Sport Light Conversion revisited......

[tntway]

once again gang, sorry to be beating the deceased equine, but i'm getting ready to start ordering stuff. just want to make sure that i need to order TWO wiring harnesses. one for the 9004's and one for the 9007's? these things just plug into the relay box under the hood right? i'm gonna go thru Coolbulbs.com and the headlight warehouse.

Any last thoughts for me before i order? many thanks, Tim

 

[Un-Hemi]

I was reluctant to dive into this, because I have no experience with this yet, but, since no one else has responded... ...



Yes, two harnesses will be required for the sport lights. When you order them, if your truck is a 98. 5 or newer, ask if they are compatible with 'switched ground' headlight systems. If they say "huh?", then be prepared to do your own electrical diagnostic work. I sent them an email yesterday, but as of this moment, they haven't responded. From the looks of the website, they would prefer that you not bother them with questions, but call APC (American Products Company, the alleged manufacturer) directly, and on your own nickel. (909)898-9840. Whenever I see a company name like that, I automatically think "Made in China". But I digress.



After looking at the illustration on the Coolbulbs site, it's my belief that the harness is designed to get its main power directly from the battery, and it has a socket that attaches to one of the vehicle's headlight plugs to activate the relays. That's not an issue, but I don't think it is going to be 'plug and play' with the PCM (relay) box on the truck.



Good luck, Tim, and please let us know how you make out with it!



Tom

 

[Un-Hemi]

Well, I got a reply from them late today. I'll let you be the judge.



"Hello Tom,



I am sure our system would work fine but you would probably loose

your switched ground system. Its no problem unless you take

a direct lighting strike. All instructions are included. "



Hmmmm... .

 

[tntway]

okaaaaaaaaayyyyy..........

hhhmmmmmm is right tom... but forgive my electrical stupidity.

what's a switched ground system? why would this be important?

thanx, tim

 

[DennyDay]

Sport conversion

If it screws up the switched ground system, you're dead in the water (or night) because thats how you switch from low beam to high beam, by switching grounds. (98. 5 and newer)



Unless you are an experienced electrical magician, I would highly suggest using the Bright Box Sport Conversion from Geno's. The only thing else you need is bulbs, and I would suggest just replacing all 4 two ea. 9004 and 2 ea. 9007 and be done with it. No it ain't cheap, but it will save a whole bunch of time and nerves.



Denny

 

[Un-Hemi]

It's the placement of the switch (or relay) that becomes important.



In the older trucks, 12 volts is supplied to the headlight switch, which supplies 12 volts to the headlights. The other side of the headlights is grounded.



In a switched ground system, the headlights have 12 volts applied to them all the time, and the headlight switch (or relay) grounds the other side of the headlight to turn them on.



If the relays in the APC harness are wired to expect 12 volts when the headlights are turned on, they are not going to work if, instead, the Ram's headlight switch (relay) supplies a ground, rather than 12 volts. It can't do any harm, but it won't work either. Hopefully, instructions are given for modifying the harness wiring to work with switched ground systems. It is probably worth your dime to call APC and check this out before you fork over your $100 for the two harnesses.



I hope this clarifies the problem, instead of confusing it. I tried to attach a jpeg illustration of this stuff, but the site rejected it on accounta size. I'm outa my depth with computers at this point.

 

[tntway]

so denny....

what you're suggesting is that i replace the headlite assemblies with the sport lites and then put in a sport brite box?

that sounds WAY too simple...

 

[Vaughn MacKenzie]

Tim, try sending Evan Beck an email. He came up with a wiring scheme with a relay that will take the place of the brite box and save a lot of $$ . I think you can get the socket/wiring assemblies from any local parts stores as well. I recently installed Sport headlights that I bought through Xavier but I haven't installed the wiring upgrade yet.



I think Evan's email is -- email address removed -- but he doesn't check his emails very often. Heck I have a copy of it, send me a PM and give me your email and I will send it to ya.



Vaughn

 

[Bill H]

TTTOo. what you're suggesting is that i replace the headlite assemblies with the sport lites and then put in a sport brite box?

that sounds WAY too simple...

 

[Mark_Kendrick]

I don't understand the confusion. I am assuming that the bulbs operate off of 12v.



Get the wiring harnesses to attach to the bulbs. then test the outputs to the stock lights.



there should be either a ground or a 12v signal to a wire when the switch is thrown. . one for low beam, one for highbeam.



use a single pole single throw relay for each beam. SPST a SPDT will work too.



