Highs and lows on at same time GM headlights..

[1 SX]

Hey, now that summer is becoming nothing more then a memory, and it now gets dark early, you use the lights more... on these dark upstate ny roads, you can go miles on top of miles before having to turn off the high beams, so i would like to wire them both on at the same time when you turn the highbeams on..

If you place the clicker just right and hold it, i can get all 4 bulbs to light, so how would i wire this up so when i clicked on the high lights, the low lights stay on? I have the wire diagram, just need the understanding on what wire to jump/ground.. I would like to do this using the dimmer high light switch some how.. I would also like to use the supplied power for the bulbs, and not jump the low beams with the highs. The wire diagram is really simple with nothing more then a couple connections, a high beam dimmer switch, and a hot at all time..

any suggestions? Thank you!!

 

[JHZR2]

Interesting. In my cars that have dual bulbs, the lows are always on with the highs.

I'd guess that you would dual sure with a relay sensing 12v off the highs. Might need to put a diode in someplace to prevent backfeed to the other wiring.

 

[mechanicx]

I believe back when GM used the 4 sealed beam headlamps they were low/high and high beam so all 4 were on when the high beams were on. Then when they went to integrated headlamps they were low and high with the low beams switching off on high beam. I'm not really sure why they do it that way because if it was in the headlamp regulations then why did they use low/high and high up until the switch to integrated headlamps? Here's a site with the quad headlamp modification http://www.natwilson.com/stuff/malibu_headlights/index.html .

 

[kasedian]

You will have overheating issues. Premature burnout. Don't do it.

 

[The_Jeff]

He won't overheat as his ciera and century take the 9006/9007 bulbs with their own filaments and reflectors for highs and lows.

A 9004, two filaments per bulb, don't do it.

You want a five pin relay where the low beams are connected to their stock wiring with the relay resting, and to +12v hot with the relay engaged-- engaged by the high beam power.

These older cars have nice headlights; they don't yellow and the relatively vertical lenses block less light optically. Having separate bulbs helps too, with optimized focus for each reflector.

 

[kasedian]

Gotcha. Thanks.

 

[Garak]

Originally Posted By: eljefino
He won't overheat as his ciera and century take the 9006/9007 bulbs with their own filaments and reflectors for highs and lows.


I agree he's okay in that respect. I have heard suggestions, however, that stock wiring may not be up for such usage. I'd suggest the Daniel Stern Lighting website (I think I got the name right) and see if there's any mention there.

 

[1 SX]

GREAT!!!, As long as i do not over heat the wires, im off to do that "mod" with the help of that link & relay...

But what does the dimmer do when you hold it in between high and low position and both lights lite? i would like to "copy" that as it would use the stock wires.

Also, this mod, does the high beams and low beams still have the independent power supply?

Thankssss!

 

[The_Jeff]

The stalk has a "flash to pass" feature that's its own contact independent of the hi/low switch.

If you like this, you can use the aforementioned 5 pin relay in the high beam + harness with resting connected to the incoming normal wiring, and non-resting connected via thick gauge wire staight (fused) to the battery or alt output stud.

Trigger the relay with its own switch in the passenger compartment-- I reccomend a floor kick switch for maximum awesomeness.

The only failing might be no high beam indicator on the dash, and you might forget and leave them on or even kick them on in the daytime accidentally. But you can wire the switch to an ignition ACC feed-- this will also mute the high beams when you crank the engine over.