Installing HID lights on your Journey (step by step)

[email4walker]

There were some issues uploading the pictures. Sorry about that :rolleyes:

Attention Michigan residents: I did ask a Michigan state trooper are these lights illegal. He said no, and said they help you see better. He basically said they are a good idea to have!

Ok everyone, some of us had questions on how to install a HID headlight kit in a Dodge Journey. Everyone talks about it, but there is no actual write up (step by step) for our car. I decided to take on the challenge and install a kit myself. It is pretty much the same for every car, but this write up should help anyone with problems. Trust me, I did run into some weird problems. I will list problems and solutions at the end. Let’s get started:

Read the directions that came with your kit and use this write up to fill in any blanks.

The kit I went with was Lumenez 8000k kit (http://www.lumenez.com). This set is all digital. To be honest, I don’t think there is any real difference between digital ballast and analog ones except that they are smaller. I wanted the 6000k set, but there was a mix up and they sent me the 8000k one. I tried it and I like the 8000k better. There is a hint of blue (crystal type blue), but it is not a overbearing blue that you see on some of these teenager cars (I don’t like those blue headlights and I did not want that look at all). Also, the 8000k puts out 10%/15% less light than the 6000k. I think that is a good thing because in my test drive I did not blind any other drivers. The field of light was right in the sweet spot for my vision and not overbearing for other drivers.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/jamaica_trip/3972905364/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/jamaica_trip/3972905668/

They are small. See one below:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/jamaica_trip/3972138177/

For the Dodge Journey you MUST use a relay harness. It will not work without it. (skip down a few Steps/pics to see a relay harness wiring diagram)

Relay harness pic, see below:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/jamaica_trip/3972905570/

First, we must hook up the relay harness to the battery. The battery is too hard to reach to do a direct hookup. So, we are hooking it up to the jumper connections. The jumper connection has thick wires and it does go directly to the battery. See below:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/jamaica_trip/3972906074/

The bolts/screws are thick, so you need to cut the relay battery connection rings in the middle so you can widen them and slip it over the screw. Sorry, no pic of the cut ring, only the completed connections. If you still want to use your battery jump cover, you will need to cut it so the wire can get out. See below:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/jamaica_trip/3972906294/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/jamaica_trip/3972137501/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/jamaica_trip/3972137021/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/jamaica_trip/3972905602/

Here is a HID relay wiring diagram. See below:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/jamaica_trip/3972972682/

Here is a complete setup wiring diagram. See below:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/jamaica_trip/3972204703/

Installing the lights:

My lights had extra wires that was not needed, so I removed them. You really don’t need that round rubber cover piece either, but I left that part on. See below:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/jamaica_trip/3972905960/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/jamaica_trip/3972972880/

Install your lights (don’t touch them!). If you have big hands, your fuse box can be moved. There are two plastic clips on each side of the fuse box (four clips total). Unhook it, and that will give you a few more inches to get to the light bulb on the driver side. After that, find a place away from the engine, to place the ballast and igniters. You should have room on both sides of the fenders. See below:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/jamaica_trip/3972138285/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/jamaica_trip/3972905914/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/jamaica_trip/3972136501/

Now connect all your plugs. After you connect your lights and ballast, there will be a extra plug. This is for you to plug in ONE of your original light plugs to. That’s what controls you turning the lights on and off. After you plug everything up, test it and make sure it works. See below:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/jamaica_trip/3972138233/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/jamaica_trip/3972906154/

Remember the relay is not water proof (See pic above). I put a open zip lock bag over mine so it could stop most (not all) water and air could still circulate. (the relay does get pretty warm)

After you are sure it works correctly (if not, read the problems and solutions at the end), strap the wires down starting with the passenger side first. See below:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/jamaica_trip/3972136951/

After you tie down everything, your done! Enjoy your lights:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/jamaica_trip/3972061509/

Problem and solution time:

Q. My lights flicker when you first turn them on and/or while they are on.

(and the relay might be clicking a lot)

A. You need to use a capacitor. Here is what you do:

Here is the capacitor you need:

http://www.radioshack.com/product/index.js...rentPage=search

Remove the relay from the harness by simply pulling it off, don't worry about orientation, it only goes in one way. Install the capacitor as shown in the picture (see below). The stripe side of the capacitor is the negative. Install it just how I have it in the pictures. See below:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/jamaica_trip/3972972780/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/jamaica_trip/3972830368/

