How To: Headlight Bulb Conversion (H11 to H9 & 9005 to 9011)

[mtn_climber]

Winter driving

I was torn about retrofitting HIDs, or buying new LED projectors. I finally went with H9s and couldn't be happier. The conversion was extremely easy, and the return on investment is likely the best modification I will make.

Driving in the winter presents some interesting problems for headlights. While I like the look of HIDs and LEDs, one of the main reasons for going with H9s was the additional lens heating attributes of the bulbs. During a recent trip to a local ski hill here in the DC area, air temps were around the freezing point, causing the light rain that was falling to intermittently turn into sleet. By the time we arrived at the hill, the rain/sleet mix turned into some pretty awesome snow. However, the front end of every vehicle in the parking lot was covered in ice. Thankfully, as you can see from the picture, the H9s produced enough heating to keep the headlights moderately clear of ice.

I could only imagine how bad the light output would have been had I been driving in low-light/nighttime conditions with the stock H11s.

 

[dbubby]

Sorry if this has been mentioned already but do headlights need to be re-aimed if you’re swapping a halogen with a halogen?

Just did this swap and it’s definitely a worthwhile upgrade. I’ve only tested it driving around the block at night and it is much brighter. Just don’t know if there’s a consensus on if we should be adjusting headlights after doing this

 

[Old3Tow]

I was torn about retrofitting HIDs, or buying new LED projectors. I finally went with H9s and couldn't be happier. The conversion was extremely easy, and the return on investment is likely the best modification I will make.

Driving in the winter presents some interesting problems for headlights..... Thankfully as you can see from the picture, the H9s produced enough heating to keep the headlights moderately clear of ice.

I could only imagine how bad the light output would have been had I been driving in low-light/nighttime conditions with the stock H11s.

Rutroh... I just swapped out ALL my lights (inside and out) with LEDs. This thought and reality never once crossed my mind. Anyone with bad cold/snow/ice experience with LED lights? Enquiring minds....

 

[TRD PANTHER]

Sorry if this has been mentioned already but do headlights need to be re-aimed if you’re swapping a halogen with a halogen?

Just did this swap and it’s definitely a worthwhile upgrade. I’ve only tested it driving around the block at night and it is much brighter. Just don’t know if there’s a consensus on if we should be adjusting headlights after doing this

From the very first post in this thread.

“Please note, this would be a good time to re-aim your headlights and make sure they are not pointed too high because while there isn't any extra glare from the H9 bulbs, the still H9 bulbs are significantly brighter and way more annoying if you're shinning them right into someones eyes vs. the H11 bulbs.”

 

[CO_ForeUnner]

I picked up some Sylvania H9 bulbs tonight since my wife is doing a long night drive later this week. Thanks for all that figured this mod out over the past years!

The only tips I can add:

- for the driver's side, if you loosen the battery hold-down clamp, and slide the battery to the side, that helps with access in that tight area.

- I found that it was easier to install the bulbs without the cable connected. Connect the cable after the bulb is twisted into the socket.

We just did a Bilstein 5100 upgrade in the front (0.9" lift / leveling), so I'll have to drive a bit at night and make sure I'm not blinding anyone.

 

[Partywaggin]

Ordered some H11's today for the low beams and the Osram 35W landscape bulbs for the backups.

 

[ElectroBoy]

Ordered some H11's today for the low beams and the Osram 35W landscape bulbs for the backups.

H11? That’s the stock bulb.
This thread promotes the modified H9 for better low beam performance.

 

[Partywaggin]

H11? That’s the stock bulb.
This thread promotes the modified H9 for better low beam performance.

D'oh! I meant the H9! :moony:

 

[JayEmVee]

I just did the H9 mod. My two cents:
Use a #18 Xacto blade to get rid of the plastic tab. Heat the blade up with a lighter first and easy peasy.
Use a Dremel cone shaped grinding stone (the narrow one) to get rid of the metal. Easy and clean. Just blow out the metal shavings thoroughly when you are done.

 

[nimby]

I know a lot of people change their fog lights over to LED's, but in the spirit of the H11 to H9 upgrade, I went the halogen route.

