Help with replacing HID/Xenon Headlights

[wackyzacky110]

Hey everyone, the previous owner of my 3rd gen installed aftermarket headlights and the driver side one has gone out. I could really use some help identifying the part and source I need to replace what I assume is the bulb so I can get back on the road! I don't know anything about the lights but I removed the one in the driver side. I brought it to the advance auto parts store but they said they don't carry HID bulbs. Here's what I found.

-There is a small gold box wired to the harness that says Morimo
-They are in TYC 20-5652-00 housings but have been retrofitted with projectors. I don't know if they are xenon or HID, but the HID ballast leads me to believe that they are HID (duh)
-The bulb I removed by removing the retaining clip has two wires that go through connectors to the harness. One wire is labeled HI-35W-4300k. The other is labeled OD-AA.
-There is a ballast in the harness that says HID Ballast and is rated at 1200VDC/85VAC/2000HRS

They are wired directly to the positive terminal of my battery and thus are always on. If I could wire them to the switch on the stalk that would be much better but I don't really know how.

Any help would be greatly appreciated!!

 

[4Runner4Leon]

So looks you are running Morimoto HID ballasts. To figure out what bulbs to get, you need to figure out what projectors you're running. It's likely to be an H4 projector, which just screws into the TYC housing. If you post a picture of the bulb, showing all the mounting tabs, we can tell you what type it is.

Then you can get a replacement pair of bulbs (yours are 35W, 4300K). Are you sure it says HI, and not H1?

And definitely wire it through the headlight switch, I can't imagine someone bypassed the headlight switch altogether? Wonder what else they hacked up in the process.

 

[blarblarjosh]

It looks like you have the morimoto ballast that's part of this setup. Not entirely sure what bulb you have but you should be able to pull it out fairly easily. Hopefully it's just the bulb and not the ballast thats gone bad.

As for hooking into the headlight stalk you'll need an H4 relay of some sort. I have the following relay, but I have a different ballast than you do so you'll have to see what's compatible with your system.

 

[Ed_C]

Definitely not a Morimoto ballast. I have a feeling the "small gold box wired to the harness that says Morimo" is a Motocontrol box, which is actually the relay plus other circuitry (diodes etc) to keep the ballasts powered when the high beams are engaged.

They are wired directly to the positive terminal of my battery and thus are always on

Always on even with the ignition off or always on once you start it up? If you meant the latter the OP may not have bypassed the DRLs (if equipped) and so the Motocontrol's relay is energized.

 

[wackyzacky110]

thanks for the help so far. Some clarification.

-The lights turn on as soon as the i start the car. I use the stalk as normal for hi beams, but there is no way to turn the headlights off entirely.
-It does look like the gold box is the Morimoto H4 motocontrol box mentioned above.
-I pulled out the little U shaped retaining clip to get the bulbs out, not sure if that's a reusable item but it looks like it'll be a ***** to get it back in correctly even if i replace the bulb.
-The bulbs look like these https://www.amazon.com/H1-Morimoto-Single-Bulbs-5500k/dp/B07CT5HYG6/ref=sr_1_13?keywords=morimoto%2Bh1&qid=1568462209&s=gateway&sr=8-13&th=1
but say H1-4300k.
-It looks like the PO covered the top of the housing and the bulbs with some kind of silicone-type sealant, presumably to keep water out, but he didn't exactly do a great job.

 

[4Runner4Leon]

Sounds like your lights are working correctly - with DRL, they will come on as soon as truck is started. With HID's, you don't get the reduced brightness function, they'll come on at full power.

Since you confirmed that you have H1 bulbs, you need a set of new H1 bulbs (always replace in pairs). Any H1 4300K 35W bulbs will do, but try to get a decent brand. They should interface with your ballasts, or you can get a new set of ballasts now, to freshen everything up.

Those bulb retaining clips can be a pain; you don't usually need to remove them, just lift them enough to free the bulb and allow it to come out. Then push them back in to secure the bulb.

 

[khan94611]

need help replacing xenon headlights

xenon - Google Photos
here are the pix of what I have, could not figure out how to upload directly

these were added to the care a while ago before i bought it.
do not seem very bright, and only low beam setting, no high bean

my best guess is D2H bulbs. I understand there are "plug and play" LED replacement. not sure where to find a replacement, autozone and orielly did not have.

also is it possible to just get led bulbs and get rid of all the extra wiring and plug into the OEM wiring?

ideally would like low and high beam

thanks for any help.