Lighting Write up Install

[Modded]

Alright I guys I decide to start a technical thread on lighting mods to help the members on here with a lot of questions I am going to complete within the next two weeks, they consist of;
1. HID install step by step for the low beam headlights.
2. LED combo install for the rear taillights and 3rd brake lights, with halogen bulb reverse lights and LED license plate lights!
Anybody who has any questions just post it here and I will be happy to answer it for you’ll. The mods that say coming soon will also be posted in this same thread soon.
And last of all these mods took/will take a lot of time and money to complete for me, so if you want to say something irrelevant to this thread just take it to the Off-Topic part of this forum. Thanks!
1. HID install step by step for the low beam headlights.
First your gonna have to get the push pins and two bolts out of the inner wheel liner
http://i285.photobucket.com/albums/ll55/nnaboyq156/GEDC0386.jpg
http://i285.photobucket.com/albums/ll55/nnaboyq156/GEDC0387.jpg
Then you will take out the 3rd bolt holding the headlight in, this is the bolt that always gives people issues when removing it because they don’t know its there.
http://i285.photobucket.com/albums/ll55/nnaboyq156/GEDC0388.jpg
Then you will remove the front fascia bumper brackets which are held in with two bolts.
http://i285.photobucket.com/albums/ll55/nnaboyq156/GEDC0391.jpg
http://i285.photobucket.com/albums/ll55/nnaboyq156/GEDC0407.jpg
http://i285.photobucket.com/albums/ll55/nnaboyq156/GEDC0406.jpg
http://i285.photobucket.com/albums/ll55/nnaboyq156/GEDC0389.jpg
Remove the six bolts holding down the fascia on top of the grille, there are two on each outer end and like 4 in between those.
http://i285.photobucket.com/albums/ll55/nnaboyq156/GEDC0394.jpg
Remove the two bolts holding down the headlight from the top-front completing the other 2/3 of the existing headlight bolts.
http://i285.photobucket.com/albums/ll55/nnaboyq156/GEDC0395.jpg
Back of my headlight assembly. Take note of the disconnected Assembly voltage supply connector which gives power to all the bulbs in the headlight. You HAVE to disconnect this just to make sure you don’t short anything or shock yourself, and plus atleast you won’t have to disconnect the battery and lose your vehicle settings!
http://i285.photobucket.com/albums/ll55/nnaboyq156/GEDC0400.jpg

---------- Post added at 02:35 AM ---------- Previous post was at 02:34 AM ----------

Headlight removed on the left hand side. To get it out on both sides all you have to do is disconnect the clip holding each light from the rear and put some gentle persuasion into pulling the sides closer to the grille towards you, watching out for the clips holding and sealing the light from scraping the fascia beside the grille and part of the fascia that is taped up. After the corner of the light comes out with the two guiding clips behind the orange sidemarker, then use the extending part of the fender as a turning axis and pull it towards you and bam its out, sorry I forgot to get detailed pics of this part.
http://i285.photobucket.com/albums/ll55/nnaboyq156/GEDC0392.jpg
http://i285.photobucket.com/albums/ll55/nnaboyq156/GEDC0396.jpg
Apexcone Slim-Ballast HID kit. Any HID brand will work, slim or not, but slim may make it a bit sleeker of an install!
http://i285.photobucket.com/albums/ll55/nnaboyq156/GEDC0397.jpg
Apexcone slim ballast and igniter in the box with High voltage connectors.
http://i285.photobucket.com/albums/ll55/nnaboyq156/GEDC0399.jpg
Apexcone HID bulb (6000k) with High voltage connectors to attach to the ballast/igniter output.
http://i285.photobucket.com/albums/ll55/nnaboyq156/GEDC0398.jpg
Igniter showing a bit after the headlight is installed and sealed up.
http://i285.photobucket.com/albums/ll55/nnaboyq156/GEDC0410.jpg
Ballast installed with 3M double sided tape and all connected up. It goes like this, connect the ballast input connector to the headlight low beam H11 output connector (you may have to reverse this plug later to get the bulb to light up properly so don’t seal up everything). Then connect high voltage connectors from the igniter to the high voltage input of the bulb. And then when you’re done remove the protective cover of the bulb and put it straight into the headlight without EVER touching the bulb with your fingers or on any surface to prevent future bulb damage.
http://i285.photobucket.com/albums/ll55/nnaboyq156/GEDC0393.jpg
The ballast installed with 3M double sided tape on the inner part of the metal beam beside the headlight. As you can see there is a material covering it form sight after install. That is the sleekest place to put the ballast because after it is put there you will not be able to see it anymore.
http://i285.photobucket.com/albums/ll55/nnaboyq156/GEDC0401.jpg
http://i285.photobucket.com/albums/ll55/nnaboyq156/GEDC0402.jpg
LH Headlight back in. Just do everything in reverse and get those lights back in and put every removed bolt back on from ALL the removed places!
Do you see the ballast or any wires?
http://i285.photobucket.com/albums/ll55/nnaboyq156/GEDC0408.jpg

