low beam on when in high beam mode-modification

[markmitch]

I have this wiring mod to allow your low beams to stay on when you click it to high beam so you have both at the same time on them dark back roads. This is not my mod I got it somewhere on the net a few years ago. I also have another variation I will post it another time. Hope you can use it. Mark

[Shad0wXCalibur]

This may start some crap but I don't find it necessary to wire the low beams to stay on when you turn on the high beams. Reason being is that high beams are supposed to be just that. High and out. Low beams are low and close. By leaving them on, your eyes will not focus as well on the light down the road from your high beams because the low beams are throwing bright light right in front of the vehicle. This is scientific fact. And yes, I am aware that some vehicles DO turn both on from the factory. However, they may be designed a little differently.

[markmitch]

All I can say is that I used to DJ in clubs and I lived on a back road with no street lights and with this mod I missed a fox at 60 mph that I would have hit with just high beams on. And one more thing how does that science work with fog lights?

[chevymaher]

This may start some crap but I don't find it necessary to wire the low beams to stay on when you turn on the high beams. Reason being is that high beams are supposed to be just that. High and out. Low beams are low and close. By leaving them on, your eyes will not focus as well on the light down the road from your high beams because the low beams are throwing bright light right in front of the vehicle. This is scientific fact. And yes, I am aware that some vehicles DO turn both on from the factory. However, they may be designed a little differently.

Okay I am game. So what your saying is when the sun is out you cant see things far away since the light is shining on things near you?

[Philly758]

I've always been somewhat interested in this mod. However, there really is no reason to put extra hours of run time on your low beams while you are using your high beams. Also 90% of the time your high beams alone will do what the need them to do, see further down the road. But I have to admit sometimes I do pull the light switch just enough so that both lights stay engaged, just before it clicks into high beams (easier temporary mod).

Otherwise this is pretty sweet. Thanks for sharing. I am electrical deficient so reading these type of things give me a better understanding every time.

[thegreenmachine]

i have my bumper spot lights purposly aimed down, i don't care about the 300' in font of me off road, i wanna see what im crawling over night wheelin'..but my matrix leaves the lows on while high beams on... so.. i see no harm. other than MAYBE shortening the life of your lows, by a unmeasurable amount.... just saying homie.

on the "gotta do to the van" list

[chevymaher]

i see no harm. other than MAYBE shortening the life of your lows, by a unmeasurable amount....

I am good, I got 3 sets of them. Set that's in there been there for 12 years I had it. I go through fog light lenses like candy tho.

[WoodButcher]

Thanks Mark, wether I use it or not this thread goes in the toolbox....

[paulo57509]

I recently noticed that with the headlights on (low beams), if I partially pull the turn signal stalk so that the brights come on, the lows also stay on (pull until it clicks and the lows go off/bright stay on).

I can't discern any difference in light on the road between both beams being on or just the brights.

Just my experience.

[AstroWill]

Edit: On my 2003 I found that I don't need any of this nonsense, for once :) On my 2003 when you turn the high beams on, it just breaks the ground for the low beams, to keep them on, you just have to reconnect that ground to the chassis. I am going to use an extra part from my HID upgrade viewtopic.php?f=127&t=22561&start=40#p474489 to accomplish this.

Now that I have HID low beams I am considering doing this mod. The reason I am thinking about this is that it takes a little bit of time for the HIDs to warm up to full brightness, this will prevent them from having to warm up again after using the high beams. This may only be an issue after extended high beam use but I think I would rather plan ahead and avoid it all together. Also Painless performance has a kit (#30802) for this exact same thing but is way overpriced at $35 from Summit Racing or Amazon(free shipping).

Picture of the kit:

Painless Performance Wiring 30802

Instructions from the kit:

30802.pdf

Painless Wiring Headlight Relay Instructions

(98.04 KiB) Downloaded 96 times

[chriss]

Regarding the headlight modifications?
Has anyone tried the using the same method as used on the S10s?

http://www.zr2usa.com/mboard/index.php? ... re+%2Bquad

[Mmusicman]

I have done this headlight mod (with an older van).. and it works just fine! For me it was a simple mod at the foot switch.. just wire the low beams to never turn off (crossing over at the highbeam switch).

My low beams don't point down.. they point out and slightly down. The high beams point out and slightly up. Together they work great! Remember the old days of the 4 headlight system?

There is no issue with having LOTS of extra light! Have at it!

[Meterpig]

My take is the poster who dissed the idea doesn't have all the facts. It's a good mod..and one that exists in today's cars.