Retrofit and quad beam

[nos4blood70]

The GXP has HIR high beams. As opposed to the other 2000+, it only shines the high beams when you set the brights on. Non GXPs will keep low beams on with the highs. However, all cars will shine all four lights when using the high beam stalk to just flash the beams.

[CMNTMXR57]

Yes this is a dusty old thread, but am I reading correctly here? The GXP has no high beams due to HIR bulbs...or doesn't use a quad bulb set-up, so no second bulb for high beam? Then what does it use the quad lens housing for? Sorry if this is coming off stupid.

GXP;
Low = 9006
High = HIR1 (or sometimes referred to as a 9011)

All Other 2000+ Bonneville's;
Low = 9006
High = 9005

I get more mileage out of pictures of these HIR bulbs...

GM used HIR bulbs in high beams on several vehicles (Avalanches and Bonneville GXP's just two off the top of my head)



Top bulb is a true, 1st Gen HIR bulb. Bottom is a second generation HIR bulb.

What makes the top bulb a "true HIR" bulb is the bulbous capsule that has a cloudy lens. That cloudiness is actually the coating that generate the "Halogen Infrared Reaction" when the electricity is supplied to the filament.

The second one is simply a H7 based, stronger burner (more power to drive the filament), but doesn't have the coating on the capsule that creates the HIR reaction, meant as a replacement for original "true HIR's" as they burn out. The original is no longer made.

[Ieatpeople]

im still confused even though i read the whole thread.

i have a gxp, and i want all 6 lights (lows, highs, fogs) on at once when i activate the highbeams.

is there a plug and play solution? i looked at the links posted above, but they werent clear enough in their description (for me, anyway).

[CMNTMXR57]

How are you confused?

GXP factory light bulbs;
Low Beams = 9006
High Beams = HIR1 (or sometimes referred to as 9011). The discussion as to what is a "real" HIR bulb and what isn't is another topic.
Fogs = H3

As far as your second question, I have not seen a relay override that will leave the fogs and low beams on when the highs are activated. Back in the day, they used to make one for GM trucks. But I have never seen it since. However, if you're comfortable with wiring and familiarize yourself with the wiring schematics AND if it is controlled by a Relay and not the PCM/BCM, figure out the relay that controls this function and eliminate it from the circuit, the problem would/should be solved. I do not know though because I never investigated it.

[CMNTMXR57]

So I went and looked because I may want to do this on the Suburban. Here is what I found.

http://www.painlessperformance.com/webc ... e&sb=Go%21

Nothing is listed for Bonnevilles. But perhaps calling them might be of help. I need to find out my color of my headlight wires before I order though since mine is a 1999 Classic GMT400, and they list their kits as 1988 - 1998 as one kit (which would be the GMT400's), and 1999 - 2002, which would be the GMT800's.

[1oldman]

I may be mistaken, but I believe some states only 4 "headlights" to be light at one time. High beam, low beam and fogs would make 6, and I believe that is not legal in Texas and some other states. - BC

EDIT:

http://www.statutes.legis.state.tx.us/D ... TN.547.htm

Sec. 547.302. DUTY TO DISPLAY LIGHTS. (a) A vehicle shall display each lighted lamp and illuminating device required by this chapter to be on the vehicle:
(1) at nighttime; and
(2) when light is insufficient or atmospheric conditions are unfavorable so that a person or vehicle on the highway is not clearly discernible at a distance of 1,000 feet ahead.
(b) A signaling device, including a stoplamp or a turn signal lamp, shall be lighted as prescribed by this chapter.
(c) At least one lighted lamp shall be displayed on each side of the front of a motor vehicle.
(d) Not more than four of the following may be lighted at one time on the front of a motor vehicle:
(1) a headlamp required by this chapter; or
(2) a lamp, including an auxiliary lamp or spotlamp, that projects a beam with an intensity brighter than 300 candlepower.

SECOND EDIT:

SUBCHAPTER E. GENERAL LIGHTING REQUIREMENTS FOR VEHICLES

Sec. 547.321. HEADLAMPS REQUIRED. (a) A motor vehicle shall be equipped with at least two headlamps.
(b) At least one headlamp shall be mounted on each side of the front of the vehicle.
(c) Each headlamp shall be mounted at a height from 24 to 54 inches.

- BC

[CMNTMXR57]

Right. That is why we like to override that feature. For maximum lumen output. Those laws are designed to keep people from blinding oncoming traffic by limiting lumen output.

Funny thing is, on HID equipped cars (OEM from the factory), when there is a dual bulb setup, the HID lows stay on when the highs are triggered. Reason being, if you shut them off when the highs were activated, and ran them that way for a longer period of time, the minute you flipped the highs off, you'd be driving temporarily blind until the HID low beams came back to full strength.

Bi-Xenon setups (like you have on the CTS) also are always on as they're one bulb. A directional device inside the lighting assembly adjusts to the desired distance needed based on high/low setting. Maybe someone can better explain that than I can.

Mine (top is low beam, bottom is high beam);

[Ieatpeople]

i have hid lows and fogs, and waiting for the hids to warm up after switching back to lows is unsafe. (2 sec equals over 160ft of travel at 60mph)


even just keeping the lows on would be helpful. i guess i could tap in a relay with a diode to keep the lows on with highs.

i just wanted to see if there was a plug-n-play kit i could buy so i dont have to cut/splice anything.

[BBamm]

I've tried several different methods to make this work and TONS of harnesses from theRetrofitsource.com to no avail. If you are successful in making your dims stay on please make a write up! Hell, I'll even buy the harness from you if it works!!

HAHA

[CMNTMXR57]

i have hid lows and fogs, and waiting for the hids to warm up after switching back to lows is unsafe. (2 sec equals over 160ft of travel at 60mph)

Which is why OEM setups leave them on.

Maybe looking at a schematic for a GM vehicle with them would be able to help as you can see how they control it.