Headlights for dummies...

Disclaimer: Links on this page pointing to Amazon, eBay and other sites may include affiliate code. If you click them and make a purchase, we may earn a small commission.

hunterdan

Senior Member
Joined
May 7, 2018
Posts
836
Reaction score
777
Location
SE PA
Ram Year
2019 classic
Engine
5.7 Hemi
Thread went from simple to complex and $$$. Lol
I'm not looking for something over the top, just a little improvement in lighting in my quads that won't cause retina burn for the oncoming vehicles. Seems the H9s would be adequate for the task and is a pretty cheap option?
I did some reviews on various led h11 bulbs from auxito. They're small, compact and you'll be happy with the output and as long as they are aimed right (according to oem specs) they won't blind anyone. I actually get flashed with my projectors more than I did with my quads and my projectors are aimed the same or slightly lower.
 
OP
OP
78Staff

78Staff

US Navy Veteran
Military
Joined
Aug 3, 2018
Posts
961
Reaction score
540
Location
NE Florida
Ram Year
2016
Engine
5.7L Hemi
Well, this is older thread, but has all the history so figured I would post here...

All has been fine with the OEM projectors and Retro Shop harness since the install back in 19, but today I got a Right Front parking lamp out warning and the fast flash on the dash. Right front was not blinking, but right rear (and trailer) blinks as normal.

So after working with Jeremy at RetroShop and doing some troubleshooting, cleaning up contacts, swapping lights/harness/etc we were able to determine it is an issue with my harness. Truck Wiring and Light/Lamp all work. They are several years old now so I am thinking on what to do next. Obvious choice is just to order a new set of harnesses, but for now I've swapped the Quads back in for the time being. I may order the new harness kit, which is a newer revision than my older one as well - or I may change over to something like the Modify Streets Halogens that don't require a harness (Lawsuit11's Post), or I may just leave the Quads in and do a bulb upgrade.

Still running the Sport LED tails, no issues there.

I still wonder if it has something to do with my boat trailer, as mentioned I did get the message right after dropping my boat in the water... I will leave the Quads in for now, and will dropping the boat in again this weekend - I've dropped that trailer in the water plenty of times before without any errors, although I did have the plug replaced recently. So will see if I get a repeat, or if it was just a coincidence.
 

hunterdan

Senior Member
Joined
May 7, 2018
Posts
836
Reaction score
777
Location
SE PA
Ram Year
2019 classic
Engine
5.7 Hemi
So after working with Jeremy at RetroShop and doing some troubleshooting, cleaning up contacts, swapping lights/harness/etc we were able to determine it is an issue with my harness. Truck Wiring and Light/Lamp all work. They are several years old now so I am thinking on what to do next. Obvious choice is just to order a new set of harnesses, but for now I've swapped the Quads back in for the time being. I may order the new harness kit, which is a newer revision than my older one as well - or I may change over to something like the Modify Streets Halogens that don't require a harness (Lawsuit11's Post), or I may just leave the Quads in and do a bulb upgrade.

Still running the Sport LED tails, no issues there.

I still wonder if it has something to do with my boat trailer, as mentioned I did get the message right after dropping my boat in the water... I will leave the Quads in for now, and will dropping the boat in again this weekend - I've dropped that trailer in the water plenty of times before without any errors, although I did have the plug replaced recently. So will see if I get a repeat, or if it was just a coincidence.
I'm running these headlights, use 9005 bulbs like oem, so you can reuse anything you already have and they come with the adapter harness and resistors to make them plug and play for quad housing trucks. Plus. The beam pattern is really decent and have a dual function projector like oem.
 

Jim BB

Senior Member
Joined
May 23, 2022
Posts
356
Reaction score
315
Location
Hamilton ,ON
Ram Year
2019 Ram 1500 classic Express
Engine
Hemi 5.7L
If I went this route, I would likely go with the pre-2019 style, likely the exact one @Jimmy07 linked, or possibly the polished black - either would probably look good on Max Steel Metallic I would think. And so sounds like DRL harness wouldn't be an issue or needed since I have Alfa DRL's config'd anyway.

