Headlight wiring mod

[Firesong]

Figured I would try and get the most out of my lights.
I have the 4 lamp square headlights. I've been running silverstars in them
and finally said hmm. Went and bought some Hella kits and I will be using
the H4's in them plus redoing the wiring with relays. Sounded like
fun and not much different than other wiring I was doing for the foglamps.

While I was at TruckLine I saw these huge 8" replacement lights for the
trucks. Total LED low/bright replacements. $485.00 for each light.
Wowzers! I wonder how bright they are.. the LED's in them were huge.

Go me Go.
etc
Firesong

[Firesong]

Stage one:
Replaced the batteries. I was feeling like they weren't doing their part.
Went and bought 2 exide 10" long batteries. Largest we could fit in there.
I asked about going to one and he said there was a reason why Diesels
had two batteries, the most fluid in them gives you a longer reserve of
cranking. After the glow plugs take their juice you want as much as you
can. By going to the larger in size, it still wouldn't be the same amount
of reserve or cranking as the 2. It made sense.
When this was all done the cranking was sure fast to start. Should
help in the upcoming cold.

Replaced all the vacuum hoses. Some were looking soft and kinked from
the heat.

Didn't have time to change out the sealed beams and replace the wiring.
Guess that might be a tomorrow thing. Have to go move some snow with
the bobcat.
FS

[Firesong]

Got started at this at 11 pm last night.
Figured I would only get it ready and start in the morning.
Well, got taking stuff off, cutting wire and setting out the
relays and looked at the clock (no watch on) and 1:40 am.
Wow, wife was expecting me back before that lol.

Got up this morning at 7 am and went to it.
Wired in the relays, redid the lights. Had a look at old
wiring for other fog lights, redid them. Decided I needed to
install switches in a panel I had made and that's where things
got a little strange.
I forgot the layout of the switch in my head. I knew how to set
the stupid things up but did it wrong. Sheesh. Old man moment.
Next thing you know I'm blowing fuses for the ignition and not
having a clue why. (I hadn't realized my wiring mistake at the switch)
I literally blew 2 hours tracking the stupid thing down. What a
laugh / swearing moment. My wife called me at noon demanding
I show up for lunch. I declined...
Laughing now.. anyway the new lights are sweet (haven't checked the
light pattern yet -up/down etc). The switch board I created is cool
and I cleaned up a ton of wiring.

I was hoping to get at the torsion bars since Im having a strange
occurance with my suspension but that's for another day I guess.

Firesong

[Firesong]

Interesting thing.
Even though the high beams are completely separate on their own relay
and the wiring is new and separate from the old wiring (except using the
old hi/low as the trigger for the relay) the hi beam on the inside lights
slightly when the lows are on. Really strange. Im not going to worry about
it but it's just a curious note.
I kept the grounds the same as before. Anyone have any thoughts on this?

FS

[Firesong]

I took an hour at lunch today and put new H4 sockets on the wiring removing
the old wire and connection. I also totally removed the old negative wiring from
the mix and put new grounds for the 4 bulbs right to the chassis.
I still get the ghost of a light in the center hi ones. Still not worried about that.

Included a picture of some switches.. they look better without the glare of the
flash

FS

[thedjjack]

high beams wired for daylight running lights? -as a reason they are on?

I have had this problem when wiring big driving lights to highbeam that when driving lights are on it trips the driving lights. I just put a diode in the circuit.

[Firesong]

The headlights are totally removed from the system other than the multiswitch as a trigger for the relay.
I don't use a DRL at all, removed that since it looked more of a hack then the hacks I put in :)
My DRL is simply LED's that come on when the vehicle is running.

Maybe the ghost is from the multiswitch leaking power.. can they do that ;)
sounds radioactive.

FS

[mararmeisto]

Those are beautiful switches, but where are the pictures of the lights?

[Firesong]

My van is really dirty.. kinda embarrassed to show a picture of it right now ;)

[Firesong]

Ok, here's the dirt.. right between the Bobcat and the Kubota...

FS

[mararmeisto]

Very nice. The big advantage to the four-square arrangement is ease of replacement, and a better output! I wished I had that on my ol' Moon Machine. If I'd kept the van, that was the next thing I was going to change.

[Firesong]

Speaking of better output.
Went to fill up the van tonight with fuel and was using the lights.
I'll be darned, the lights were pulsing every 3-4 seconds...
The feeling of crappiness came over me. Darnitanyways!!

I was going to a friends to play Left4Dead2 on his xbox360
and parked out front. Figured. 'don't panic' and started playing
All lights on, off, some on , some off, this and that and then
redid it without the stereo faceplate.. bingo
Somewhere in my wiring travels OR redoing the interior
I either bumped the wiring for the stereo harshly, or
did the same with the amps.

That's easier than retracing all the wiring for the relays etc.
<sigh of relief>
Tomorrow's project after I tick off the stuff on my wife's
list for me.
Lights are Nice And BRIGHT :)

FS

[RichD]

Lights. Good.

I can't seem to find this nugget of information in the Delica lore... or a source for the part. So maybe its a long shot. How do I get a set of square L300 headlights and fit them to my 94?

[thedjjack]

Hey Rich

I think the hole is the same. You just need to source a set.

Mine has the squares and I love them except I have to wear sunglasses at night!

I can bring my van over but I am sure they will work.

Cheers
David

[Firesong]

I think I remember reading that the front is different.
You can't just get the molding and put in the lights.
I was considering initially of going the other way and
that's what I found out.

Unless you don't mind doing some body work.

I found my problem with the lights pulsing.
My sub had some wires touching... fixed up the ends
and it's all good now.
(still has the ghost in the inner beams but thats a different thing)
FS