High Beam burnout

[Chris 96 WS6]

I replaced my stock headlamps with 55w/100w H4 conversions about 2 yrs ago.

The high beams were too much for the stock harness and burned out both my high been column switch and something in the harness tucked behind the battery.

I have since installed a Painless brand relay'd headlight harness to take the electrical loads off the stock harness, and replaced the switch, but the brights still don't work.

So I am on the hunt for whatever wire I burned up. I think it must be the + to the high beams as I think both high/low share one ground, so if the ground was bad I'd have no headlights at all.

Once I fix the wire I'll have to replace the switch again.

The upside is I don't drive the car enough to really need the brights, but I hate having little things that don't work.

Speaking of which...after 3 yrs maybe its time I get into the dash and remove the ABS INOP bulb from the gauge cluster...

[Red Devil]

I'll dig around a bit. IIRC some sort of headlight upgrade was popular with the gen III SHOs and they had the same problem. I think it was one or two wires that they needed to replace. Probably something very similar knowing detroit. If I forget, call me and haras me for the link. ;)

[01Z]

Sheesh, I have a eurolight headlight conversion kit still in the box but about to go on the car. Now I'm worried. The low beam xenon bulbs are 65w and the high beam xenons are 100w. They are replacing 55w and 65w respectively. I guess I can expect to be doing what Chris 96 ws6 is up to if I use the supplied bulbs ???

[Chris 96 WS6]

Just get a Painless headlight harness to take the load off your stock wiring...and you'll be fine.

[01Z]

I know I can research this Chris, but can you tell me here and now how much mechanical abililty is needed to do this sort of wiring? In other words, I'm not sure I want to pull a dash.

thanks

[Chris 96 WS6]

The Painless harness is plug & play and it all goes up front with the bulbs.....you don't touch anything under the dash.

You just unplug your headlights and plug this harness in between the stock harness and the bulbs. The stock harness trips a relay which then runs power through the Painless harness to the bulbs.

I got mine from Summit.

The most mechanical ability required would be for routing the harness from one side of the car to the other ( I ran mine under the top rad support cover) and then mounting the relay somewhere.

[01Z]

Wow thanks! If there's a relay, there must be a lead to the power source to it. In other words, although it's just a matter of unplugging the beams (or aftermarket bulbs) and putting the harness in between, I would think the relay would have to be hooked directly to the battery to get the amps it needs without over loading the stock wiring. Sorry if I'm getting tedious, I can just drive down to Summit, order it up and take a look at the harness before leaving the store. But anything else you can tell me will save some steps. Thanks!

[01Z]

Is this what you bought from Summit Chris? PRF-30816

thanks.

[Chris 96 WS6]

Yes I think that's it. You do have to run a + wire but it bolts onto the power distribution block with ease.

[01Z]

I should make sure that is harness Chris as it's $100. Did you actually go to summitracing.com to look? I don't expect it but if you could verify the part # by looking here: http://store.summitracing.com/partdetail.asp?part=PRF%2D30816&FROM=MG
I would be very much appreciative. Thanks.

[Chris 96 WS6]

Yes I went and looked. I don't remember the part number as its been about a year ago, but I am pretty sure that's it.

[01Z]

Good enough then; it seems like the right thing whether it's exactly what you bought or not. My advantage is that I'm 3 miles away from the Summit store. They are very good about taking things back. Unfortunately the sales people I have dealt with don't really come across as "car guys". Summit hires people with squeaky clean records first.

I have a shopping list now. :) Thanks!