Aftermarket headlights Hot Wires!!!
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Member
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 19
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From: Salem Or
Aftermarket headlights Hot Wires!!!
I've been having a problem with my headlight recently, they get really dim, just a faint yellow glow. I've been running them for prolly about 3 years now. They are a set of aftermarket light off Ebay. If i take the light out and wiggle the connection the light will come back on so its a loose connection. While I was fiddleing with the wire I noticed that the wires were getting freakin' hot. So that lead me to belive that the light are drawing more power than the wires are rated for. So I did a search and found some people mentioning a upgrade to the stock harness but I couldn't find any info on it.
So where do I find this harness upgrade or do I just try to wire in a couple relays my self or do I just toss these and go with a stock replacment bulb and be done with it? I'm at a loss, please help.
So where do I find this harness upgrade or do I just try to wire in a couple relays my self or do I just toss these and go with a stock replacment bulb and be done with it? I'm at a loss, please help.
Senior Member
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 6,200
Likes: 39
From: Easton, Pa.
Here are some guidelines to think about.
The aftermarket lamps may draw a lot more current and has finally caused your trouble.
The heat very well may have taken the spring tension out of the connectors such that they need to be replaced first.
Doing the relay installation will not solve for overheating at the lamp sockets but make it a bit worse with the increased current to them causing even more heating.
I would reccomend you go to replacement bulbs with about 10% more illumination over stock if you feel you need more lite than stock lamps give, and be able to solve for the overheating condition.
Honestly, on m 02 I feel no need to increase lighting from the headlites but some people do this as a must have for whatever other reasons to be different etc.
I do have aux lighting by relay control and seperate feeds but for Fog use and hi level backup llighting for trailering use at nite.
The aftermarket lamps may draw a lot more current and has finally caused your trouble.
The heat very well may have taken the spring tension out of the connectors such that they need to be replaced first.
Doing the relay installation will not solve for overheating at the lamp sockets but make it a bit worse with the increased current to them causing even more heating.
I would reccomend you go to replacement bulbs with about 10% more illumination over stock if you feel you need more lite than stock lamps give, and be able to solve for the overheating condition.
Honestly, on m 02 I feel no need to increase lighting from the headlites but some people do this as a must have for whatever other reasons to be different etc.
I do have aux lighting by relay control and seperate feeds but for Fog use and hi level backup llighting for trailering use at nite.
Senior Member
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 3,248
Likes: 2
From: Rochester, NY, USA
Bluegrass speaks the truth - as usual. One other point to ponder. Your hot to the touch wires could very well be caused by that bad connection you found. Unfortunately, that bad connection may also have arced and corroded the surface of the connections. This will make getting a good connection in the future somewhat problematic. Might be time for a new harness. By the way, beware running high wattage bulbs with your stock harness. You will fry it.