Re: 9007 bulbs in 9004 DOT headlites?

[Luis Marques <marques@rtis.ray.com>]

"Pedersen, Paul C" <Paul.Pedersen@PSS.Boeing.com> wrote:
> I tried to fit the 9007 bulbs in my 87 4k (fwd) this weekend to
> improve the lighting of the car as suggested by Luis Marques.  What I
> forgot to do was to swap the wires.  The result is that the 9007 bulbs
> are dimmer then the 9004 and the high beam indicator light stays on
> all the time. I will swap the wires tonight.  Now, will I risk the
> chance of shorting the bulb if I swap the wrong wires?  Should I put a
> fuse in line before I do it?

No need to worry about fuses - the headlight circuits are already fused.
(It's the radiator fan that isn't fused.)  I double checked and the
wires you have to swap are the Brown and the Yellow ones.  Otherwise,
your hi beam fillament will be wired in series with the lows for "ultra
low" beams and the high beam indicator will always indicate, just like
you reported.  Low beams will illuminate properly, even if the indicator
says that you are on the hi beams.

> Also, I noticed that there is a some kind of bracket in the head light
> housing and it actually casts a shadow on the lens.  I can see the
> benefit of bracket if it's painted silver or chrome plated to reflect
> the light, but it's black.  Is this the reason why US head lamps are
> less desirable?  I didn't see that type of brackets in my other car.
> Has anyone try to cut it out to allow more light to project on to the
> road?

This bracekt holds a "reflector within the reflector"  it's chromed on
the side that faces the light bulb.  It focuses the light on the upper
half of the headlamp more tightly onto the road.  So this "shadow is
actually good.  It means that light is going forward to illuminate the
road and not into the sky to illuminate the trees, etc.  The "bracket"
is your friend - don't cut it.  Now, if this "auxiliary reflector" has
lost it's chromed finish, then I suggest you get a new headlamp.

HTH 

Luis Marques
'87 4kcsq