Fixing my "plug-n-play" headlights.
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From: Southern New Jersey
Fixing my "plug-n-play" headlights.
So I got some streetracingazian retrofits about a week ago or so, went to install them and found the harness all hacked and corroded to the point of it being worthless.
So the first order of business was just to replace the control box and harness, installed new harness and box to car, key to long life for these connections is a liberal coating of a quality dielectric grease, keeps moisture out and reduces the chances of issues caused by vibration.
After the install I found that the shutters for the highbeams didnt work. Well a little diagnosis found it was the ♠♠♠♠ty Chinese control box that was failed and not working the shutters. So I'll be completely replacing it with ballast control and shutter control harnesses of my own design and construction.
Instead of the shutters and ballasts all getting their control signals from just one headlamp socket connector like all the ebay/hid store harnesses do, I decided it would be better to to have the ballasts get their signal from one side and the shutters get their signal from the other side. Since the ballasts still work I just made up a shutter harness today (while at work
)
First tinned the wires for between the shutters and the first shutter connector together:
Wiring used is 18ga thin-wall cross linked polyethylene(TXL), same as factory wiring, and far better than you get in any aftermarket harness, all connections are soldered and then sealed with adhesive lined polyolefin heat shrink.
After al the connections were made I wrapped the whole thing up in some nice abrasion resistant polyester tape. OEM+ y0!!!
The ballast control relay harness will be next, same attention to build quality, and OEM or better components. Ill be using the same TXL wire, dual weather proof fused power circuits and relays, one for each ballast. Cheapo harnesses use one power feed and relay to power both ballasts, have fuses that are open to the elements, and terminal not intended to survive in the underhood element. My connection at the headlight will be weather sealed(unlike the others) and the harness will be a direct quick connect to the underhood fuse block. I havent decided whether Ill secure the relays to the underside of fuse box lid or hide them somewhere else.
So the first order of business was just to replace the control box and harness, installed new harness and box to car, key to long life for these connections is a liberal coating of a quality dielectric grease, keeps moisture out and reduces the chances of issues caused by vibration.
After the install I found that the shutters for the highbeams didnt work. Well a little diagnosis found it was the ♠♠♠♠ty Chinese control box that was failed and not working the shutters. So I'll be completely replacing it with ballast control and shutter control harnesses of my own design and construction.
Instead of the shutters and ballasts all getting their control signals from just one headlamp socket connector like all the ebay/hid store harnesses do, I decided it would be better to to have the ballasts get their signal from one side and the shutters get their signal from the other side. Since the ballasts still work I just made up a shutter harness today (while at work
) First tinned the wires for between the shutters and the first shutter connector together:
Wiring used is 18ga thin-wall cross linked polyethylene(TXL), same as factory wiring, and far better than you get in any aftermarket harness, all connections are soldered and then sealed with adhesive lined polyolefin heat shrink.
After al the connections were made I wrapped the whole thing up in some nice abrasion resistant polyester tape. OEM+ y0!!!
The ballast control relay harness will be next, same attention to build quality, and OEM or better components. Ill be using the same TXL wire, dual weather proof fused power circuits and relays, one for each ballast. Cheapo harnesses use one power feed and relay to power both ballasts, have fuses that are open to the elements, and terminal not intended to survive in the underhood element. My connection at the headlight will be weather sealed(unlike the others) and the harness will be a direct quick connect to the underhood fuse block. I havent decided whether Ill secure the relays to the underside of fuse box lid or hide them somewhere else.
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