My Tucked HID install thread

[Axix23]

I picked up a 18 T4R Off-Road Prem with XP Predator Package and was not happy with the stock lighting. This car should of came with led/hids stock with the price we paid for. Anyways, I come from a background of Hondas/Acuras builds and I always had Hid lowbeams/fogs in them. I wanted my install as Oem looking as possible and also to look like it came like it from factory.

I started the install with only 20 miles on the odometer. LOL

The HID kit I normally run is the lifetime warranty retro-solutions 55w Digital 4300k kit. Link: http://retro-solutions.net/product-...tml=/asc_action=SetCurrentProduct/prod_id=664

I also ordered the same kit for the fogs but after having them in for 5 minutes, they were running super hot and my dumbass forget the lens was plastic and not glass like all my other Honda fog that run hids. So I ended up taking them out and swapped them for some Led bulb instead.

I been running the digital brand hid kits for over 13 years. I still have the same kit on 2006 RSX Type S with no issues.
The owner Todd is a stand up guy who will back his product 100%. I have return one ballast back to him in the past 12 years(Tech One Hid kit) and he shipped me a new one in
a few days under warranty.

I also replaced the license plate bulb to some T-10 leds as well. These: http://retro-solutions.net/product-...8__2825_5050_PCB_LED_Wedge_Bulbs-pid2470.html. I will have some photos soon.

As far as the install of the hids. I didn’t not drill into the dust cover or mount my ballasts in the engine bay where it was visible. I did not want any wiring/ballasts visible at all in the engine bay. Even when you hide your ballasts under the side trim piece, your wiring will still be visible. Drilling into the dust cover makes it look non oem with the wiring coming out of the cover. The install did take me a lot longer as the hardest thing was to find somewhere to mount the ballasts with a smooth flat surface and run the wiring where it could be hidden.

I ended up using the bottom hole of the headlights where the grommet is at and ran my hid bulb wiring out from there. I used the grommet that came with the bulb on top of some Honda oem weather seal foam tape and made me a custom grommet. I also used water proof 3m sealant tape to make sure nothing gets inside the custom made grommet.

I mounted the hid ballasts on the the front lower core support behind the front bumper. (see photos below) Everything is all accessible without taking your front bumper off. I used super strong 15lb strength Scotch 3M double sided tape to mount the ballasts. I used the same tape to mount all my HID ballasts for all my cars with no issues though the years. They are actually quite hard to remove. I remeber one time, I had to use a flat head screw driver and hammer to get one ballast off.

I took photos of everything to show what the install looks like.
The wiring is zip tied and out of the way.

I ended up going with Gp Thunder Cree led kits for the fogs. Wiring was super easy. Way easier than HIDS. One thing I found out is the oem fog lights take h11 bulbs as well. Another thing,
the hid harness did not plug right into the oem fog light plug without modification but the led harness fit right into the h16/h11 plug. It looks like the pins on the h11/h16 are super close which makes the generic plugs not fit in property without customizing it.

As you can see in the photos, there is no drilling, wiring, or ballasts in the engine bay. The engine bay looks completely OEM.

I took some daytime photos. I love the oem 4300k hid look. I wish they made 4300k leds for the fogs but oh well. I don’t like the leds bluish 6000k tint but what can you do? Lol

Enjoy the photos.


I will be installing some Retro solutions 9005 Led for the DRL/Highbeams in a few weeks.

 

[Axix23]

More photos of install and 55w 4300k lowbeams and 4300k fog lights on.

The daytime outside photos are with the 55w 4300k hid bulbs in the fogs.
Took them out in 5 min. Didn’t want to melt the lens.
Th leds run so much cooler.

The Led kit(GP Thunder Extreme) I picked up was locally at http://www.showstoppersusa.com/store/account/shoppingcart.aspx?itemid=257971
Luckily for me, they had a store location close to where I work at.

Below attached is where I mounted the HID ballast for the lowbeam along with the wiring.
The Led wiring is along tied with the HID wiring as well. All tucked away from sight.

 

[Axix23]

More photos

Retro-solutions Led kit for the DRL/highbeams is coming soon!!

 

[Axix23]

Custom grommets as promised

 

[Axix23]

I finally installed the 9005 Led kit into my highbeams/DRL.
These had no flicker issue in DRL mode. Here is the link: Super_Bright_LED_Headlamps - Retro-Solutions Store
You don’t need an anti flicker box or anything.

It also came with different color caps. I am going to try the yellow ones at a later date.

Photos below. I tried to tuck the wiring/ballast behind the stock plastic cover. Notice no holes drilled in the low beam dust covers. lol ��

 

[guitarsail]

Any retrofit build thread is useless without night time cut off shots. Haha. Gotta show what the headlight look like at night in the factory projectors..

 

[97BlackAckCL]

Nice and clean install, I thought I was OCD about hiding and tucking my wires, but you put my install to shame lol. I also come from a Honda back ground and tuck wires out of the way as I can. Looks great man

 

[Zmartin19]

Here’s how I mounted mine.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[12Bravo4R]

Here’s how I mounted mine.

Same spot I used.

 

[97BlackAckCL]

Same here, that's exactly how I mounted and routed the wires

 

[Axix23]

Any retrofit build thread is useless without night time cut off shots. Haha. Gotta show what the headlight look like at night in the factory projectors..

sorry, I will take some photos soon. lol

 

[Axix23]

Here’s how I mounted mine.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Nice. Where did y’all run the wires to the hid bulb at?

 

[97BlackAckCL]

Thanks man. lol. Here is my k swapped eg. I got 2 other built Hondas as well. What Honda do you got? This is my first 4-Runner/Toyota. Still trying to get used to it. lol

I have a 97 Acura CL v6 that I've been building as a show car for several years. Never swapped the engine though. This is my third 4Runner though, had an 03 Sport and an 08 SR5 before this

 

[Axix23]

I have a 97 Acura CL v6 that I've been building as a show car for several years. Never swapped the engine though. This is my third 4Runner though, had an 03 Sport and an 08 SR5 before this

Nice man! Photos?

 

[57HotrodVW]

Custom grommets as promised

Can you explain the custom grommets a little more? I'm not clear on what is the original grommet, added rubber washer, and/or OEM Honda bits.

Thanks!

 

[Axix23]

The hid bulbs came with the blue grommet. You just need to source some grommets that will go over that and big enough to seal tightly where the factory grommet was sealed under the headlight. You can just use silicone to seal the grommets together. It’s just a lot of trial and error. Most people on this forum won’t do it this way as it takes too much time. I did it to make the it look oem as possible under the hood and for it to look like it came with hids from the factory.

And people that are drilling into their dust covers will eventually get mositure into the headlights.
By using a grommet under the headlights where the factory designed a grommet for the location, your chances are a lot lower to get moisture in the headlight.