SAR Jeepster
Observer
I like the housing on the TJ Fog Lights it is easy to adjust for elevation and protects the lens better than some of the after market Hella Model 500 Series of lights. The light output seemed to be a little disappointing to me so I opted to change out the highly fluted fog lens for the Hella Model 500 Driving Light lens. This was a much brighter and more useful light for my needs for Overland Travel. The next improvement was to covert from Halogen to HID bulbs this made a huge difference in the light output. The Driving Lens has the HID bulb installed.
List of Materials Used:
1. Fog lights from a 2006 TJ
2. Hella Model 500 Driving Lights (HLA-005750952 from Summit Racing)
3. Raptor Brand 35W H3 6000K HID Kit (HIDRAPTORH3-6000K from DDM Tuning)
I first unplugged and removed the 13mm nut under the bumper to take off the TJ fog light. With the light face down on the work bench I removed the 3 #20 Torx head screws. This allows the lens to be removed, pay attention to the lens orientation and gently pry the lens from the retaining ring. The lens from the Hella Model 500 Driving Lights is much easer to remove there is a single Phillips screw close to the mounting bolt. If you are only changing the lens just unplug the wires and leave the bulbs in place. If doing the HID conversion remove the bulb from the lens you are going to use (keeping from touching the bulb with your hands, the oils from you skin will cause the bulb to fail prematurely). Install the driving lens in to the TJ housing orientating it to the same direction as the one you removed. The HID bulb is much longer than the Halogen bulb it looked like the end was touching the back of the lens, so I trimmed a washer to put between the bulb and the reflector.
Before replacing the light housing back a 1” hole needs to be drilled to allow for the HID wiring. I drilled mine in the center to put the grommet right behind the back of the bulb to give more room for the bulb length.
I found a space behind the lights to mount the ballast and remounted the lights.
The elevation is adjusted with a 4mm socket from the front just below the lens.
If you change to Driving Lenses I would recommend using the wiring harness that came with the lenses to allow you use them with your high beams. The HID conversion will not fit the fog lens there is a deflector in the way of the space for the HID bulb.
I am heading to the Black Rock Desert this weekend and hope to get some pictures of them in use. :smiley_drive:
List of Materials Used:
1. Fog lights from a 2006 TJ
2. Hella Model 500 Driving Lights (HLA-005750952 from Summit Racing)
3. Raptor Brand 35W H3 6000K HID Kit (HIDRAPTORH3-6000K from DDM Tuning)
I first unplugged and removed the 13mm nut under the bumper to take off the TJ fog light. With the light face down on the work bench I removed the 3 #20 Torx head screws. This allows the lens to be removed, pay attention to the lens orientation and gently pry the lens from the retaining ring. The lens from the Hella Model 500 Driving Lights is much easer to remove there is a single Phillips screw close to the mounting bolt. If you are only changing the lens just unplug the wires and leave the bulbs in place. If doing the HID conversion remove the bulb from the lens you are going to use (keeping from touching the bulb with your hands, the oils from you skin will cause the bulb to fail prematurely). Install the driving lens in to the TJ housing orientating it to the same direction as the one you removed. The HID bulb is much longer than the Halogen bulb it looked like the end was touching the back of the lens, so I trimmed a washer to put between the bulb and the reflector.
Before replacing the light housing back a 1” hole needs to be drilled to allow for the HID wiring. I drilled mine in the center to put the grommet right behind the back of the bulb to give more room for the bulb length.
I found a space behind the lights to mount the ballast and remounted the lights.
The elevation is adjusted with a 4mm socket from the front just below the lens.
If you change to Driving Lenses I would recommend using the wiring harness that came with the lenses to allow you use them with your high beams. The HID conversion will not fit the fog lens there is a deflector in the way of the space for the HID bulb.
I am heading to the Black Rock Desert this weekend and hope to get some pictures of them in use. :smiley_drive:
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