All the other pics are mine, but here is some better pics I found on the internet:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/jamaica_trip/3972204735/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/jamaica_trip/3972204775/

Q. I can turn on my headlights, but after I go for a drive, they won’t turn off!

(also the relay is clicking like a tap dancer on drugs)

A. I had a hard time with this problem, but the solution is easy. The plug that you use to connect your original light plug too, turn it around so the polarity is changed. It looks like the two plugs have a polarity lock so it only fits one way, but that is not true! Unplug it and plug it in the other way and whala, problem solved. (Remember to switch the polarity of the capacitor too!!!!)

[djbade]

What exactly is the relay harness for? Is it to maintain a certain voltage to the system? Most HID systems I have seen have an operating range of 9 to 16v therefore not requiring an exact 12v to work?

I am just curious as to what I woudl need to make them work! BTW great instructions.

[email4walker]

What exactly is the relay harness for? Is it to maintain a certain voltage to the system? Most HID systems I have seen have an operating range of 9 to 16v therefore not requiring an exact 12v to work?

I am just curious as to what I woudl need to make them work! BTW great instructions.

It gives the HIDs the proper and constant voltage they need to run the lights. My kit needed between 9-16 volts to work, but when I hooked them up without the relay harness, it did not work. When you get a chance, take a look at the wires for your headlights, they are really thin. They could never run those lights (the speaker wire in my surround sound system is thicker than our headlight wires. The headlight wires are only like 2 or 3mm thick. I'm not kidding)

Another reason to use the relay harness, if you did not have it, the lights might cause other electrical problems down the road because of the high current draw. (When you first turn on the lights, they pull a lot of power. After that it drops down to the 35w.)

[djbade]

Thanks for the clarification. It makes sense now!

[Burn]

Problem and solution time:

Q. My lights flicker when you first turn them on and/or while they are on.

(and the relay might be clicking a lot)

A. You need to use a capacitor. Here is what you do:

Here is the capacitor you need:

http://www.radioshack.com/product/index.js...rentPage=search

humm ... why a 35V capacitor when the system is 12V ?!. Do you know why the relay is clicking like mad ? it's because the relay don't get a stable 12V and the voltage received is pulsed.

what the capacitor do is store energy and help to regulate the voltage. So when you connect the capacitor in parallel with the relay it regulate the current and stabilize the voltage allowing the

relay to get a stable 12V.

About the capacitance ..well it's up to the user ..sure you don't go lower than 470ųF .. but you can get a 4700ųF or a 1000ųF .. higher the number bigger is the capacitor and it's ability to regulate the voltage but

for this simple application get a small one.

i used a 16V 470ųF capacitor and it's half the size of your 35V ..... i used a 16V because sometimes when the alternator is charging you can get 13-14V at the battery so 16V is the safe choice.

[email4walker]

humm ... why a 35V capacitor when the system is 12V ?!. Do you know why the relay is clicking like mad ? it's because the relay don't get a stable 12V and the voltage received is pulsed.

what the capacitor do is store energy and help to regulate the voltage. So when you connect the capacitor in parallel with the relay it regulate the current and stabilize the voltage allowing the

relay to get a stable 12V.

About the capacitance ..well it's up to the user ..sure you don't go lower than 470ųF .. but you can get a 4700ųF or a 1000ųF .. higher the number bigger is the capacitor and it's ability to regulate the voltage but

for this simple application get a small one.

i used a 16V 470ųF capacitor and it's half the size of your 35V ..... i used a 16V because sometimes when the alternator is charging you can get 13-14V at the battery so 16V is the safe choice.

To be honest, I can't agree or disagree. The capacitor I recommended is the capacitor that is used in pretty much all dodge cars and trucks with HID issues (I did tons of cross referencing). All I know is it works great with no known issues with any dodge cars or trucks. (I am using it myself with no problems)

[Burn]

I do not criticize anyone or this '' how to '' I only questioned the use of a 35V capacitor .... i quick google showed me tons of topic of the same kind ... some use 35V other 25V .... they make me think they used capacitors because they were told to do it and don't know how it work.

