HID project write up detail (pics)

[rickashay]

I used to own a small headlight retrofit business while I was in University... not doing it full time anymore but I have retrofitted 50+ sets of headlights.

Some good discussion and photos of old headlights I built HERE

Another useful thread I made for aiming your retrofit once it's setup HERE


My old 4Runner with LS460 bi-Xenons
20121130-IMG_3369 by Addison Rickaby, on Flickr

Amber LED turn signal halos
20121111-IMG_3253 by Addison Rickaby, on Flickr

Crazy LS460 beam width
20121112-IMG_3272 by Addison Rickaby, on Flickr

A cool 4th Gen with FX-R's I built for a friend
20120505-IMG_1396.jpg by Addison Rickaby, on Flickr

Then my old Tundra with FX-R's and Philips 85122+
20161002-IMG_7862 by Tamarack Media Co., on Flickr

Doing proper headlight setups is game changing. I used to tell my headlight customers this:
- When modding your truck, how often do you think you will use your $1000+ winch? Or your larger tires? Rooftop tent? Rear air locker?
- Headlights are used EVERYDAY. On the trail, or on the highway, or in the city. Its a practical and functional mod that has so many benefits, including added safety.

With all that being said, I am currently working on my LS430 retrofit for my 4th gen. I am actually planning to have it complete by the end of next week. Maybe I will start a thread on it...

Cell phone teasers of my 4th Gen LS430 Retrofit in progress
https://photos.app.goo.gl/mqmw3JbnWAjUubgx2
https://photos.app.goo.gl/ymDMiDHSDOsnBsfq2

The LS projectors are huge and it has definitely been an interesting battle getting them into the 4th Gen housings. One of the challenges is that the LS430 projector is not centered like the standard FX-R and TSX projectors are and it sits kind of offset in the reflector bowl. The mounting "ears" for the reflector to the base of the headlight housing sit right where the LS430 natively wants to snug up to the reflector. This makes trimming tedius and difficult as you need to ensure the integrity of that mounting point.

What do you think of dropping the LS430 projector into the headlight? Do you think there is room for it?

See above.

i honestly don't know, and don't want to try out unless some experts have confirmed. due to the size of LS, it attached with shroud, so i don't want to take a risk to cut the OEM shroud. here is the post from hidplanet.com and this expert did LS retro into his Highlander.

http://www.hidplanet.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=34106

you may need to register.

Also see above. HID planet is an excellent resource!

[MENTION=5149]riceandpho[/MENTION] and Samm25 thanks for clarifying that up for me. I'll be contacting TRS tomorrow to get the right harness.

Now I have another question. So today was the first day my recently retrofitted headlights were exposed to rain and one of the headlights started fogging as seen in the images below. Does anyone have any recommendation as to how I can seal the headlights better?

Try throwing in some anti-condensation pads (TRS sells them). You can basically slip them in the back of the headlight (behind the reflector bowls so that you cannot see them from the exterior, and hope that it remedies the problem. If it pursists it could be a poor seal job between the headlight lens and the headlight assembly. Did you do the retro yourself?

 

[Trob20]

Try throwing in some anti-condensation pads (TRS sells them). You can basically slip them in the back of the headlight (behind the reflector bowls so that you cannot see them from the exterior, and hope that it remedies the problem. If it pursists it could be a poor seal job between the headlight lens and the headlight assembly. Did you do the retro yourself?

I paid someone to have them done, so I'll going to be contacting them soon to see if they'll fix them. Do you think having moisture in them will cause any damage or hurt the appearance of them once I get the seal problem fixed?

 

[riceandpho]

[MENTION=5149]riceandpho[/MENTION] and Samm25 thanks for clarifying that up for me. I'll be contacting TRS tomorrow to get the right harness.

Now I have another question. So today was the first day my recently retrofitted headlights were exposed to rain and one of the headlights started fogging as seen in the images below. Does anyone have any recommendation as to how I can seal the headlights better?