Stock halogen fogs are H16's (19w). I put some H8's in there (35w) and have been really happy with the improved lighting. $13 upgrade.

 

[uh0h50]

I know a lot of people change their fog lights over to LED's, but in the spirit of the H11 to H9 upgrade, I went the halogen route.

Stock halogen fogs are H16's (19w). I put some H8's in there (35w) and have been really happy with the improved lighting. $13 upgrade.

Do the tabs on the H8 need to be modified in order to fit, or are they a direct fit?

 

[nimby]

Do the tabs on the H8 need to be modified in order to fit, or are they a direct fit?

If I remember correctly, one tab needed to be trimmed slightly just as the H11 to H9 conversion.

I would compare them side-by-side before doing any trimming......just to be sure.

 

[Partywaggin]

Upgrade on the low beams is complete!

I used the little side-cutters that KP Texan recommended and it was a breeze. (pages ~8-12)

Huge difference!:banana: No one flashed me even after installing the Eibach Pro Truck Stage 1 kit using the factory front springs on the top perch. (Pics will be coming in that thread soon!)

Back-ups are next with the Osram 35W landscape upgrade. It's dark in the desert, so I'm looking forward to this improvement.

Partywaggin

 

[uh0h50]

If I remember correctly, one tab needed to be trimmed slightly just as the H11 to H9 conversion.

I would compare them side-by-side before doing any trimming......just to be sure.

Thanks. Will the fog light wiring handle the extra wattage of the H8 bulbs without issue? And how about the fog light housings handling the likely additional heat?

 

[nimby]

Thanks. Will the fog light wiring handle the extra wattage of the H8 bulbs without issue? And how about the fog light housings handling the likely additional heat?

I am no electrical engineer, but I have experienced zero problems with either.

I felt the fog lens after they had been on a while and could immediately tell heat generation would not be an issue. It wasn't even close to being too hot.

 

[Ahab_BK]

Jumped the gun recently and went straight to the drop-in LEDs for the stock projectors on an '18 4R, and now having second thoughts, having read a bit more. Learning a lot from this forum!

They've been fine for putzing around urban areas and I've not been flashed, but have yet to do any real driving outside of the city where the degradation of the LED lighting on the stock projectors will be more noticed. Slow start to ski season around here.

Rather than go down another hack route with the H9 conversion, think I can be happy with the GE Megalight Ultra +130 H11, which seems to have been replaced by the Tungsram Megalight Ultra.

For the DLR/Hi beams, thoughts about keeping the Xenon Depot LEDs I swapped in, or going to the 9011s?

 

[emmantik]

Just did this mod today and there is a noticeable difference from the H11 bulbs. They seem to give off a whiter light than the factory bulbs. This is good for those not completely sold on LED equivalents, like me, but want a slight upgrade. Glad I did it!

 

[Rocko9999]

Anyone have issues with melting wires or plugs from increased current draw?

 

[emmantik]

Anyone have issues with melting wires or plugs from increased current draw?

Mine have been issue free for 10/11 months now. Still on the same bulbs too!

 

[pjbrownva]

I had problems with the plastic connectors melting and the copper wires turning stiff from too much heat. I can’t say how much was from current draw vs heat from the V8 engine, but I ended up buying a separate light bulb wiring harness with thicker wires and water tight relays that draw the power directly from the battery. I also ordered different wire harness adapters and / or pig tails with ceramic connectors on the end instead of plastic.

Once I got everything set up and working correctly, I was really pleased with the results. Everything is now heavy duty, the bulbs see almost no voltage drop at the socket connectors, and the wires are thick enough that they don’t get hot from trying to pull too much current through undersized factory wires.

I found the connectors on Amazon and I got the headlamp wire and relay harness from the retrofit source.

The 4Runner is a bit odd in that power is always present on the positive side of the terminal and the light is turned on and off by connecting and disconnecting the ground wire. It’s called ground switches.

It took me some time and careful thinking to get everything right, but in the end it’s a nice upgrade, it makes a noticeable difference in the light output, and it gives me peace of mind.