[Modded]

Again the install is done in the following two pics, can’t even see the wires for the kit and they don’t impede or block anything. Sleek install, no proof of aftermarket or unprofessional amateur wiring!
http://i285.photobucket.com/albums/ll55/nnaboyq156/GEDC0409.jpg
http://i285.photobucket.com/albums/ll55/nnaboyq156/GEDC0411.jpg
Left hand light and both headlights after the HID’s installed. Bright as hell and look very good with just very minimal blue, puts blue dyed bulbs like Luminics and Nokya to shame!
http://i285.photobucket.com/albums/ll55/nnaboyq156/GEDC0404.jpg
http://i285.photobucket.com/albums/ll55/nnaboyq156/GEDC0405.jpg
Beam patters and brightness in the remaining pics, very little glare and a pretty descent beam for non projector housings!
http://i285.photobucket.com/albums/ll55/nnaboyq156/GEDC0418.jpg
http://i285.photobucket.com/albums/ll55/nnaboyq156/GEDC0419.jpg
http://i285.photobucket.com/albums/ll55/nnaboyq156/GEDC0420-1.jpg
http://i285.photobucket.com/albums/ll55/nnaboyq156/GEDC0421-1.jpg
http://i285.photobucket.com/albums/ll55/nnaboyq156/GEDC0422-1.jpg
http://i285.photobucket.com/albums/ll55/nnaboyq156/GEDC0423-1.jpg

[jmildoc]

good write up, I have been thinking about HID's now i have silverstar ultras and the 4 HI mod is extremely bright so no need just yet trying to get 4 TV's installed before Roadtrip in july

[revbuilder]

thanks for the info, i have been wanting to do this to my new tahoe, i did read somwhere that you want to turn off the option of the lights coming on when you use the keyless remote to unlock, do you know anything about this?

[Scotto2323]

Did you do anything with the front amber turn signal/running lamp? I can't tell because it is turned on in all the pictures.

Anyway I recommend that all members repace their front singal with a chrome covered amber bulb. This eliminates the amber reflection from the stock bulb in the housing.

[Modded]

Yeah Revbuilder I did turn off the "Approach lighting" feature but the automatic function and "exit lighting" is still on, just doesn't come on with lows/drl until the car is started.
Yeah Scotto I though about doing that chrome/amber bulb mod but I had history with painted bulbs and don't feel like seeing that BS happen again.

[oakster]

Great write up - thanks for all the detail. This one belongs as a sticky

[Modded]

I finally got around to uploading them, real simple to follow but post up if you get confused!

[snowjay]

Question... How come you only did the low beams?

[Modded]

Good qustion:
I did only lows for a number of reasons, three being; I like the blue tint my Luminics in the highs give my HL, I don;t use the high beams much at all, and three, I like to be able to use the flash function at night and that would make the HB HIDs fail quick due to quick start/stop.

[snowjay]

Gotcha, thanks!

From what I've been reading a lot of people just do low beams and use a higher quality regular halogen for the highs. I didn't realize the HIDs would burn out quick with flashing etc... Good to know.

[ammar456]

I just got my HID's on, but they're aimed a bit high, any idea how to adjust them lower?

[Modded]

Yeah they're are some adjustment nuts right on top of the low beam area, get a mechanic to use the special tool needed to adjust those nuts and turn them a bit down,

[yukon07Artic]

will be getting my kit next week from ddm. i would assume basically the same install with the yukons?

[ammar456]

Yeah they're are some adjustment nuts right on top of the low beam area, get a mechanic to use the special tool needed to adjust those nuts and turn them a bit down,

does anything need to be opened up/removed to access the adj nuts?

