Is there a part number for this harness (2012 Tacoma Sport)?

 

So I finally installed the harness

Totally second the Headlight Services harness.

So overall, a pretty simple install.

Not a video, but some pics

First, first was to pull the battery out of the way (just removed it completely)

First was to pop the pins holding the top cover that spans the length of the front of the bay between the headlight Assemblies.




This gave a beautiful channel to run the longest part of the harness with the two new headlight connectors between the headlights.

I then zip tied the line in either side so it didn't slip off the ledge.



Here is the rough length I had left on pass side:


This left the bulk of the harness (relays, pos/ground, etc in a bundle in front of the battery... Or where the battery was.


I ziptied the relays in place because I was in a hurry, but the kit came with 2 screws that could have been used for this. As it looked like the relay holders had mount points. (The instructions I got with mine were for a different vehicle strangely, so I just made due).

At this point I pulled the pass side headlight socket and tapped the living jeebus out if it to keep it protected while it sits empty and ziptied it out of the way.


Then I connected the Driverside stock to the relay input and taped it as well. Again, in a hurry.



With that done, it's simply a matter of connecting the Positive and neg/ground to the battery terminals. Mine ended up looking like this. (Had to adjust to get battery back in first. )


(I really need to get a better terminal setup, I always hate having a stack of wires off the positive terminal... Need a bus bar or something)

Negative terminal is cleaner, I ended up flipping the bolt in the terminal so I could have it join on the outside.

At this point - assume battery is back in, plug your fuses in and power is now being supplied to the two new headlight recepticals.


At this point, I swapped my bulbs.

Drivers side: Easy, used gloves just in case, swapped it before I put battery back in, as I like extra space



And Finished.

Pass Side: I pulled the washer fluid tank. 10mm head, mine is missing 1, so I just had one to remove, and then it was easy peasy.


10mm

Finished.

 

Oh, and as to performance... I wanted bulbs that would give me a low beam like my factory LEDs in our Chevy Volt. I am a fan of bluish White light.

I know that this means the coatings will reduce the overall lumens per watt that I could be getting.

I am ok with this.

So I went with an Osram Blue bulb that will use 90w on low beam, which will give a lower than optimum output, yet still far more light and the color I want - without blinding other drivers through scattering.



I don't have pics yet, but the reason I was in such a hurry, was to get out to a primitive camp site in Winona State Forest in NY State. A place where my new lights would get a proper test.


(Sample W/ no light - Trees are approx 200' away... Just a guess.. it's dark and I am comfy)

And OMG. The low beams are beasts, love em. Light up the road very well, as well as signs well off to the pass side on Interstate 81. As well, not a single flash from any oncoming traffic. Not even in town.


(Just a low beam sample at camp site)

High beams? Yeah, once we got into the back roads, and found our first choice for site taken - we had to hunt for another via GPS coordinates. The highs lit up the front trail road and forest beautifully... Like a wall of light, illuminating the trees above as well, which was key as we had to make sure my RTT would clear the encroaching forest.


(Again just a sample at camp site, was more epic when there was a clear need)

Now we sit in front of a fire, and the passing signal gods are dictating if I get to post this, or fix the photo error in the post above (fixed).

 

If I hold my phone, just so... 1 bar of 4G.

Photo fixed.

 

Still no photo. I should update the original post other bulbs section to include those Osrams, though I wouldn’t specifically recommend them due to reduced output, for those looking for a whiter halogen bulb they are a better option than the poor build quality of the Optilux bulbs.

The important part is understanding the trade offs and making a decision that is best for you.

 

It's coming... Geez.. One hand in the air with wife's phone... I am tethering on wifi so it's usable.. so posting these with left hand only and statue of liberty pose with the right. Lol.

Edit: There... They should all be uploaded and in the right spots now.

 

Yes, it is a tradeoff, but the color is attractive to those seeking that LED / HID color in this housing.

Far Better output than stock

Far whiter / bluish than stock

Osram bulb from the UK was actually really inexpensive compared to other options....

Win, win, win.

 

@crashnburn80 & @Darkskypoet

Thank you guys for the pics and video. I Just ordered my harness from Headlight Service earlier today. Should be getting it this week.

What do you guys recommend for having organized terminals and such. Trying to avoid a nest of wires on the battery.

 

Battling that myself. @White lightning boosted has a nice setup for auxiliary power with multiple terminals relayed off the battery.