You mention that your relay is getting hot ... not suppose to, well mine is still cold after 20 minutes of continuous operation. Most HID relay that are sold are rated 12V-40Amp (well the one i have is , i have made the relay harness myself ).

have you checked with a multimeter how much voltage your relay is getting when your car is running ? perhaps you are getting a bit over 12V .....

[crunkfrunk]

well of course he is going to see over 12 volts, probably around 13-15 with the alternator charging the system, no way to get around that

[Burn]

well of course he is going to see over 12 volts, probably around 13-15 with the alternator charging the system, no way to get around that

Remember the relay is not water proof (See pic above). I put a open zip lock bag over mine so it could stop most (not all) water and air could still circulate. (the relay does get pretty warm)

yes i know .. but he sound like the thing is about to melt ..lol

[llamasson]

Hello

Installed my HID kit today without any big problems, I ordered the basic H11 5000k kit from http://www.vvme.com.

I had to install capacitor to solve the flicker problem, I only had some flickering when I had the switch in high/low position.

My switch positions

off: Low beam on

1: parking lights + fog

2 Low beam + fog/high

I'll post some pictures when I have changed the light pattern, I had them adjusted to H9 bulbs.

[crunkfrunk]

Mine get a little warm, but I used to put them in bags without an overheating problem but water would get in and sit there, with salt up here in the north the terminals corrode really fast on the relay, I buy them in bulk on Ebay because you can do endless things with them

it might be a good idea to have a few spare relays on hand in case you need to replace it, I have 2 HID kits on my car so I go through 2-3 during the winter and maybe 1-2 during the rest of teh year, you can get like 12 for $20 on Ebay instead of $5 each at an auto parts store

[Burn]

it might be a good idea to have a few spare relays on hand in case you need to replace it, I have 2 HID kits on my car so I go through 2-3 during the winter and maybe 1-2 during the rest of teh year, you can get like 12 for $20 on Ebay instead of $5 each at an auto parts store

i used a shrink tube big enough to cover the relay and the capacitor , ill see how long it will last

[crunkfrunk]

You will be surprised how water can get into places, ice froze inside one of my relays and made my fog light HIDs stay on all the time, even with the car off

[ZAC]

I have been in the market for a 2010 Dodge journey SXT and finally selected one.

I asked the dealer about getting HID's in my headlights and he was on about the module is not set up for HID. As I see on the forum they are available I have stopped by a couple of places in Edmonton and they were asking about 450 install (Ziebhart). I am not real hands on person but was wondering if this is a reasonable price and if not if there are any suggestions.

Thanks,

ZAC

[ZAC]

So I finaly got the HID installed by the dealer. After taking it home I noticed when I turned the parking lights on the following occured:

DRL / High beam are on

HID's / low beams come on also. (prior to install did not occur)

Typicaly this did not occur prior to install and I spoke to the dealer they were on about they had to trick the computer and had to have it activate when the parking setting is selected. I was wondering if anybody might no a way around this ?

thanks

zac

[email4walker]

I never heard of this problem. I'm not sure what they are talking about. HIDs basically (long story short) plug into the low beam connector. I don't see why they would need to trick the computer at all. They must have done something that was totally different than a basic install. Read the install instruction above and compair it to your setup and see if they did something different. Also ask them have they installed HIDs before. Do you have the instructions they used?

[ZAC]

I never heard of this problem. I'm not sure what they are talking about. HIDs basically (long story short) plug into the low beam connector. I don't see why they would need to trick the computer at all. They must have done something that was totally different than a basic install. Read the install instruction above and compair it to your setup and see if they did something different. Also ask them have they installed HIDs before. Do you have the instructions they used?

I do not have the instructions they used, but I figure I could ask for them I guesse. I would like to go to them with a convincing case but I gure they do not want to spend more time on it. Any suggestion on how to do that.

Its pretty odd as now when I turn my parking lights on and drive I can actualy have my DRL (high beam at lower intensity, HID (low beam) and fogs on at the same time. Which I allways thought was not allowed.

1.

