H11 to H9 - if you did this let me know

[CMTAZ]

For those that did this mod, any issues down the road? 1 year, 2 years etc?

I am looking for stock headlight improvement but worried about the additional temperatures generated by the H9.


Thanks

 

[Jhalko]

I had no issues after a year.

 

[TheBlandRunner]

I have been running h9 bulbs since my second week of ownership. Probably 7 months with no issues. It makes a significant difference in visibility.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

 

[sandcrawler]

For those that did this mod, any issues down the road? 1 year, 2 years etc?

I am looking for stock headlight improvement but worried about the additional temperatures generated by the H9.


Thanks

i think i’ve had mine in for 8 years now. zero problems.

FYI: note that you’ll likely have to adjust your headlights down a bit to avoid blinding oncoming drivers.

 

[1jzgte]

h9s burn out way too quick

bulb life is extremely short

 

[sandcrawler]

h9s burn out way too quick

bulb life is extremely short

what brand bulbs are you using? mine have been going strong for 8 years. i’m due to replace them, but not because they burned out...

 

[Lugboot]

I replaced mine shortly after getting the truck. One just burned out. So I got about 3 years out of a set. I liked the upgrade, for sure. Ordering a replacement set today.

 

[Crusifix]

I actually have a set of H9's coming in from Amazon today, for the Low Beam and Fog Lights. I have a yellow film on the fogs, so I am not too concerned with blinding people.

 

[1jzgte]

what brand bulbs are you using? mine have been going strong for 8 years. i’m due to replace them, but not because they burned out...

8 years.. taht's impressive.. i believe they were philips and even manufacturer spec sheets back then showed extremely reduced lifespan...

however i looked up sylvania just now and the life span of h11's to h9s are almost identical... well not identical but better.. maybe sylvania > philips?

 

[PaulB-2006 T4R]

I also did this low beam mod on my Gen4 and I believe the bulbs were in for 3 years then I traded it in. I used the Phillips Standard Halogen which tend to last longer than the more pricey white look halogens.
https://www.amazon.com/Philips-1236...=1542640259&sr=8-4&keywords=h9+headlight+bulb

Also if you want a little more down the road view then slightly adjust the projector lamps up a little. This actually helps more than more watts. I never had an issue with on coming traffic flashing me.

 

[sandcrawler]

I actually have a set of H9's coming in from Amazon today, for the Low Beam and Fog Lights. I have a yellow film on the fogs, so I am not too concerned with blinding people.

i wouldn’t recommend H9 for the fogs. the extra output just increases foreground and reduces distance visibility whether they’re tinted yellow or not.

8 years.. taht's impressive.. i believe they were philips and even manufacturer spec sheets back then showed extremely reduced lifespan...

however i looked up sylvania just now and the life span of h11's to h9s are almost identical... well not identical but better.. maybe sylvania > philips?

hard to say. my 4Runner's bulbs are Narva, and i have Vosla bulbs in a different car. there is definitely a big difference between manufacturers, though. and sometimes big differences between similar products within the same company's lineup.

generally speaking, the safe bet is don’t buy blue-tinted bulbs. i’m not a fan of the 5500K+ color temperatures, either.

 

[Liquid_G]

just adding another datapoint... I did this in mine in Feb soon after getting the truck. Used Phillips H9 bulbs from amazon. No issues.

 

[Crusifix]

i wouldn’t recommend H9 for the fogs. the extra output just increases foreground and reduces distance visibility whether they’re tinted yellow or not.


hard to say. my 4Runner's bulbs are Narva, and i have Vosla bulbs in a different car. there is definitely a big difference between manufacturers, though. and sometimes big differences between similar products within the same company's lineup.

generally speaking, the safe bet is don’t buy blue-tinted bulbs. i’m not a fan of the 5500K+ color temperatures, either.

Lower valence fogs are only meant for close range and at a low angle in relation to the main headlights.

 

[BchBum]

I did this mod and without a dremel. On about 10-11 months. Much better light output compared to the H11 stock bulbs. Although, I still want to get Xenon Depot’s 4300K kit (worried about VA inspections though; I’ve been denied on smoking out amber reflectors before).

 

[SlickTRD]

Another alternative is that the latest generation of LEDs can match or exceed halogen output (lux not just lumens). The Supernova V4 and Morimoto 2stroke 2.0 are two such LEDs and they both fit in the 4R headlight housing without modifying the dust caps.

 

[Crusifix]

I love the idea of the LED conversions, but for the money I just can't make myself move away from a good old readily available halogen.

 

[CMTAZ]

Another alternative is that the latest generation of LEDs can match or exceed halogen output (lux not just lumens). The Supernova V4 and Morimoto 2stroke 2.0 are two such LEDs and they both fit in the 4R headlight housing without modifying the dust caps.

Thanks to all.....

I did not want to use LEDs w/ a fan (some say they could hear the fan noise or it caused radio interference), but i appreciate the idea....

I was a fan of these:
https://www.amazon.com/BEAMTECH-Hea...=8-3&keywords=beamtech+h11+led+headlight+bulb

https://www.amazon.com/Cougar-Motor...664753&sr=8-13&keywords=cougar+led+headlights

but someone could not fit the beamtech in the headlight assembly, i will probably just use the H9.

On a side note, i thought i read the the fog lights were only 19 watts, if so i'd be leery of using the H9 for fear of melting the assembly.

To my thinking 55w > 65w not that big of a difference, but 19w to 65w BIG DIFFERENCE !!! :decision:

 

[916T4R]

Thanks to all.....

I did not want to use LEDs w/ a fan (some say they could hear the fan noise or it caused radio interference), but i appreciate the idea....

I was a fan of these:
https://www.amazon.com/BEAMTECH-Hea...=8-3&keywords=beamtech+h11+led+headlight+bulb

https://www.amazon.com/Cougar-Motor...664753&sr=8-13&keywords=cougar+led+headlights

but someone could not fit the beamtech in the headlight assembly, i will probably just use the H9.

On a side note, i thought i read the the fog lights were only 19 watts, if so i'd be leery of using the H9 for fear of melting the assembly.

To my thinking 55w > 65w not that big of a difference, but 19w to 65w BIG DIFFERENCE !!! :decision:

I had the standard Philips H9's in mine for almost two years with no issues and much better light output vs. stock. they are less than $10 ea from amazon and well worth it. I modified a third bulb and kept t in my glove box cause I had read on here that they burn out super fast. Not the case for me. I just recently switched to the 4300K HID kit from XD and I love it. But for the cost, you can't beat the H9's. As others have noted, don't waste money on fancy or blue tint bulbs. the OE replacement Philips are the way to go.

 

[PrettyGoodSam]

I just swapped the H 11's for H9 philips. Working well, looking great...ill report back farther down the line. also popped in H 11 Hella yellow fogs which are excellent as well so far.

 

[mountainair26]

I swapped in H9's in the lowbeam with the same phillips bulbs in the previous Amazon link and have no issues for about 8mos now, but I don't drive at night more than the average guy. Maybe a few hours a week, if that. I also did the high beam swap to 9011 and no problems there either, except that the high beams seem a little less "focused" and more like a wall of light to me now. But I don't mind it. No reliability issues so far or issues with heat. It's worth doing if you follow the directions, have a tool to cut the tab off the h9 bulb, or melt it off as some have done, and understand that you're sacrificing a little bit of long-term bulb life for much more down the road light that's usable while driving. If you want bulbs to last 8 years, or you only drive at night, all night, then maybe its not worth it. But I'd do it again if the bulbs died at a year. still going strong after 8 mos approx in 2010 Sr5 without projectors. Stock housing.