If the system is switched ground wire fused 12v to the relay and hook the ground signal to the other side. . when you throw the switch it puts 12v to the lights. ground the other side of the lights.



If it's not a 12 bulb I'm way off base. . wouldn't be the first time.





Later,

Mark

 

[Un-Hemi]

There's no confusion. There is a 50-50 chance that the APC pre-wired harnesses will work right out of the box. If the harnesses don't work out of the box, it will take some knowledge of electricity and ability to rewire them. To an Electricity Guy, it's 'No Problemmo!'. To everyone else, it's the 'Dark Force'. Literally! From my observations, I believe that most of the guys on here don't have that knowledge and experience, and rightly expect a 'plug and play' product. Electrical stuff isn't their field of expertise.



I've got an email into APC now to try and help sort out this issue. No reply as of now.



Tom

 

[Mark_Kendrick]

Oh, I tend to forget that most folks don't understand such things. I sorta take it for granted. A Bosch SPDT relay is a powerful tool in the right hands.



Later,

Mark

 

[redneckdr]

switched ground......

started in 2000, i think. i know 98 trucks had switched 12v+. i have a set of instructions written up for conversion from SLT to Sport lights for the Y2K-present trucks. uses relays and heavier wire. BTW, the inboard lights on the Sport are 9004's and the outboard lights are 9007's. the electrical sockets will interchange, but the lock tab and the internal wiring pattern are different, so bulbs are not interchangeable. on the 9007's "B" is common terminal, and on the 9004's "A" is common.

anybody want a set of instructions, PM me your e-mail address. may be a few day delay, i'm heading to the GLTDR/SETDR get together in Pigeon Forge.

i also have the conversion instructions for the pre 2K trucks if you need them... . also a set of instructions for upgrading the wiring on the SLT lights, and adding the low beams to the highs such as a bright box.

if you PM me with your e-mail address, also give me the year of your truck, and what you want to do.

 

[dezeldog]

Heavy duty harness

I ordered the harness from APC and was dissapointed when it arrived. I couldn't even plug in their llites to it then i couldn't get them out. Had to use a screwdriver and broke both sockets. Called and talked to Rick he said no refund, replacement only waiting on the new POS to see if it's any better. Later Jim

 

[Un-Hemi]

WHOA!!! Thanks for the update, Jim! Please keep us informed.



Tom

 

[Un-Hemi]

Hey, Dezeldog, anything new to report on the APC front?



Tom

 

[dezeldog]

Wire Harness

No Tom, I haven't heard a thing. If this one is as sorry as the first it'll be going back too!!! Jim

 

[redneckdr]

9004/9007 sockets

for those wanting to do the rewire yourselves, using my or any other instructions, you may want to use heavier sockets. i haven't ordered them yet, but plan to. i had trouble locating them, but got an e-mail from www.suvlights.com that they have the sockets available without wires attached. the terminals are supposed to take 14 ga wire crimped, or 12 ga wire soldered. $5 ea, plus shipping.

BTW, i've now completed the write up for adding DRL and rewiring the fogs to operate independently of the headlights. anybody wanting those instructions, upgrade of the SLT lights, or instructions for the SLT--Sport conversion wiring, or rear end rewire, PM me with your e-mail address, and the year of your truck, and what you want to do.

herb

BTW #2, the 9004 and 9007 sockets are the same, only the internal wiring and the locking tabs on the bulbs are different. as discussed earlier, this means the bulbs are not interchangeable in a light unit, although they will interchange on the sockets (but not work right).

 

[Sixspeed]

Sportlights are in

Well I switched my headlights out this weekend. Used the wiring instructions from redneckdr (thanks Herb). Everything went smooth and worked right the first time. The only advice I can give is to remove the black trim off the top of the bumper. This makes it much easier to get the light fixtures in and out.



Les

 

[redneckdr]

sport light conversion

glad it went well, les. sure makes a difference in the light doesn't it? BTW, did you hook up both filaments in the 9004 bulbs on high? i'm concerned about heat. read somewhere someone had melted his lenses on a SLT with both filaments on on high. with the Sport lights, if you hook up both filaments on the 9004's and one of the filaments of the 9007's on high beam, i suspect things would over heat. i'd especially be afraid of high watt bulbs--don't need 'em any way.

herb