The ultimate headlight upgrade H4 (not LED or HID)

Which bulbs did you use?

 

Osram 85/80

 

I have my relays between the battery and fender. I've pressure washed under the hood aggressively (at a car wash, not commercial/home pressure washer) and the relays have always been fine, over 10 years. Being we are running the same harness, you should be fine. You bought quality parts, not cheap crap.

 

Then I'll try not to worry. Any point in covering up the unused stock passenger headlight plug just in case I ever want to switch back?

Thanks again for the write up!

 

I put some electrical tape over the face of mine. I don’t see switching back, but I do have plans to use it for something else.

 

+1 to all of this.

FWIW, I look forward to learning about "something else" for which you "have plans."

 

Question...

I just tested my OEM set-up per the instructions on the 1st page. I pulled a 0.145 volt reading. The instructions state no measurable amount should be read and the picture jives with that by displaying 00.0. It appears that I have a conventionally ground set-up.

But I am pulling just the slightest bit...

Q1). Would you agree that I have a conventionally grounded set-up despite the small amount of pull? I am asking as I took your statement literally - "...would never have any measurable voltage present..." and I do have a measurable amount.

Dumb question most likely, but this is not my area of knowledge. Or would a reading like this mean - yes, conventionally switched but something else may be going on electrically as It should be a literal "0" on a conventionally switched set-up.

Thank you very much for the write-up and subsequent updating!

John

 

0.145v would be considered just noise. My meter fluctuated a tiny amount with noise, but it was also a super cheap meter. What you are looking for is 0v or 12v+, you are basically zero. Never is too strong of a word in that case, I’ll update it with some of my other To-Dos for the thread.

Also, get the 85/80w bulbs. I’m going back to those. I’ll post an update as to why hopefully this weekend. If ordering from Headlight Services, they also sell the 85/80w bulbs.

 

Thanks for that and noted on the bulbs

 

I have decided that this will be my next upgrade to my truck. I am very glad I stumbled across this thread - I was teetering in my decision on whether to go LED or not. This made my decision not to very very easy. Thank you for all of the super helpful information.

I have a questions:

While your new housings look awesome, I am hoping to find some with a bit more matte black in them as I will be switching out my grille to a matte black in the same project. I may have missed it somewhere on the thread, but you seem to be like minded in the idea of using quality parts to do the job right the first time. Do you have any recommendation on other housing manufacturers that are quality but come in different looks? I found these on Amazon, but I am not sure they are the best quality.

$100 VIPMOTOZ Black Housing OE-Style Headlight Headlamp Assembly For 2005-2011 Toyota Tacoma Pickup Truck, Driver & Passenger Side

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0743PTY65/ref=ox_sc_act_title_2?smid=A1M5677DEEH6HI&psc=1

Any input is welcome, thanks in advance!

 

Welcome to the forum!

The headlights I used were OEM, there can be lots of variability in both build quality and output quality from aftermarket headlights. A popular matte black assembly on the forum that people seem pretty happy with is lights from Depo.

Depo 312-1186P-US2 Toyota Tacoma Headlight with Black Bezel, One Pair

$149 DEPO 312-1186P-US2 Replacement Headlight Set (This product is an aftermarket product. It is not created or sold by the OE car company), Black

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B005XRPNYI/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_PF.tAb9ABSHE9

I’d suggest Depo over the ones you linked.

Some will also do a black headlight mod (BHLM) and bake their OEM lights in the oven to separate the lens, then paint the inside housing black (not the reflector) and glue it back together.

 

Slowly picking away at this install. Got my relay bracket in, and @Nick_Taco , yours is on the way. One left up for grabs. Temps are supposed to get into the 30's next week so I should be able to finish up.

 

Toy4Me - Can I get that last bracket? PM coming

 

Gotta tag him properly @Toy4me

 

@Toy4me which harness did you go with?

 

Sure, all yours sir .

Edit - got your pm. I will have it in the mail tomorrow or Monday the latest.

I went with the Headlight Services one. Looks to be well assembled. Hoping to get it in next week with the warmer temps. Aside from me hating the cold, the wire really stiffens up and I want to make sure I do a nice job routing it and making it look factory. We'll have to do our Florida trip another time.

 

Really like this idea over all the others. I plan on doing this at the same time I move to led switchbacks and new light housings since mine are melted.

 

@jet123 your bracket is in the mail.

Lets see if Nick and John are happy with my idea for relay placement and if they are I'll try to get some more metal and make more up. I figured this out in the cold so I won't be offended if I missed an obviously better location for the relays.

 

You gonna run the wire under the plastic on top of the radiator to hide it???

 

I ran my second harness along the front lower core support behind the crash bar, which is another easy location.