[Modded]

will be getting my kit next week from ddm. i would assume basically the same install with the yukons?

Yes it will be the same process.

---------- Post added at 06:39 PM ---------- Previous post was at 06:38 PM ----------

does anything need to be opened up/removed to access the adj nuts?
Nope, they are the little nuts to the right in my 9th picture down from the top in this thread.

[UofMZ71]

ok so i have looked at other forums and one guy said you really dont need to take the whole headlight assembly out to do the HID mod. and i was curious about this too, so here goes. Right behind the housing you obviously cant stick you hand down there to change the bulb out, BUT there is a plastic cover going vertical with some push pins (on the drivers side is next to the washer fliud). If you were to remove that, it would give you lots of room to play inside that metal frame GM decided to make around the housing. Making sense? if so wouldnt this be alot easier than taking the whole housing out and dealing with a bunch of screws. The pass side would be bit more as you would have to take the air filter box out but thats no problem.

Does this seem like an easier solution or am i just not making sense?

[tx07tahoe]

When I installed my first set of HID's I didnt remove the headlights I just cut the rubber heat shield behind it. But you might wont to remove the top two bolts on the top of the headlight like in pic 9. But if you want to do the Hi beams then thats another story. I all depends on how big your hand is.

[Modded]

ok so i have looked at other forums and one guy said you really dont need to take the whole headlight assembly out to do the HID mod. and i was curious about this too, so here goes. Right behind the housing you obviously cant stick you hand down there to change the bulb out, BUT there is a plastic cover going vertical with some push pins (on the drivers side is next to the washer fliud). If you were to remove that, it would give you lots of room to play inside that metal frame GM decided to make around the housing. Making sense? if so wouldnt this be alot easier than taking the whole housing out and dealing with a bunch of screws. The pass side would be bit more as you would have to take the air filter box out but thats no problem.

Does this seem like an easier solution or am i just not making sense?

You are right, to tell you the truth, thsi whole process is surprisingle easier than it looks,a nd its the way I knew when I took them out thats why I made this thread.
It would take an amateur about 1 hour and 30 just to do the light removal part alone, for me it would be nothing over 50 out and in.

[groundscraper]

will be getting my kit next week from ddm. i would assume basically the same install with the yukons?


I blacked out the housing on some 07 denali headlights and installed them on my wife's 07 yukon. The only issue I had was taking out the headlight. You kinda have to work it towards the upper outside corner (at least, I did). They don't come straight out once you remove the bolts. I also had to remove upper bolts for the grille and bumper so that I had some flexibility since the headlight kinda slides behind there.

Having said all that, I wish I would have done the HID mod once they were out. Oh well, maybe later...:)

[jdub5256]

hey Modded i was just wondering on the back of your headlight i noticed that your day time running light u added wire with a resistor in it. is this so that the led's wont burn out because of the variable voltage and if so does this work thanks

[Modded]

Yeah Jdub its so it will not kill the LEDs in that place, I went through like 3 sets before I put those in, have been fine ever since but it really took away from the brightness of the LEDs.

[Conor]

Yeah Jdub its so it will not kill the LEDs in that place, I went through like 3 sets before I put those in, have been fine ever since but it really took away from the brightness of the LEDs.


I thought you only needed resistors on turn signals?

[Modded]

No you need them for the DRLs too, the ones for the DRLs are called LED protectors though but they are just little resistors.

[rjpeaks]

good write up!

I may have to do this on the new Yukon XL...

[llllljrlllll]

Where did you get the lights? they're bad ass

[Modded]

I got the HIDs from DDM Tuning Jr, but I plan on ordering my next set from Spencer HIDs, google it.

[rlschmidt14]

Apexcone HID bulb (6000k) with High voltage connectors to attach to the ballast/igniter output.

Modded,

Why'd you go with 6000k? I bought Silverstar headlights but after learning that it's just as difficult to replace the bulbs as it would be to install an HID conversion kit, I'm going to order from Spencer's. I don't want the lights to be too blue, so I was thinking 4.5k...

Are you happy with 6000k? Would you recommend I sack up and get the Low beam and fog light combo from them?

THANKS!

