Can you run hi's and low's on a 99 Explorer

[Cuban11182]

My old man asked me to see if I can find a way with everything stock to run the high beams and the low beams at the same time. Is this possible? Is there a DIY?

Thanks in advance!!

 

[Mbrooks420]

Yes, you can, but the wiring needs upgraded or you will melt the wires/connectors. There are headlight control boxes that do this.

 

[PedroDaGr8]

One way is just using a beefy diode (very beefy), but then you risk burnt wires etc.

The other way is the brightbox method. No need to buy one of those controller boxes if they are more than $30 or so bucks, because you can make your own at that price. All you need are some wires (12-14 Gauge is ideal), a relay w/socket or and a cheapie diode or two ( 99c at Radio Shack or cheaper online), plus the 9007 male and female sockets.

Easiest way: Basically all you do is run your low and high beam wire (with a diode on the high beam wire) to pin 85 on the relay, run pin 86 to ground, pin 30 to battery, pin 87 out to low beam on bulb. Also run high beam wire to high beam on bulb and common on bulb to ground. Done.

I can post schematics if need be.

If you add a second relay for the high beam side, you get the added benefit of brighter lights, as well since you are getting rid of the voltage drop due to the horribly thin stock wiring.

 

[Cuban11182]

If you can post a schematic that would be great. Maybe I'll just make it for him and suprise him next time I am in NC. Thanks.

Edit: I spoke with my old man and he said he would prefer to try new bulbs first to see how they would change the lighting on the Eddie Bauer.

So does anyone suggest the Silverstar lights? or equivalent?

PedroDaGr8 if you can post the schematic still that would be great, I have some relay's laying around in the garage. Also, I'm not sure if he has them, but will this setup with DRL's?

 

[Przybysz]

If you can post a schematic that would be great. Maybe I'll just make it for him and suprise him next time I am in NC. Thanks.

Edit: I spoke with my old man and he said he would prefer to try new bulbs first to see how they would change the lighting on the Eddie Bauer.

So does anyone suggest the Silverstar lights? or equivalent?

PedroDaGr8 if you can post the schematic still that would be great, I have some relay's laying around in the garage. Also, I'm not sure if he has them, but will this setup with DRL's?

I highly suggest Silverstar lights. But I still need to wire my lights to run highs and lows at the same time. They are bright as heckkkkkkkk!

 

[Mbrooks420]

If you can post a schematic that would be great. Maybe I'll just make it for him and suprise him next time I am in NC. Thanks.

Edit: I spoke with my old man and he said he would prefer to try new bulbs first to see how they would change the lighting on the Eddie Bauer.

So does anyone suggest the Silverstar lights? or equivalent?

PedroDaGr8 if you can post the schematic still that would be great, I have some relay's laying around in the garage. Also, I'm not sure if he has them, but will this setup with DRL's?

You can also buy higher wattage lights than factory. Are the headlamp lenses clear, or they starting to yellow?

 

[Cuban11182]

I'm not sure since he lives in NC and I live in FL. He does know about the lense repair kit if he needs to get it.

 

[PedroDaGr8]

Sorry it took so long.

Here is the schematic:


The simpler version just removes the second relay and the pale blue wire connects to the orange one.

 

[Cuban11182]

Thanks for the schematic. I pretty much understand everything except what the wires are attaching to. What are the two orange pics on the top and I see that it looks like the 9007 male socket is the blue connector on the right. Where does the female 9007 go/connect to?

 

[Dan Whitaker]

I'm curious as to why he want's to do this. Is it due to poor lighting? If so how yellowed are his head lights lenses? This causes a major reduction in the light out put.

Running both the low & high beams at the same time is not going to help much if the lenses are yellowed neither will silverstar bulbs.

 

[Cuban11182]

My father is getting older and sees some of the newer vehicles with the HID and thinks that it might make his ability to see more at night. I'll entertain him. I did have it on my Chevy Colorado and it was brand new. It did make a difference with the increase in visability with the high beams on.

 

[Dan Whitaker]

I hate HID lights. My eyes are very sensitive to bright light. The HID's blind the hell out of me.

I bet if he had the head light lenses replaced (or polished if not to far gone) he would see a dramatic difference in light out put.

I also suggest he checks the legality of running both high & low beams at the same time.

 

[Cuban11182]

I don't think his are yellow, and if they are he knows about the polishing kits. In NC you can run 4 beams at once.

 

[Essex4x4]

How would it be a legal issue to run your high/low beams at the same time when some vehicles cannot run just the highs alone such as on my 1999 accord the for the high beams to be on the lows had to be on at the same time?

Why not just forget all this complicated stuff and run a switch to the high beams and make it so you can turn them on/off manually with an aux switch?

 

[Bill Kemp]

This mod is easy and will give the bulbs the available volts.
http://www.northtexaspowerstrokes.com/users/kevin/mods/upgradeharness/

Now, a 10+ yr. old veh. not only has some yellowing of the lenses but probably a significant degradation of the reflective surface inside the headlight.
Probably should be replaced.
A High power harness will help get more volts to the bulbs and make them brighter.

I did this above referenced mod and found that, to me, it didnt help me see any further. When only the High Beams are on your vision is directed "down the road". When both high & low are on your vision is not as far reaching down the road. (too much illumination up close to the car)
A better solution is using a harness and new headlight housings and the fog light mod. (keeps the fogs on with brights)

 

[Przybysz]

Bill,

Arent hi-blinders and fogs on illegal together?

 

[PedroDaGr8]

Some states yes soe states no.

ALso, Bill that mod you linked to is EXACTLY the schematic I just posted above.

The blue plug goes to your stock plug, the orange plugs go to your bulbs.

 

[Cuban11182]

Pedro,

Ok thanks. Now what size diode should I use? Do I just use spade connectors to plug into the existing bulbs or are the 9008's the connectors to attach to the bulbs?

Thanks.

 

[Essex4x4]

Bill,

Arent hi-blinders and fogs on illegal together?

how would the police even know? we only have one bulb so its not like they can tell if our brights are on.

 

[Przybysz]

how would the police even know? we only have one bulb so its not like they can tell if our brights are on.

I'm saying are the fog lights legal when they are on along with the high beams. Not the high beams and low beams on at the same time.