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  1. #1
    Join Date
    Oct 2006
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    Wodonga
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    712

    Default Woefull Hilux Headlights

    So I picked up a '96 Hilux dual-cab 4x2 as a cheap vehicle to get me to work and back.

    It's in surprisingly good condition (it has 350k) and has been serviced by my BIL for the last 10 years so has a known history and a fastidious older previous owner. A pretty good pick-up.

    As I leave for work at 5am, I drive in the dark and quickly found out that Hilux headlights are not one of their strong pionts. In fact they are atrocious. No problem, dropped in at the local Repco and the salesman assured me that his years of experience of Hilux ownership called for the fitment of some +120 globes and I will be set. Asked my BIL for fitment advice and he tells me it is fitted with sealed beam headlights and i cant upgrade. Ripped out the headlights and sure enough they are sealed beam...couldn't believe that a mid 90's vehicle would be fitted with sealed beam, I thought they went out in the 60's and 70's. And I won't be taking that salesman's advice again in the future.

    Anyway, I was browsing ebay and found these..http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/231659818...%3AMEBIDX%3AIT

    The listing does not include anything about relays as the globes are 100w high's.

    Does anyone out there have any experience with these (or similar) and do you think that fitting 55/100w globes would need some sort of wiring upgrade or relays.

    Thanks for any advice.

    Steven.

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  3. #2
    Join Date
    Aug 2009
    Location
    East Warburton, Vic
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    1,604

    Default

    99% sure that you will need to fit relays, sealed beams draw very little current
    Cheers

    DJ

  4. #3
    Join Date
    Jun 2005
    Location
    Helensburgh
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    Default

    I might be wrong but I reckon they would be worse than what you have now. Put a LED light bar on it as a cheap and cheerful option, they don't throw light an enormous distance but within a few hundred metres they are supposed to be good. You will need to fit a relay switched from the high beam as well as an isolation switch if you use an accessory light.
    CHRIS

  5. #4
    Join Date
    Dec 2004
    Location
    Northen Rivers NSW
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    57
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    2,837

    Default

    They were ok when they left the factory, not xenon Std of today of course, so you may have tired wiring or connectors.

    My thoughts would be to run new relays and upgraded wiring from the battery to bypass the old stuff. So you have a relay for low and high beam.


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  6. #5
    Join Date
    Oct 2006
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    Wodonga
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    Default

    Thanks guys.

    I must clarify that I have fitted a set of driving lights to take care of high-beam, it's low-beam that I'm wanting an improvement on.

    So I went and had a chat with a local auto-elec and he recommended not to fit globes stronger than standard with-out atleast installing a relay and better still replacement wiring from the relay forwards.

    So I decided to grab a set of semi-sealed beam replacement headlights (basically the same as in the ebay link) and will fit my set of +120 Narva globes that I got from the Repco guy. They are still 55/60w globes so shouldn't stress the existing wiring and are still ADR compliant. See here....http://www.narva.com.au/products/bro...ce-globes#four

    Will give that a go and report back.

    Steven.

  7. #6
    Join Date
    Jun 2005
    Location
    Helensburgh
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    7,696

    Default

    If you get semi sealed beams do not be afraid to push the wattage up, I used to run 90/130 from memory on the Statesman. The first thing I always did when I bought a car was bolt the Cibies on and replace the headlight globes, these days the Bi-Xenons are so good I don't need to. Getting 12V to the headlights is the biggest issue as the Japanese tend to go light on the wire size, I ran the battery feed to the relay straight from the back of the alternator to maximise the voltage at the lights. Cheap Chinese lights tend to have a very bad beam pattern with holes in it everywhere and very scattered.
    CHRIS

  8. #7
    Join Date
    Oct 2006
    Location
    Wodonga
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    Default

    Quick up-date.

    Fitted the semi-sealed beam headlights with the aforementioned Narva +120 globes.

    There is a good improvement over the old lights with a much whiter light but low beam can still only be described as just acceptable.

    Quote Originally Posted by Chris Parks View Post
    Cheap Chinese lights tend to have a very bad beam pattern with holes in it everywhere and very scattered.
    The lights I got from the auto-elec are chinese made (and I was disappointed to discover when I got home that they have plastic lenses) so this may have something to do with the only slight improvement. The light spread is ok though. Yet to decide if I give the ebay specials a go, they are $70 a pair and have glass lenses but are probably still made in China.

    Steven.

  9. #8
    Join Date
    Jun 2005
    Location
    Helensburgh
    Posts
    7,696

    Default

    I have always found that with lights you get what you pay for and I have always used the best I could afford and never regretted it. I arrived at the fruit inspection point on the SA border one night and the bloke came out with his sunglasses on and asked me what I had for lights as he had never seen any that bright before.
    CHRIS

  10. #9
    Join Date
    Jun 2010
    Location
    shoalhaven n.s.w
    Posts
    1,240

    Default

    This maybe silly but what about a re focus of lights?
    my mechanic groans at me when I have asked to get headlights focused/realigned.
    Turning round since 1992

  11. #10
    Join Date
    Oct 2006
    Location
    Wodonga
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    Default

    My BIL (he's a mechanic) checked the alignment of the lights and he said that they were fine, but I still think they may be pointing a little low because low beam is pretty short.

    The new lights and Narva+120 globes are better than the old ones so will probably leave it as is for now. May update my driving lights to LED one day, prices are coming down and they can be picked up for under $350 for 8" jobbies on-line. Friend grabbed some and is quite happy, but he did say an auto elec friend of his said to ensure they are fitted with Cree branded led's, apparently they are supposed to be pretty good.

    Steven.

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