[Modded]

I went with 6000k mainly becasue I woul rather have some blue, than some yellow, which is what 5000k has. I was happy with 6000k, but had to go up to 8000k so the LED fog lights could match my HIDbulbs, which they do now.

I say you just get the 6000k headlights and matching 25w fog light HIDs from Spencer, will run a nice bill though.

[rlschmidt14]

I went with 6000k mainly becasue I woul rather have some blue, than some yellow, which is what 5000k has. I was happy with 6000k, but had to go up to 8000k so the LED fog lights could match my HIDbulbs, which they do now.

I say you just get the 6000k headlights and matching 25w fog light HIDs from Spencer, will run a nice bill though.


Yeah... only $270 for the low headlights and foglights combo... seems cheap to me, considering on my old vehicles, HID kits were $600+.

I don't want my headlights to look like an aftermarket bulb, like those guys on the road driving old chevys and fords that just look rediculous because they're HID kits are soo purple.

---------- Post added at 10:56 PM ---------- Previous post was at 09:46 PM ----------

I ended up speaking to Spencer from Spencer's HIDs and decided to go with 5000k bulbs, and 25w Foglights.

I'll be sure to post pictures and any other install information I can to add to this wonderful thread.

[Okla-by God-homa]

My 5000K is a pure white light NO yellow. That is what I was after....NO tint at all in the spectrum just as close to daylight as possible. Got mine from DDM and have been pleased since the install.

[rlschmidt14]

My 5000K is a pure white light NO yellow. That is what I was after....NO tint at all in the spectrum just as close to daylight as possible. Got mine from DDM and have been pleased since the install.

Yeah, I'm glad I chose to go with 5000k... Especially after googling various pictures of the different color comparisons. This one really helped:

It goes (top to bottom) 6700k, 6000k, 5700k, 5000k, 4100k, 3000k...

http://img126.imageshack.us/img126/7057/hidchartbc0.jpg

[rlschmidt14]

I installed my HIDs today and they look great. I still have to adjust the low beams to shine further out because they're kinda pointing down and not utilizing their full potential. The HID fogs ARE AMAZING. They are so bright (only 25W, too) that I actually think they are brighter than the low beams. That's probably because of the smaller housing, more concentrated area. Anyway, I'll post pics soon...

Anybody else find that fogs are brighter and actually look a bit more blue than the low beams? 5000k for EACH (supposedly).

[Modded]

Yeah Ryan when the light is in a smaller housing it tends to look brighter, thats why the fogs look brighter than the low beams. I noticed the same when comparing my hid reverse lights and hid low beams.
Also it is common for the foglights to look a bit higher in kelvin rating because of how small they are, so it would have been a better match to run 6000k low beams, then 5000k fogs.
Also sometimes because of the 25w ballast you got, the fog lights will look higher in the kelvin rating (more blue) because of the smaller amount of wattage.

Kind of how 8000k 35w and 8000k 55w hids look different, with the 55 watt being less blue because of the higher wattage.

[rlschmidt14]

Yeah, I kinda figured that. Looking at my lights, the low beams themselves aren't that much more powerful, to be completely honest. I did notice that they're only 35w, though. Maybe that's why.

I had a local shop install them and I was inspecting the work to find that they didn't really secure anything (ballasts) down with double sided tape (even when I provided them with it).

How critical is it that everything is secured down? It kinda looks like they just installed it and bunched all the wires right behind the headlight, between the headlight and the heat shield. I am seriously considering going back through and double sided taping everything down.

[Modded]

As long as the ballast don't move around or anything you're good.

[rlschmidt14]

Guys, fwiw,

The shop that installed my lights used the 25w ballasts for the headlights and the 35w ballasts for the fogs... they ended up switching them back to their correct place, but the foglights are clearly still much bluer (remember both are supposed to be 5000k).

Here's a picture!

[Fearz]

I installed my HIDs today and they look great. I still have to adjust the low beams to shine further out because they're kinda pointing down and not utilizing their full potential. The HID fogs ARE AMAZING. They are so bright (only 25W, too) that I actually think they are brighter than the low beams. That's probably because of the smaller housing, more concentrated area. Anyway, I'll post pics soon...

Anybody else find that fogs are brighter and actually look a bit more blue than the low beams? 5000k for EACH (supposedly).


How do you adjust them because I have the same problem. I mean can I just use a screw driver or do I need a star set?