The ultimate headlight upgrade H4 (not LED or HID)

It is a very small shop run by a lighting enthusiast on evenings and weekends. If you left a message or sent an email I’m sure you’ll get a response soon.

 

@crashnburn80 Thanks for putting this whole thread together. I'm using the Osram bulbs and they work great, but unfortunately I decided to use eBay headlight housing and one of them is leaking. I want to get the 05-11 OEM Smoked housings but I'm finding two different sets of PN's quoted around the board. Can you clarify for me what the difference is between the two below? I definitely like the lower price of the 2nd set listed. Thanks in advance.

EDIT: So far, only difference I see is the first I quoted is 05-08 and the 2nd set is 09-11.

OEM 2005-2011 smoked headlights:
These are like the Pro lights, but came on select Sport models. These are the updated TSB version of the lights that do not have the melting DRL issue. TSB is available here.
Right: 81110-04210
Left: 81150-04210


Smoke OEM (like the Pro lights) for about $170/ea.

OEM 2005-2011 smoked headlights:
These are like the Pro lights, but came on select Sport models. These are available loaded with bulbs, and unloaded w/o bulbs, saving $60 off the set . These part numbers are for the unloaded housings. These are the updated TSB version of the lights that do not have the melting DRL issue.
Right #81130-04173
Left #81170-04173

 

Thanks for pointing that out! This is the correct info, which is updated in the original post of this thread.

OEM 2005-2011 smoked headlights:
These are like the Pro lights, but came on select Sport models. These are the updated TSB version of the lights that do not have the melting DRL issue. TSB is available here.
Right: 81110-04210
Left: 81150-04210

Tag me where you see that other information and I will fix it. The other part numbers were mistakenly the pre-TSB lights that had the melting DRL issue. You want the updated parts which have the fixed the melting DRL issue, often referred to as the TSB lights.

 

Awesome! Thanks for that updated info. I'm also tagging and quoting you in the thread I found the other PN's in.

 

question about theses headlights. I will be needing to buy a pair myself. I want the 2011 smoked headlights oem like I have now but my truck is an off road. not sure what you mean by select sport models. are these different than the off road? not a color picture so I cant tell

 

This is the color difference (shown in the 2012+ configuration):



I am not aware of any off road models that came with the smoked headlights from the factory, only later generation sport models that did. Did you own the truck since new? Either way you can see the difference and have the smoked part numbers to order.

 

yes I have a 2011 O/R that I bought brand new. has the smoked headlights. the dtrl are melting and cracking.

 

Hmm, maybe my info about it only being sold as stock on the sport is inaccurate, this would be the first I've heard of that. Regardless the info in the original post of this thread with the smoke assemblies for your year include the TSB fix in the listed part number to resolve the melting DRL issue. I would recommend ordering those.

 

ive seen a few offroads come with them from the factory. what package added them? i havent a clue

 

Did the upgrade to the headlights today. Used the Headlight Services harness with the Osram Superbrights. Now my headlights are on all the time and I can't turn on the high beams (except to flash). I had read thru every post on here so I thought it sounded easy. Hadn't read where anyone had this problem before. Any help would be appreciated.

 

Try swapping the relays and see what you get.

 

It should be plug and play, haven't had anyone else run into that issue. Agreed on try swapping the relays, it is possible one is defective. You don’t have headlight DRLs, correct (where you cannot turn the headlights off)?

 

No, I don't have the headlight DRLs. It uses the amber turn signal bulbs for DRLs.

Just tried swapping relays. Still the same.

 

Look in the OEM fuse box under the hood, try swapping the high and low headlight relays in there. The harness is super low tech, it gets a signal and activates the appropriate relay for high or low, there isn’t much to go wrong.

 

I looked the fuse box. Couldn't find relays for headlights in there. There is one that says Head but I was looking for High and Low. I'll try again tomorrow.
I did add some dielectric grease to the connectors at the bulbs. Would that cause a problem?

I sent Mike an email but I know it will probably take some time to get a response.

 

I

I put the grease in the socket, not on the bulb. And I was wearing gloves when I installed the bulbs.

 

At first, it was a Sport only thing for 2009-2011, and then the 2015 Pro. In between that, I know some base SR5s and Sport came with them as an option. Not sure about other trims.

 

I'm not real familiar with the thread or procedure, but did you check for the Ground Switched part mentioned? If not that, then seems like a harness/relay issue.

 

Dielectric grease is non-conductive, only small amounts should be used but I haven’t heard of that being a problem in the past.

I double checked the OEM fuse box, you are correct on the relay. To limit the problem to the harness, try unplugging the harness on the driver side and plugging just the driver side bulb into the stock harness. Just test the low beam briefly. Those bulbs will get hot quickly and I would not try the high beam. If it works then the issue is something is wrong with the harness.

 

Yes, I checked the Ground Switched part mentioned. My 2014 is power switched. Thanks for the idea though.