Hello Everyone,

We currently own a 1996 jeep cherokee sport with the 4.0 ect.

The headlights are now even with new bulbs are not as bright as they used to be "assuming from age wireing corrosion in the overall wireing ect."
I have seen conversion kits that for the most part replace the sealed beam headlight assembly with a housing that fits a standard halogin head lamp bulb.
I am wondering if going this way would be better or should I just go and get a fog/driving light combo to have added to the jeep.
We have owned it since new but didn't get fog lights on it when we bought it new.
Any news or info would be great since at this time the high beams are as bright as everyone elses low beams!


Thanks,

Joe

Get some replacement beams...

This is the one I use...they have a more powerful high beam and a whiter low beam...

http://www.partsamerica.com/ProductDetail.aspx?mfrcode=SYL&mfrpartnumber=H6054ST&parttype=301&ptset=A

There are some that cost more...but I haven't use them...

I have the factory fog lights and they are helpful, especially when it is raining...

EDIT: Of course you can have a voltage loss problem. That can easily be measured with a voltmeter at each socket.

There should be battery voltage usually 12.6 volts or higher with the engine running. If you have a voltage loss, that can be fixed by tracing it or using a new harness and circuit and a relay. I have seen this done before and if you are interested, we can search for the write up on it. Measure your voltage first though.

Thank you so much.

I am fluent with the use of Dmms but not when it comes to measuring anything on a car so when I go to measure the voltage at the headlight sockets "obviously one of them is going to go to the socket, does the other one just go to a ground or?"

Again thank you so much,

Joe

In the auto business, we call it a DVOM...digital volt ohm meter....

The headlight socket is actually three prongs....HI...LO.. and ground...I think the cross way one is ground...but you can't go wrong with a DVOM.

Otherwise, the chassis is ground. By the way...the quality of the ground is very important also.

EDIT: found this link for you..

http://www.go.jeep-xj.info/HowtoHeadlightLoom.htm

[QUOTE=AlohaBra]Get some replacement beams...

This is the one I use...they have a more powerful high beam and a whiter low beam...

http://www.partsamerica.com/ProductDetail.aspx?mfrcode=SYL&mfrpartnumber=H6054ST&parttype=301&ptset=A

I would agree with Bra on this one i have these and i Got em on sale for $14 each,:iceslolan you can go on ebay and buy the kits to use the bulbs not sure on there quality or reliability:popcorn:

Hello Everyone,

We currently own a 1996 jeep cherokee sport with the 4.0 ect.

The headlights are now even with new bulbs are not as bright as they used to be "assuming from age wireing corrosion in the overall wireing ect."
I have seen conversion kits that for the most part replace the sealed beam headlight assembly with a housing that fits a standard halogin head lamp bulb.
I am wondering if going this way would be better or should I just go and get a fog/driving light combo to have added to the jeep.
We have owned it since new but didn't get fog lights on it when we bought it new.
Any news or info would be great since at this time the high beams are as bright as everyone elses low beams!


Thanks,

Joe

I had the same problem you're experiencing on my 2000.

Before you go out and spend some big bucks (which you might want to do anyway) do this first:

Disconnect the battery leads.

There is a common ground point on the block; it's down low on the passenger side towards the front....follow the ground lead off the battery and you'll find it. On my '00 there are two leads connected to this point. Remove the nuts and thoroughly clean theseconnections. Give your battery terminals and clamps a scrub. Pop the lid on the relay box (located on the passenger side near the firewall... it sits up high). Look for the main power lead into the box; it will be a large-gauge red or positive lead from the battery and it will have a flat terminal held in place with a single bolt. Remove the bolt and thoroughly clean this connection. Remove the headlights from their power sockets and give the sockets (where the prongs of the bulb insert) a good shot of PB Blaster or WD40. The pupose of all this is to remove the corrosion that can cause a significant voltage drop and cause your headlights to get less than the full 12v of the battery. I ended up buying a new set of stock replacement lamps at Wal-Mart with a "brighter" low beam....GE or Sylvania, can't remember which....and this combined with the above cleaning resulted in vastly improved lighting....for about $10.

Good luck....

Mike
00XJ