JDM headlight question.

[StreetDreams]

I remembered reading that it's not possible to clear the corners on the one piece JDM headlights. Does anybody know why? I tried searching but couldn't find an answer. There is an orange tube inside the headlight housing where the bulb goes. It looks like that tube can be broken off and taken out. Is this possible??? I don't want to try it and end up screwing up my lights.

Any help is appreciated. Thanks.

[brandon]

Do you have the glass or plastic? I think they might be slightly different in design, but don't quote me on that.

I know a few people have cleared theirs... I never took mine apart but it looks to me like you'd just have to break that orange cover piece and manage to get the pieces out.

[StreetDreams]

They are the plastic, one piece lights.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(brandon)</div><div class='quotemain'>I know a few people have cleared theirs... I never took mine apart but it looks to me like you'd just have to break that orange cover piece and manage to get the pieces out.</div>

^That's what I was thinking. Wouldn't even have to take it apart if it can be broken up in small pieces. But I might open it up anyway, to clean the inside of the lens (purchased them used). Do they open up the same way as the USDM lights??? Looks like they do.

[brandon]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(StreetDreams)</div><div class='quotemain'>They are the plastic, one piece lights.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(brandon)</div><div class='quotemain'>I know a few people have cleared theirs... I never took mine apart but it looks to me like you'd just have to break that orange cover piece and manage to get the pieces out.</div>

^That's what I was thinking. Wouldn't even have to take it apart if it can be broken up in small pieces. But I might open it up anyway, to clean the inside of the lens (purchased them used). Do they open up the same way as the USDM lights??? Looks like they do.</div>

I agree, definitely looks like they're held together the same way, you'd just need to throw some silicone or RTV in there when you're done.

[StreetDreams]

Thanks for the help Brandon.

[Censee]

ive done it,,,to chris jdms,,,its not as easy as 8gs but its doable,,i did it without even opening them up...just a dremel and some pliers and a flathead,,wlthough the hole got really messed up on the where the bulb goes in..

[Blue Ice]

i cleared my usdm's and my two piece jdms. The difference was the usdm had a lens that could be popped out. When i opened the jdm, the yellow piece is shaped like a bulb. it's plastic and it's also has a screw hoding it in. It was really easy to get apart, and take that bulb casing out.

If the one pc jdm is anything like the two pc, i would think it might be a bitch trying to break that yellow bulb casing, and then you'd have the yellow around the screw still inside, which would look like crap imo.

Just take it apart, and silicone it back together, my take a while, but it'll be done right.

I'd probably stay as far from a dremel as possible. :shock:

[StreetDreams]

Well, I got a burst of energy and decided to take them apart. It took less than 10 minutes each light to heat them up and get them apart. The orange cover was a piece of cake to get out, one screw.

While I was at it, I took the black housing out and cleaned the inside of the lens. I was surprised at how dirty it was; the paper towel was black when I was done. But, it made a BIG difference. I held the clean one up next to the other lens which I hadn't cleaned and it was like night and day.

I put them back together and put some silicone around it. I'm probably going to throw another bead of silicone around them tomorrow, just to be safe. They look great. I also used G-rim's post https://www.thegalantcenter.org/viewt...p=310820#310820 ('https://www.thegalantcenter.org/viewtopic.php?p=310820#310820') on how to clean cloudy headlights. There's still some scratches, but they look pretty damn good compared to when I got them.

Thanks everyone for your help. Now I just got to figure out how to wire them up. https://www.thegalantcenter.org/style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif By the way, those bulbs are a pain in the ass to get in. Anybody else have problems with them?

Here's some pics for those interested:

Before:
http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid152/pa8b0794c17242f992a59d6a0b79b6839/f5b9226a.jpg

During:
http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid152/pf2e9f62238c709965a5abf07a55f4b48/f5b93372.jpg

Orange bulb condom:
http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid152/pc8c11f175d4e051f3adae3a4c35ff49c/f5b9338e.jpg
http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid152/p4f7b1752a2fe4d2eba57cb0750c71e6e/f5b93394.jpg

Side by side comparison:
http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid152/p47ffb2c2fa593ddaebd8a24f015f542e/f5b9339d.jpg

After:
http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid152/pcd2f4156eb05d13df43c116b648754db/f5b93381.jpg

[brandon]

only seeing X's....

Glad you got it done though... and no, I personally didn't have any issues getting the bulbs in. Did you get the right size bulbs? They aren't the same as the USDM ones (just making sure)...

[StreetDreams]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(brandon)</div><div class='quotemain'>only seeing X's....</div>
Pics seem to be working. Anyone else having problems viewing the pics?

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(brandon)</div><div class='quotemain'>Glad you got it done though... and no, I personally didn't have any issues getting the bulbs in. Did you get the right size bulbs? Â*They aren't the same as the USDM ones (just making sure)...</div>

I didn't replace the bulbs; I just pulled them out when I took the headlights apart. The bulbs where still attached to the socket, but I had problems getting the socket into the housing. They have metal spring clips that hold the socket secure to the housing. It was a pain in the ass to get those clips around the socket. It would probably be even harder to do with the lights installed.

Any suggestions for a good, bright, white bulb to put in. I'm probably going to change all of them before I install the lights. How about the city light? Did you use a color bulb or just white?

