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I am wanting to upgrade to LED headlights. I thought I would check to see if anyone has used either of my choices. I am considering either JW Speaker 8900 or 8910 (8910 is a little better but is more expensive). Or, Headlight Experts H6054 LED conversions. Both seem good but, the one from Headlight Experts does not list the low beam and high beam output separately so I am on the fence with that one. Let me know if you have done and LED conversion and the results. Thanks
I have done a Genssi set with some resistor modules inline. Didn't want to cut and splice so I got the modules and can return it back to stock if I were to sell the car ore salvage what I can before scrapping it.
Here's my write-up on doing an LED conversion for my '95. I used a set of headlights off Amazon and love them; way better than the stock halogens, especially with regards to lighting up reflectors and signs on the road.
Please don't use resistors with LEDs if you can avoid it. It defeats the entire point of going to LEDs, and as I've shown, there's absolutely no need to use them on a C4.
I have been looking at various different options for my cars headlights. I want a headlight that is a direct plug in and lite in weight. The car gets driven mostly during the day. Just yesterday we were out and the sun went down. I was wishing for a set of better lights.
Great write-up Nomake Wan. How do you like the headlights. I am a bit unsure with there being a lot of cheap LED headlights and quality is not always there. That is why I was looking at the ones I was.
I believe this is due to the ground that Nomake Wan talked about in his write up. I am looking at the wiring diagram now to work out a solution that will allow the operations of the fog light as intended. Although, since I may use the fog lights as DRL I may use the solution that Nomake Wan did but I think there is a clearer way.
Did the led lights on mine and loved it BIG difference. Just one price level below the JW don't remember the number but worth every penny. Also did the interior LED lights another BIG difference
Great write-up Nomake Wan. How do you like the headlights. I am a bit unsure with there being a lot of cheap LED headlights and quality is not always there. That is why I was looking at the ones I was.
I have no complaints so far. They work great, have good beam patterns, and make it a lot easier to see at night. It was really surprising when I went to drive my dad's '94, flicked the headlights on, and was like...wow why can't I see--oh right, halogens. I'll be converting his over to LED soon.
And the resistor thing, as you concluded, is to try to get around the weird circuit design GM had for the fog lights and turn signals. Don't use resistors, they're literally a waste of both money and current and generate unnecessary heat. The C4 doesn't have a canbus that checks resistance values of bulbs, nor does it have a way to check for dead bulbs, so there's absolutely zero reason to use a resistor anywhere on the car when converting to LEDs. You simply have to make sure you switch both the turn signal flasher and the hazard flasher over to solid-state LED flashers, and make sure you modify the fog light relay's ground so that it connects to a real ground rather than the high beams. Or, as you stated, find a creative way to emulate the factory function using some sort of external circuit (perhaps a second relay that energizes when the high beams are powered on, and connect to ground when energized?).
I am using Sylvania 69822 Nighthawk LEDs very happy with them. I also chose the path of no resistor as I wanted lower load benefit. So I added a relay instead and the lights work like stock. Using Beamtech 880 bulbs for the fog lights
Nomaker Wan, no I am not going to use resistors. I do have one question in your solution can you turn the fog lights on without the lights? I am thinking of doing one of two circuits to solve the issue.
1. Add a relay into the current circuit. This would keep the current mode of operation and get around the ground issue.
2. Since I am thinking of using the fog lights as DRL. Build a circuit that would turn the fog lights on with the ignition, than when the lights are turned on they would operate as normal. Turning off with the switch or with the high beams.
3. Use your solution.
I am working toward #2 but I think I may use #1 as a interim solution. Thanks everyone for the replies. Nomake Wan I did go with the same headlights you did, different fog lights though. I really liked the JW Speaker 8900 but at almost $200 a side I did not think the value was there.
Nomaker Wan, no I am not going to use resistors. I do have one question in your solution can you turn the fog lights on without the lights? I am thinking of doing one of two circuits to solve the issue.
1. Add a relay into the current circuit. This would keep the current mode of operation and get around the ground issue.
2. Since I am thinking of using the fog lights as DRL. Build a circuit that would turn the fog lights on with the ignition, than when the lights are turned on they would operate as normal. Turning off with the switch or with the high beams.
3. Use your solution.
I am working toward #2 but I think I may use #1 as a interim solution. Thanks everyone for the replies. Nomake Wan I did go with the same headlights you did, different fog lights though. I really liked the JW Speaker 8900 but at almost $200 a side I did not think the value was there.
The problem with #2 is that the fog light switch is a latching switch, not a momentary switch. Doing the relay (#1) or grounding the fog light relay (#3) is a far better idea.
I did get the headlights installed. I bought the same ones. For now I grounded the fog light relay separately from the headlight high/low switch. I did not splice it I just replaced the pin on the relay housing until I make further changes. For the DRL on #2 of my plan. What I am thinking about is using relay. The coil will get power when the ignition come on. Pin 30 would get power from the headlight switch. On the switch there is a wire (white I think) that has 12v when the headlights are off, 0v when on. I would then feed pin 87 to the foglight relay, turning on the foglights. When the headlights or park lights are turned on that pin on the headlight switch will go to 0v so now the foglight will operate as normal, with the foglight switch. When you turn the headlights off, 12v, foglights come one. I may consider putting a switch to override the DRL function, hidden somewhere maybe the glove box. If I do this I will also add a relay to put the function of the foglights to the factory intent (turning them off when the high beams are on.) The one thing I need to verify is that the pin I want to use on the headlight switch goes to 0v with just the park lights. What do you think.
I did get the headlights installed. I bought the same ones. For now I grounded the fog light relay separately from the headlight high/low switch. I did not splice it I just replaced the pin on the relay housing until I make further changes. For the DRL on #2 of my plan. What I am thinking about is using relay. The coil will get power when the ignition come on. Pin 30 would get power from the headlight switch. On the switch there is a wire (white I think) that has 12v when the headlights are off, 0v when on. I would then feed pin 87 to the foglight relay, turning on the foglights. When the headlights or park lights are turned on that pin on the headlight switch will go to 0v so now the foglight will operate as normal, with the foglight switch. When you turn the headlights off, 12v, foglights come one. I may consider putting a switch to override the DRL function, hidden somewhere maybe the glove box. If I do this I will also add a relay to put the function of the foglights to the factory intent (turning them off when the high beams are on.) The one thing I need to verify is that the pin I want to use on the headlight switch goes to 0v with just the park lights. What do you think.
I think I wouldn't go through the trouble personally, but if you want to give it a shot, go for it! I love experimentation, so it would be a fun exercise regardless.
LED Headlights
