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Under common night conditions here in AK, these 2nd gen headlights are almost useless. I added relays and converted to sport lights. I also rewired the lights to do what the "Brightbox" does. On low, all the low elements are on, on high, all the high and low beam elements are on. Still, most of the time it's like shining a light into a black hole. No visible difference. The only way I know they are on is reflection off of street signs. Even my fog/driving lights do nothing. While on the other hand, my 1st gen with H4's lights up that same black hole. What is the latest in 2nd gen headlight tech that will improve my night driving experience?
My past experience with LEDs was not good. They weren't properly designed so I could never get them focused or aimed properly. So far, I haven't read anything that said they have improved. My lenses are clear. The LEDs I have in my fog lights were the brightest available at the time. Still not very good. The stock fogs in my Aspen work great as do the low beams. The high beams leave a lot to be desired.
I also "upgraded" to the Sport quad beams and a bright box. While I see a marked improvement in light the reflectors could have been better designed as I have a few bright spots and voids. I guess that is what you get for a 150 bucks. Finding higher quality aftermarket ones is difficult and they may not exist....compared to oem sport lighting on a friends Sport, the reflector background seems a bit different, but his lenses are so yellowed I don't know how he can see!!
My next step will be installing some SilvaStars as they work nicely in the Suburban and hopefully not be annoying to oncoming traffic.
I have the SilvaStars in mine now. I can't say they are any better than Napa's house brand. I'm down to the idea of modifying my lenses for projectors and HIDs. But I think that may be more trouble than it's worth.
Your best and easiest upgrade left is adding a good set of driving lights.
If your headlights are not yellowish and dimming the light.
You have the headlights on relays already. You have the Sport quad head lights with the OEM fog lights...and even upgraded bulbs. You have also done the "Britebox" mod.. You have then done all the upgrades to the factory system.
I had a set of PIAA driving lights on my old '95 that I liked when I used to work till late at night and the deer and moose on the back roads at midnight where a real issue.
Like the old Dick Cepek million candlepower facemelters we ran facing rearwards on the chase trucks....
That is the kinda light I am talking about. I used to able to pick out deer 1/2 a mile out on the dirt roads.
I had them work so they had their own switch AND when switched on, they only came on with the high beams.
That is the kinda light I am talking about. I used to able to pick out deer 1/2 a mile out on the dirt roads.
I had them work so they had their own switch AND when switched on, they only came on with the high beams.
We'd scav old floor mounted high beam switches at the wreckers and wire the relays to those kick switches, you know, to keep both hands on the wheel!!!
Those LED light bars are pretty effective lighting devices for sure. Some of the guys have them on theier personal rigs and it looks like hot moonlight!
I'm in the same boat; upgraded the housings, put the Geno's garage relays in and new bulbs and still not as good as I think they should be.
I have a set of PIAA's already mounted but no relay, so that will be a job for when the weather is nice.
Put these in my early 98. Bright as hell. The pass side has the original pattern but the driver side is a little on the rounder side. May be the drivers housing is bad. They do not blind the on coming traffic so I will keep them. Got them on amazon
I personally love my retroshop hid lights. they are just as bright as my '22 F350 HIDs and they are still going great since i installed them 3 years ago. Here is a picture from his website i bought the clear ones and i wish i would have bought the black ones.
I personally love my retroshop hid lights. they are just as bright as my '22 F350 HIDs and they are still going great since i installed them 3 years ago. Here is a picture from his website i bought the clear ones and i wish i would have bought the black ones.
Retroshop has a number of options (with additional costs, of course!) - what choices/options did you go with?
I added relays and converted to sport lights. I also rewired the lights to do what the "Brightbox" does. On low, all the low elements are on, on high, all the high and low beam elements are on. Still, most of the time it's like shining a light into a black hole. No visible difference. The only way I know they are on is reflection off of street signs. Even my fog/driving lights do nothing. While on the other hand, my 1st gen with H4's lights up that same black hole. What is the latest in 2nd gen headlight tech that will improve my night driving experience?