I see they offer some HID kit packages as well, but 6k/8k/10k - I though we wanted between 4-5K for best results?
if you have the ALFA obd you can put you DRL's to your signal lights and put in LED's in H11 low beam 9005 LED for high beam and 9006 LED for your fog lamps with no extra wiring flash the BCM if you get light flicker! LED that i am going with is Fahren at a cost of about $150.00 canadian from amazon
 

Jim BB

Senior Member
Joined
May 23, 2022
Posts
356
Reaction score
315
Location
Hamilton ,ON
Ram Year
2019 Ram 1500 classic Express
Engine
Hemi 5.7L
Ok been reading a bunch of headlight upgrade threads... Just getting more and more confused. Duals, Quads, Projectors, HID, LED, Ballasts, Resistors, Flicker, Hyperflash, Errors, oh my. :eek:

Would like to improve my stock headlights and possibly fogs. Like the look of OEM Projectors, but not really wanting to dump that much money into them plus adapters, etc. Don't want to split open headlights, don't want 14 ballasts/resistors/harnesses hanging all over.

Have what everybody refers to as "quads" I think. Basically looking for the old guy easy to install light upgrade. In my previous truck I just swapped out the bulbs for Silverstars I think it was, less than $100 for both lights. I take it that's not an option anymore.

So it appears the most strait forward swap would be something like TYC or OEM Projectors and RetroShop Projector Harness? But that's still going to be "stock" brightness lighting? Have to further upgrade with LED or HID to improve?

I gather from several of the threads one would not want to put HID bulbs in quad bezels due to lacking cutoff and light scatter issues, but is there an alternative simple bulb upgrade option for quads (and fogs) that provides serviceable light upgrade without breaking the bank? I've used Alfa to enable DRL's so would like to keep that enabled as well.

View attachment 426187
if you have the ALFA obd you can put you DRL's to your signal lights and put in LED's in H11 low beam 9005 LED for high beam and 9006 LED for your fog lamps with no extra wiring flash the BCM if you get light flicker! LED that i am going with is Fahren at a cost of about $150.00 canadian from amazon also a direct fit for quad lighting like ours
 
OP
OP
78Staff

78Staff

US Navy Veteran
Military
Joined
Aug 3, 2018
Posts
961
Reaction score
540
Location
NE Florida
Ram Year
2016
Engine
5.7L Hemi
So after working with Jeremy at RetroShop and doing some troubleshooting, cleaning up contacts, swapping lights/harness/etc we were able to determine it is an issue with my harness. Truck Wiring and Light/Lamp all work. They are several years old now so I am thinking on what to do next. Obvious choice is just to order a new set of harnesses, but for now I've swapped the Quads back in for the time being. I may order the new harness kit, which is a newer revision than my older one as well - or I may change over to something like the Modify Streets Halogens that don't require a harness (Lawsuit11's Post), or I may just leave the Quads in and do a bulb upgrade.

Still running the Sport LED tails, no issues there.

I still wonder if it has something to do with my boat trailer, as mentioned I did get the message right after dropping my boat in the water... I will leave the Quads in for now, and will dropping the boat in again this weekend - I've dropped that trailer in the water plenty of times before without any errors, although I did have the plug replaced recently. So will see if I get a repeat, or if it was just a coincidence.


Dropped the trailer in again, no issues, so must have just been a coincidence...

Since I already have OEM Projectors, I think the simplest thing to do is either just buy the replacement harness, or just stay with the Quads and just sell the projectors maybe. I'd rather do one of these vs buying another set of headlights tbh :).
 
OP
OP
78Staff

78Staff

US Navy Veteran
Military
Joined
Aug 3, 2018
Posts
961
Reaction score
540
Location
NE Florida
Ram Year
2016
Engine
5.7L Hemi
To follow up, ordered a replacement set of harnesses from Jeremy, installed today. New version has external power lead (for more reliable power I assume) as well as a DRL tap, although I use Alfa for DRL config so didn't hook that up. So everything is back to normal with the Old Dawg, and still sporting that Natty Championship plate :)



LeVLpqk.jpg
 
Top