The ultimate headlight upgrade H4 (not LED or HID)

Thank you!

 

I did this upgrade back in 2018 and it has been the best mod I’ve done on my truck! My memory is failing, however, and I can’t remember if the Osram H4 100w/90w bulbs are technically street legal for low beam lights. Can someone remind me?

 

Technically, no. Practically, yes.

 

Legal wattage requirements are 60/55w for a 9003. Since the Superbrights are higher wattage than that, they are not street legal.

 

So, I was doing some part searching and stumbled on this. It's effectively exactly what I intend to build. This might be a nice solution for others looking to buy something ready to go. It has all of the waterproof elements I'd want to use for myself.

https://ceautoelectricsupply.com/headlight-relay-kits/h4-sealed-beam-headlight-relay-kits/

 

I’m personally not a fan of multiple local grounds used there and would much prefer the return to home (battery) grounding.

 

Agreed (one key difference in my plans). However, shorter grounds are ideal as far as current flow, provided both locations are good connections since the vehicle chassis is a far better conductor than any wire.

The sealed relays and metri-pack fuse holder are far superior to the stuff I've seen elsewhere. I haven't seen a HS harness but I can skim this thread for photos of one.

ETA: Ah, the harness in the first post (RallyLights?) uses unsealed relays (bummer) but a metripack fuse holder (cool).

One thing I'm pondering for myself is if I want two fuses (one for high beams one for low beams) or a single fuse. I can see both sides of that one.

 

There’s not many good grounds around the head lights, so ideally I’d just run a larger ground wire to the battery negative.

 

Not true. I had Mike make me a harness with about 10” long grounds at each light. Then there’s a bolt with a 10mm head that attaches the front of the fender to the radiator support. Remove the bolt there’s no paint or primer between the two. Use a bit of dielectric grease and your set… Yes I painted the top of the headlights.
Oh, I used the same grease on the relays because & I use it on every electrical connection.

 

Well there’s that too I guess. Either way is fine.

 

That's why I like using Volvo battery cables. The negative cable has a piggy back for the fender with 10 built it spade terminals.

 

I just use the battery ground to the stock location with the special bolts Toyota uses. No issues ever from that method the ground bolts marked E have threads that do a damn good job cutting into the paint and making a good ground

 

I just did this mod yesterday, and I'm gonna have to agree with everyone else in this thread and say its a fantastic upgrade. I used the headlightservices harness and the Osram 100/90w bulbs, and the headlight output is great. Still the nice yellow/white halogen color temp, same beam pattern, just much brighter.

Big thanks to crashnburn80 for this thread and mod!

 

Where is the factory Toyota part numbers located on the back of the headlights? I just bought a set of headlights for a good price because they’re in better shape than mine, but I’m curious if they’re factory or aftermarket.

 

Lens should say Toyota or Depo or TYC etc.

 

Note how just above those markings, near the bulb, an OEM assembly is stamped “Toyota”.

 

Well, they're OEM Toyota lights! Now, what's the best way to get the dirt out of the insides of them without removing the lenses? There's not a lot, just a little in the bottom that looks like it was a little muddy water that dried. Looks like they have some type of HID bulb in them, guess they didn't seal good (I hope that's all). 1 is also missing the bulb clip, but for $20 I can't complain!

 

I cleaned the sealed units on my 98 in the sink with a heavy duty solution of simple green and hot water. Just make sure to fully dry it.

 

Did you do the final rinse with DI water or just tap water? I thought I heard somewhere that DI water doesn't leave water spots.

 

I used the tap, no spots were left. You could always blow some compressed air in to push it off the lens.