Does your gen 2.5 use 9003 series headlamp bulbs?

[mapper]

I checked a number of bulb sellers online and all indicated my 98 Montero uses 9003 series bulbs so I consulted Daniel Stern lighting and bought the "best" 9003 bulb I could find. Just went to install my new Nighthawk Platinums tonight, and found my car is running 9004 series HB1 bulbs. Damn! Do I have an oddball? :smilies27

Anyone know what bulbs their 2.5 runs? Anyone have a truck running 9003s and want to buy an unopened 2 pack of Nighthawk Platinum bulbs?

 

[jeep-N-montero]

I run Osram h4 bulbs but the 9003 interchanges, a good read here http://honda-tech.com/honda-civic-del-sol-1992-2000-1/difference-between-9003-h4-392655/ And the Nighthawk is a mediocre bulb from what I have read.

 

[mapper]

Yeah, maybe I went overboard calling it the best. You got me. Let me rephrase. I wanted a solid bulb witout going nutso as I think there is a real law of diminishing returns when it comes to bulb prices...so I spent 20 some odd bucks on this pair of Nighthawks vs. 12-15 bucks for a pair of plain janes.

I'm not sure what H4 has to do with my question. My truck has a 9004 HB1 bulb in place which uses a totally different style base and wiring harness than a 9003 or H4. I wish I could use these and, based on your response, maybe some member can.

 

[jlocster]

Strange...I'm running 9003 on a 2000 Gen 2.5.

 

[jeep-N-montero]

Yeah, maybe I went overboard calling it the best. You got me. Let me rephrase. I wanted a solid bulb witout going nutso as I think there is a real law of diminishing returns when it comes to bulb prices...so I spent 20 some odd bucks on this pair of Nighthawks vs. 12-15 bucks for a pair of plain janes.

I'm not sure what H4 has to do with my question. My truck has a 9004 HB1 bulb in place which uses a totally different style base and wiring harness than a 9003 or H4. I wish I could use these and, based on your response, maybe some member can.

For relevance I should mention mine is a 98 as well, so it's weird that yours is different.

 

[billygoats]

The gen 2 used 9004. The 2.5 used 9003/h4. Neither are interchangeable with each other as the bulb base and corresponding plugs are different. It could be your 2.5 was crashed, and someone replaced the headlamps with gen 2 units, then realized the plugs didn't work, and put on 9004 harnesses.

Can you post up a pic of your housing? The gen2 lenses are fluted. The 2.5 are clear.

 

[TheMole]

Seems like a strange one. Has the headlamp housing ever been replaced? Maybe the housing was replaced with one from a pre-98 Montero, which uses the 9004.

 

[mapper]

The gen 2 used 9004. The 2.5 used 9003/h4. Neither are interchangeable with each other as the bulb base and corresponding plugs are different. It could be your 2.5 was crashed, and someone replaced the headlamps with gen 2 units, then realized the plugs didn't work, and put on 9004 harnesses.

Can you post up a pic of your housing? The gen2 lenses are fluted. The 2.5 are clear.

:luxhello:
Well that settles it. My truck has fluted lenses and 9004 bulbs...so it has Gen 2 lights. I must be getting old, I've definitely noticed the clear lenses on some 2.5 but somehow never put 2 and 2 together...and usually I'm really good at that kind of thing. :Wow1:

Not the thing you want to learn about a truck you are thinking of selling soon. Funny thing is that RockAuto.com lists a bunch of 9003 bulbs for the 98 Montero BUT also lists one variety of 9004 bulb...Soooo, I'm wondering if there aren't a few running around with old school Gen 2 lights, from the factory. I swear mine isn't the only 2.5 I've seen with fluted lenses

In any case I'll have to look at the wiring later this morning. I definitely don't recall seeing any evidence of splicing. Last night I closed up shop and assumed I mistakenly ordered the wrong bulbs and got on the computer. Got to work this morning and it was still dark and cold. I will report back shortly once the sun is out a bit.

 

[billygoats]

Hopefully it is a oddball truck with leftover gen2 parts vs a splice job. The key will be to see if there is evidence of wire/connector splice. I've never seen a 2.5 with the fluted in person or on the net. Maybe it was an import thing? If it was spliced, maybe a previous owner did so because of a rock cracking the original, which would be a lot better than due to accident replacement!

 

[mapper]

Definitely spliced. Was a clean job and I looked right past it. So someone switched the housing at some point for some reason.

IF it was hit, it was a very mild hit and likely damaged just the plastics. I say this because there are zero structural repairs or notable damage. I've been all over the front of this thing from underneath and now took a real good look at the whole radiator support area. The grill does have a broken plastic mounting tab and the bumper does have little wave in it but I wasn't too surprised to see things like that in a 18 year old 170k truck. In any case I wouldn't be shocked if it took a light hit at some point. Certainly doesn't affect the way it runs or drives.

Got these bulbs extra now dangit! $25 shipped if anyone wants em' 2 pack of GE Nighthawk Platinum, unopened blister pack.

I suppose I could swap back to the proper housings/wires but that seems like the long way around, at this point.