[email4walker]

Without seeing it, it is hard to say what they did wrong. Having all your lights on at the same time is reason enough for them to fix it, because like you said, I thought it was not allow also. Other guys on here have your same headlight setup and thier HIDs work fine, but they did it themselves. Maybe they will chime in on what you can do. Hope it works out.

[ZAC]

Without seeing it, it is hard to say what they did wrong. Having all your lights on at the same time is reason enough for them to fix it, because like you said, I thought it was not allow also. Other guys on here have your same headlight setup and thier HIDs work fine, but they did it themselves. Maybe they will chime in on what you can do. Hope it works out.

Been quite busy but what I understand now is most dodge/chrysler vehicules the computer is involved and it is not a real plug and play device as vehicules from japan. Anyhow I have driven at night with them on and all I can say is wow it makes a huge difference.

thansk again for yoru help.

[ZAC]

Been quite busy but what I understand now is most dodge/chrysler vehicules the computer is involved and it is not a real plug and play device as vehicules from japan. Anyhow I have driven at night with them on and all I can say is wow it makes a huge difference.

thansk again for yoru help.

Well had a chance this weekend to make a pic of my Journey with the HID's. They look very nice, but I am happy with the much improved night time visibility that it provides. So far I have not come across any Dodge Journey's in Edmonton with HID's, so I think it pretty unique.

Not sure but I am not able to upload pic, I will have to find a third party website

[FANDANDO]

Hello

Installed my HID kit today without any big problems, I ordered the basic H11 5000k kit from http://www.vvme.com.

I had to install capacitor to solve the flicker problem, I only had some flickering when I had the switch in high/low position.

My switch positions

off: Low beam on

1: parking lights + fog

2 Low beam + fog/high

I'll post some pictures when I have changed the light pattern, I had them adjusted to H9 bulbs.

dude, how does ur VVME H9 HID BULBS work now ?? i am planning to order 9006 6k hid from vvme.com... not so sure whether for 35w or 55w for my Journey 09 ......

can u post some pics for reference to me ??? thanks... it seems that so many aftermarket HIDs have a common issue---flickering .... do i need a relay or just insatll a capacitor instead...

[Burn]

can u post some pics for reference to me ??? thanks... it seems that so many aftermarket HIDs have a common issue---flickering .... do i need a relay or just insatll a capacitor instead...

You need both for two reasons :

1- HID lights draw a considerable amount of electricity during the ignition of the bulbs so a relay wiring harness is recommended ,otherwise, there is a possibility of burning the stock wires overtime and/or create more issues.

2-The flickering issue is simple to explain... Each HID ballast need a constant 12/13VDC voltage to function properly and any variation in the voltage will make the lights to flick. Some peoples use huge capacitors for each ballast ...

The easiest way is with a relay wring harness , that way the power is directly provided by the battery to the ballasts and it's one of your stock headlamp plug that turn on or off the relay.

Again , if the relay do not have a constant 12 VDC , the relay will open and close very fast causing flickering on both lights .. so only one capacitor on the relay solve all problem

[ZAC]

Well had a chance this weekend to make a pic of my Journey with the HID's. They look very nice, but I am happy with the much improved night time visibility that it provides. So far I have not come across any Dodge Journey's in Edmonton with HID's, so I think it pretty unique.

Not sure but I am not able to upload pic, I will have to find a third party website

Well Finaly got around to adding a pic. Here it is. I am just thinking I need to get a whiter bulb for my fogs to get a better matching look, any ideas?

Thanks,

[haxyman]

I hope you all like blinding other drivers with non-projected HIDs.

[email4walker]

I hope you all like blinding other drivers with non-projected HIDs.

Did you do any research before you made that statement? Journey lens(headlights) are made for HIDs also. So yes, there are projected. If you read our theards on this site, you will see how we thought dodge was smart to give owners the option of installing HIDs by giving us project lens(headlights) standard. One owner on here had his HIDs installed by the dealer. Dealers only install options that are meant for the cars they sell (you can't get a Kenwood radio installed at a dealer). If you own a Journey, please do some research about the car you drive. You will see what I'm saying is true (I could prove it and just tell you where to find it on the car, but reading for yourself is better). Also, a good rule of thumb is to never look directly into on coming traffic. HIDs or not, your eyes will adjust to that light and you will have a hard time seeing.....just a thought.....