HOW TO: Upgrade 7” Sealed Beam Headlights to 2007-15 Jeep Wrangler Headlights

[LeesTruk]

Hey Burger, read your write-up and thought I'd give it a go. I got no problems with relays, wiring, etc., but am curious how you wired the h13 bulb to the existing truck wiring. I know you can get an h4/h13 bulb adapter harness and just plug-n-play. But, to me, that's too many mechanical connections. Looking at the Dorman 84785 pigtail, it has green/black/brown wires, but are they in the correct location for point-to-point mating with a truck lighting harness? What I mean is, does the h13 bulb have the same pin footprint as the stock 7" sealed beam, and I can just mate the Dorman pigtail to the truck harness by the wire color?

[enaberif]

Originally Posted by LeesTruk

Hey Burger, read your write-up and thought I'd give it a go. I got no problems with relays, wiring, etc., but am curious how you wired the h13 bulb to the existing truck wiring. I know you can get an h4/h13 bulb adapter harness and just plug-n-play. But, to me, that's too many mechanical connections. Looking at the Dorman 84785 pigtail, it has green/black/brown wires, but are they in the correct location for point-to-point mating with a truck lighting harness? What I mean is, does the h13 bulb have the same pin footprint as the stock 7" sealed beam, and I can just mate the Dorman pigtail to the truck harness by the wire color?

Just splice into the 3 wires for the harness. Stock lights don't follow the same wiring as newer H4 setups so you have to make changes. So just ensure your using the correct wires for their use.

[LeesTruk]

I understand that. That's why I asked the question about bulb pin-outs. How are they different?

[enaberif]

Originally Posted by LeesTruk

I understand that. That's why I asked the question about bulb pin-outs. How are they different?

Since you'd like to have all the answers provided and do no actual research

This is NOT for our trucks but the same principle applies..

[LeesTruk]

While not entirely true, Mr. Enaberif, I do appreciate your scholarly advice and witticism. I have found that, looking at the plug side of the h13 bulb, the three horizontal pins, from right to left, are hi/ground/lo, and the sealed beam lugs are, from right to left, hi/lo/ground. I can see the wiring/plug in my truck, and I do have the Wrangler lights and can see the plug end of the bulb. I don't have (yet) the Dorman pigtails to actually see the wires and their color routing, so that's why I was asking Mr. Burger about his connections. So if there's nothing weird with the pigtail structure, I'm thinking I can just re-pin it to match the truck wiring colors

Sometimes it's good to talk to someone who's been there/done that, and knows the pitfalls. BTW, for the better part of 40 years, I've been an ASE Master and also GM/Toyota certified. I'm now 69 and retired, so give me a little credit, Okay?

[enaberif]

Originally Posted by LeesTruk

While not entirely true, Mr. Enaberif, I do appreciate your scholarly advice and witticism. I have found that, looking at the plug side of the h13 bulb, the three horizontal pins, from right to left, are hi/ground/lo, and the sealed beam lugs are, from right to left, hi/lo/ground. I can see the wiring/plug in my truck, and I do have the Wrangler lights and can see the plug end of the bulb. I don't have (yet) the Dorman pigtails to actually see the wires and their color routing, so that's why I was asking Mr. Burger about his connections. So if there's nothing weird with the pigtail structure, I'm thinking I can just re-pin it to match the truck wiring colors

Sometimes it's good to talk to someone who's been there/done that, and knows the pitfalls. BTW, for the better part of 40 years, I've been an ASE Master and also GM/Toyota certified. I'm now 69 and retired, so give me a little credit, Okay?

My point was that by a little trial and error it would be quite simple to figure out the pigtail on our trucks at the headlights so when creating a new a harness it would take just a few seconds to ensure wiring is correct.

If you don't feel comfortable with wiring then buy a premade harness.