[brandon]

Personal preference I guess for bulb choice. PIAA is my personal favorite, and I've heard the Silverstars are nice.

Only one of my driving lights work, but I just kept the stock bulb in there.

Did you wire your headlights to use both bulbs or just the one?

[StreetDreams]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(brandon)</div><div class='quotemain'>
Did you wire your headlights to use both bulbs or just the one?</div>

I didn't wire anything yet. They are not installed. What do you mean 'both bulbs or just the one'?

I searched for a tutorial to wire them up, but couldn't find anything. Do you know how to wire them up, or do you know of a post about it?

Thanks again Brandon for the help. Still can't see the pics?

[8G_GTZ]

my JDM's are coming in to the states on January 10th. What bulbs do they use and what re-wiring is there to redo? Mine already come cleared and are brand new with clear side markers for the fenders.

Steve

[brandon]

The headlight bulbs are H4/H1 as opposed to 9006/9005, so you'll have to either hard wire 'em, or go the easier route and pick up some conversion harnesses at your local auto parts store. I think mine were only like $4 or $5 each IIRC.

I only have the middle lights wired, not the ones closest to the grills. The nice thing is that the H4 bulbs can be used as high and lo beams, although my high beam isn't all too bright.

Turn signals are the same on JDM or USDM.

Here's the diagram for wiring:

http://hometown.aol.com/dnytopshotta/images/jdm.jpg

[8G_GTZ]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(brandon)</div><div class='quotemain'>The headlight bulbs are H4/H1 as opposed to 9006/9005, so you'll have to either hard wire 'em, or go the easier route and pick up some conversion harnesses at your local auto parts store. I think mine were only like $4 or $5 each IIRC.

I only have the middle lights wired, not the ones closest to the grills. The nice thing is that the H4 bulbs can be used as high and lo beams, although my high beam isn't all too bright. Â*

Turn signals are the same on JDM or USDM.

Here's the diagram for wiring:

http://hometown.aol.com/dnytopshotta/images/jdm.jpg</div>

awesome, thanks brandon.

steve

[StreetDreams]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(brandon)</div><div class='quotemain'>
Here's the diagram for wiring:

http://hometown.aol.com/dnytopshotta/images/jdm.jpg</div>

That's exactly what I was looking for. Thanks so much.

How about the city light? What do you wire that up to?

[StreetDreams]

Installed the JDMs today. I used the Silverstar h4 bulbs for the low beam and the Silverstar h1 bulbs for the high beam; they are really bright, thanks for the suggestion Brandon. I am very happy with them. I put blue bulbs in the driving lights which I have hooked up to the parking light switch. My corners are wired as turn signals with clear bulbs in them. Thanks for all the help with this Brandon.

One more question: Is it possible to have the corners stay on with the headlights but blink on and off for the turn signal??? That would be nice.

Here's some pics:

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid153/pa7c9488b2b5241f4a434fba64ad3b883/f5a06603.jpg


http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid153/p065e39db2e52af8476b388bb6a571a4f/f5a065f7.jpg
driving lights; hooked to parking light switch, these stay on when the headlights are on


http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid153/p6798c9ad252843a7b0a1de4af8c3e84e/f5a065f9.jpg
low beam


http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid153/p4e96fd21a9812553fb20e1c9b0d1cad2/f5a065fc.jpg
high beam

[brandon]

Still seeing X's... https://www.thegalantcenter.org/style_emoticons/default/tongue.gif

I actually just bought a set of the Silverstars too... they're pretty nice but I'm thinking I need HID sooner or later.

The driving/city lights just plug into what you used to use for the corners IIRC, right?

I think qnzfinest set up his corners to stay on all the time and blink when they're supposed to, but I tried a search and couldn't find anything.

[StreetDreams]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(brandon)</div><div class='quotemain'>Still seeing X's... Â* https://www.thegalantcenter.org/style_emoticons/default/tongue.gif </div>
I don't know what the problem is...Sony ImageStation maybe...any other suggestions to post pics???

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(brandon)</div><div class='quotemain'>I actually just bought a set of the Silverstars too... they're pretty nice but I'm thinking I need HID sooner or later.</div>
I was thinking about putting in HIDs, but now that I got these in I don't think it's necessary. The Silverstars are perfect; they put out plenty of light.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(brandon)</div><div class='quotemain'>The driving/city lights just plug into what you used to use for the corners IIRC, right?</div> What is 'IIRC'??? Yes, the original USDM wires for the corner lights (parking light) were rewired to the JDM plugs for the city lights.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(brandon)</div><div class='quotemain'>I think qnzfinest set up his corners to stay on all the time and blink when they're supposed to, but I tried a search and couldn't find anything.</div> I would still like to do it, but it's probably not worth the trouble...after seeing how bright the lights are, I don't think I need the corners on all the time anyway.

Only problem I have is that the corner bulbs are not the same white light as the headlights and it looks funny when the turn signal is on. I looked for Silverstar 1157 bulbs in clear to match the headlights, but all I could find was the amber bulbs.

[SamirDarji]

PIAA makes some brighter colored bulbs to match headlights. If the Silverstars ever make you wish you had even more light, try the PIAAs before going to HID.