Take it back in the oven asap. Take it apart and dry everything out. Be careful with the inside of headlight lens. Use compress air to blow it out. I back the lights at 250 to 260 for 10 mins. Then squeeze it together some more and put it back in for another 5 to 8. And take it back out. Then squeeze some more on the edges. If your not going to do any more headlight mods. Put a bead of silicone around the outside edge. But for you. I would find more headlight lens butyl seal.

 

[Donovan_03_4Runner]

I know the Lexus LS430 HID projectors will fit in a 2003-05 4Runner. Has anyone here done a writeup about it?

LS430 ....

https://www.flickr.com/photos/bruinroadster/37098715261/in/album-72157687705537042/



What they look like when completed...
https://www.flickr.com/photos/bruinroadster/32400851664/in/album-72157687705537042

 

[Donovan_03_4Runner]

lawwailok,

any plans on putting RX330 projectors along with tsx clear lens swap?

Do you have any pictures of the LS 430 projectors on your car?

 

[rickashay]

I know the Lexus LS430 HID projectors will fit in a 2003-05 4Runner. Has anyone here done a writeup about it?

LS430 ....

https://www.flickr.com/photos/bruinroadster/37098715261/in/album-72157687705537042/



What they look like when completed...
https://www.flickr.com/photos/bruinroadster/32400851664/in/album-72157687705537042

Do you have any pictures of the LS 430 projectors on your car?

I am building LS430's into my 4Runner right now. Pictures linked in my post above. Yes it's doable. I've actually already built one set for a member of this forum. Now I am working on my personal ones. No write up that I have seen...

 

[Ed_C]

I'm the one Rickashay built the LS430 retro for. Unfortunately my 4th-gen is unregistered at the moment so I've yet to install them I'm also in the middle of doing a retrofit on my dad's CRV,which is more of a priority.

I believe that picture Donovan posted was the LS430 retro performed by Lightwerkz. Caesar and crew do amazing work, they've done a retro for me many years ago and I don't hesitate recommending them (and they're not too far from my job) but Rickashay and I did a trade of parts/labor at the time. If that opportunity didn't come up Lightwerkz would have done my retro; it's not that I'm unhappy with Rickashay's work (they came out great,no complaints),but he's on the other side of the continent and shipping was pricey.



By the way, you do not need a Motocontrol wiring harness for 4th-gens. That control box is used for vehicles that use a single bulb for low and high beams, like H4,9004, and 9007.

In those vehicles the lowbeams turn off when high beams are activated, our 4Runners have separate low and high bulbs and the lows stay on with the highs.

All you need is a basic relay harness for two ballasts,unless you're doing a quad projector setup. The original highbeam wiring can be used to power the bixenon highbeam solenoids, they probably draw 1/4 of the current a stock highbeam bulb does.

 

[rickashay]

Just gunna leave this here...

_08I1284.jpg by Addison Rickaby, on Flickr


_08I1287.jpg by Addison Rickaby, on Flickr

 

[falkon240]

Just gunna leave this here...

This looks really good. Makes me ALMOST want to forget upgrading to an 06 projector housing.

 

[Trob20]

So I finally got my the HID kit installed in my 4runner, and I went to a parking to work on correctly aiming the beam of the headlights and the engine bay seemed a lot hotter than usual. I'll admit I can't remember what it was like working on my car in previous summers, but it was around 85-90 degrees outside when I was adjusting the headlights. Anyways it was so hot I couldn't touch the metal bracket that holds down the battery and the 3m dual lock fastener I used to mount the relay harness fell because the sticky back was so hot. Can anyone tell me if this is normal? Is there a sensor or something I could be blocking that is causing this issue. I checked the coolant and it's all good.

 

[HIDRETROFITKIT.COM]

Headlights Upgrade

We're a group of enthusiasts with a passion for perfecting your night-time driving experience. Our goal is to supply you with the best performing headlight upgrades that have been tailored to fit your application, at a price that works within budget. These are HID headlight upgrades for those who are serious about the looks and performance of their vehicle.