Headlight wiring help - Solved!

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Headlight wiring help - Solved!

Postby Jesus_man » Sat Aug 05, 2017 5:29 am

So I finally got around to install those fancy LED headlights that Zoso spearheaded a couple years ago. Drivers side is only working on the low beams, and very dim at that. The other side is bright, but almost appears that both beams are on. ON the high beams, drivers side goes out completely and passenger side appears to work correctly (lower bulb lights up).

So assuming my wiring harness colors have changed throughout the years, how can I check if the wiring is done correctly?

My assumption was the center connector was ground, but that appears to be wrong as on both driver and passenger sides, one of the side pins goes to ground. Also appears they are mirror of each other.

So from there, which pin should be high beams and which should be low. And should I be seeing a full 12v at those connector with the dimmer switch in the appropriate setting? Thanks!
Last edited by Jesus_man on Mon Aug 07, 2017 12:58 pm, edited 1 time in total.
1973 Bronco, 351 SEFI, Locked, discs, 35's ZF-5spd and Atlas 4spd. 235:1 Crawl Ratio. It may be ugly, but it's slow.
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Re: Headlight wiring help

Postby Jesus_man » Sun Aug 06, 2017 12:58 pm

I've done some more research and determined what the pins are. I think this is correct...
Drivers side, looking at the female connectors, the right side is high beam, Top is Low beam, and the left is ground.
Passenger side is a mirror, with the ground being on the right.

First thing I notice is that the LED transformer connectors, the black wire is in the same position on both connectors, so it doesn't mirror. I assumed the black wire was ground, so I am not sure how this affects the headlights? Probably not at all since factory bulbs did not differentiate between driver or passenger side??

So here's my results and I am hoping someone can say that this looks good, or that I have an issue.

My first concern is seeing voltage at both pins for both high and low beams. Do I have a bad switch? Thanks!!
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1973 Bronco, 351 SEFI, Locked, discs, 35's ZF-5spd and Atlas 4spd. 235:1 Crawl Ratio. It may be ugly, but it's slow.
http://www.ucora.org
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Re: Headlight wiring help

Postby Viperwolf1 » Sun Aug 06, 2017 4:59 pm

Headlight connectors should be identical from side to side. No mirror image stuff going on or you would have specific left and right headlights.
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Re: Headlight wiring help

Postby Jesus_man » Sun Aug 06, 2017 7:09 pm

ok, time to look into the pigtail wiring then. I can't imagine that if the highs and lows were crossed, that it would blow one of the lights tho would it?

I think I found a diagram online (seabiscuits site??) where it had factory colors. From there, I should be able to determine what is amiss!
1973 Bronco, 351 SEFI, Locked, discs, 35's ZF-5spd and Atlas 4spd. 235:1 Crawl Ratio. It may be ugly, but it's slow.
http://www.ucora.org
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Re: Headlight wiring help

Postby Viperwolf1 » Sun Aug 06, 2017 10:45 pm

Red-black is low beam, green-black is high beam.
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Re: Headlight wiring help

Postby Jesus_man » Mon Aug 07, 2017 5:02 am

Viperwolf1 wrote:Red-black is low beam, green-black is high beam.

Thanks!! Will find those again, and have my son verify the colors. I'm colorblind and colors on these old wires nearly make it impossible for me to distinguish!!
1973 Bronco, 351 SEFI, Locked, discs, 35's ZF-5spd and Atlas 4spd. 235:1 Crawl Ratio. It may be ugly, but it's slow.
http://www.ucora.org
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Re: Headlight wiring help

Postby phyler » Mon Aug 07, 2017 10:18 am

Jesus_man wrote:
Viperwolf1 wrote:Red-black is low beam, green-black is high beam.

Thanks!! Will find those again, and have my son verify the colors. I'm colorblind and colors on these old wires nearly make it impossible for me to distinguish!!
I'm with you on this. Being color bind is tough with these things.

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1975 Ranger Edition that I've had longer than I've been without it.
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Re: Headlight wiring help

Postby Viperwolf1 » Mon Aug 07, 2017 11:33 am

Here is the headlight connector.
c-402.jpg
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Re: Headlight wiring help

Postby Jesus_man » Mon Aug 07, 2017 11:42 am

Thanks Viper! I'll make them both match that!! The pigtails are in pretty poor condition. They need replaced, so perhaps now is the time. Wish I would have ordered them when I ordered new adjusters and a dimmer switch!
1973 Bronco, 351 SEFI, Locked, discs, 35's ZF-5spd and Atlas 4spd. 235:1 Crawl Ratio. It may be ugly, but it's slow.
http://www.ucora.org
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Re: Headlight wiring help

Postby Jesus_man » Mon Aug 07, 2017 12:57 pm

So, my son and I got it figured out!!!! The drivers side high and low beams were cross threaded! So I moved them around in the very sloppy connector and viola! It all works as it should!! Now to aim them!

I will order new pigtails soon too as these are just shot!

Thanks for all the help!
1973 Bronco, 351 SEFI, Locked, discs, 35's ZF-5spd and Atlas 4spd. 235:1 Crawl Ratio. It may be ugly, but it's slow.
http://www.ucora.org
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Re: Headlight wiring help - Solved!

Postby Jesus_man » Mon Aug 07, 2017 7:45 pm

A good night for a test run!

Low beams:
LEDHeadsLow.jpg


High Beams:
LEDHeadsHigh.jpg


I need to find a level driveway to really dial in the alignment, but I am VERY happy with the results!!
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1973 Bronco, 351 SEFI, Locked, discs, 35's ZF-5spd and Atlas 4spd. 235:1 Crawl Ratio. It may be ugly, but it's slow.
http://www.ucora.org
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Re: Headlight wiring help - Solved!

Postby Rox Crusher » Tue Aug 08, 2017 2:38 am

I'm still kickin myself for not getting in on the group buy for this lights

LOOKS GREAT ,
1977 Sport, 351w OBDII EFI motor, 4R70W auto, 4:88 gears, ARB lockers, 3.5" suspension, 33" tires.
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Re: Headlight wiring help - Solved!

Postby Strike2 » Tue Aug 08, 2017 4:53 am

WOW those lights are great, nice upgrade!
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Re: Headlight wiring help - Solved!

Postby Jesus_man » Tue Aug 08, 2017 5:07 am

Rox Crusher wrote:I'm still kickin myself for not getting in on the group buy for this lights

LOOKS GREAT ,


Badmuttstang on cb.com still sells them. They appear to be identical to the JW speaker 7" round model:
https://www.jwspeaker.com/products/

Anyway, I never did drive at night because my headlights were so poor and my dimmer switch was corroded so I couldn't switch to anything other than low beams. Not to mention, one adjusting screw broke and was replaced with a zip tie..

Now I need to work on my signal and brake lights and then I can be "more" legal!
1973 Bronco, 351 SEFI, Locked, discs, 35's ZF-5spd and Atlas 4spd. 235:1 Crawl Ratio. It may be ugly, but it's slow.
http://www.ucora.org
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Re: Headlight wiring help - Solved!

Postby ZOSO » Tue Aug 08, 2017 6:49 am

Im thinking of pulling mine out and going to those ones. I like mine but those have a bit better beam pattern. Maybe another group buy.
Rob

74 Ranger EFI351w, 4r70w, ARB 5.13 9in, ARB 5.13D44, and a bunch of other goodies. Best of all the family memories.

04 Mustang Cobra, KenneBell 2.2 feeding a lot of boost on E85. Tire shredding machine

New project: 77 Bronco Ranger, body work and more body work.

Very little left of a 72 durango tan explorer sport
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