HID kit question

[dabuddha]

This has probably been asked and answered but I couldn't find anything via search.

I've got a 1997 dodge grand caravan and the headlights are complete shit. I had one of my lights go out 2 nights ago and attempting to drive home from a friends house was just a nightmare (not much better with the two working). I found guy on craigslist that said he can install an HID kit (6000k) for $119 which includes the kit and labor

1) I couldn't find a definitive answer but are hid kits legal? (I'm in Virginia for what its worth). Also will my van pass inspection

2) Does that install price sound reasonable?

 

[PottedMeat]

This has probably been asked and answered but I couldn't find anything via search.

I've got a 1997 dodge grand caravan and the headlights are complete shit.

sorry can't answer the rest but - have they always been shit or are they glazed/worn out? looks like you can get both left and right headlights off ebay new for ~$80 ( i was surprised by how cheap they were for my car )

 

[dabuddha]

sorry can't answer the rest but - have they always been shit or are they glazed/worn out? looks like you can get both left and right headlights off ebay new for ~$80 ( i was surprised by how cheap they were for my car )

they were awhile back but I got one of those 3m lens cleaning kits and used it and it cleared it right up but the light was still just too dim. We had the van in a body shop last week for some repair work and they gave us a 2013 town and country and holy moly I loved the lights on those. Was such a pleasure to drive which is why I'm looking to do something with my lights now.

 

[heymrdj]

No you can't put an HID kit in them, and no the van won't pass inspection. If you do it, a horrible glare like this is all you can expect: http://reviews.turbometal.com/wp-co...-dodge-caravan-black-crystal-headlights-4.jpg

Get new headlights. Also, check your headlight switch, it could be burning out. I'm pretty sure on that age of car, they pushed all the current through the headlight switch instead of a relay. If you want great light, get a relay kit so that the headlight switch only sends a signal to the relays, and the relays pull directly from the batteries. Follow up with awesome halogen bulbs (like Osram Nightbreakers).

 

[iamwiz82]

Have you checked whether your headlights are aimed properly?

 

[xanis]

HIDs shouldn't go into stock reflector housings. Based on my limited automotive knowledge, my advice is new headlamp assemblies + some quality bulbs + an alignment.

96-99 Caravan headlight assemblies go for ~$33 a piece on Amazon and a good pair of bulbs (something like heymrdj suggested, Osram Nightbreakers) might run you ~$40/pair. You could probably aim the headlights yourself with a little time and effort.

 

[Spicedaddy]

Please don't do this, it's dangerous for other drivers. HIDs are great (I have some on my car), but they have a cutoff and are self-leveling. That means they always illuminate at a slight downward angle, so they don't blind others.

HIDs in regular halogen housings is like me driving around on my high beams all the time.

 

[dabuddha]

I ended up ordering these. and a headlight cleaning kit (since I can't find my previous one). I've never checked if they're aligned properly and that's probably something I should do. One thing I noticed before is that it never seemed that much brighter with the high beams on (vs the low beam).

 

[Jimzz]

Make sure to save the old bulbs. The brighter bulbs do work but they have shorter life spans.

 

[Midwayman]

This has probably been asked and answered but I couldn't find anything via search.

I've got a 1997 dodge grand caravan and the headlights are complete shit. I had one of my lights go out 2 nights ago and attempting to drive home from a friends house was just a nightmare (not much better with the two working). I found guy on craigslist that said he can install an HID kit (6000k) for $119 which includes the kit and labor

1) I couldn't find a definitive answer but are hid kits legal? (I'm in Virginia for what its worth). Also will my van pass inspection

2) Does that install price sound reasonable?

HID kits, whether bulbs or retrofits are always illegal. The DOT has not approved any aftermarket fittings. $119 will get you a crap bulb kit. You're looking at close to $300 to do it in a proper no-blinding way (DIY price).
I did a retrofit on my wife's CRV this fall. Looks totally OEM with the projectors and shrouds.

 

[SpatiallyAware]

+1 don't do the HID kit in halogen housings. It will look like you have your high beams on all the time. You're likely to get pulled over by every cop that passes you in the opposite direction.

Regarding the 'cleaning kits'.... Even used properly, I haven't had great luck with them and neither have my buddies.

A long time ago I had a friend do a 'DIY' method with ultra fine sandpaper followed up by polishing followed up by spray-on sealant and it's the only one that's held up for a few years.


If it's cloudy lenses you can usually buy replacement lenses (the clear part you can touch)

If it's peeling/discolored reflectors (the silver part inside the housing) then you need new headlights.



Also, sorry to be a chrysler-hater, but I wouldn't trust their wiring for a doorbell let alone headlights. Check the bulb harness, where the bulb plugs in for corrosion. Use a multimeter and carefully check for a full 14v while running. You need to check between the ground and hot leads on the base, the plug for the bulb.... NOT an engine ground. Ideally you should back-probe these.. So undo the bulb out of the headlight housing, but leave the bulb plugged in to the harness, and stick your multimeter probe into the back of the plug with the bulb plugged in and turned on.

 

[dabuddha]

+1 don't do the HID kit in halogen housings. It will look like you have your high beams on all the time. You're likely to get pulled over by every cop that passes you in the opposite direction.

Regarding the 'cleaning kits'.... Even used properly, I haven't had great luck with them and neither have my buddies.

A long time ago I had a friend do a 'DIY' method with ultra fine sandpaper followed up by polishing followed up by spray-on sealant and it's the only one that's held up for a few years.


If it's cloudy lenses you can usually buy replacement lenses (the clear part you can touch)

If it's peeling/discolored reflectors (the silver part inside the housing) then you need new headlights.



Also, sorry to be a chrysler-hater, but I wouldn't trust their wiring for a doorbell let alone headlights. Check the bulb harness, where the bulb plugs in for corrosion. Use a multimeter and carefully check for a full 14v while running. You need to check between the ground and hot leads on the base, the plug for the bulb.... NOT an engine ground. Ideally you should back-probe these.. So undo the bulb out of the headlight housing, but leave the bulb plugged in to the harness, and stick your multimeter probe into the back of the plug with the bulb plugged in and turned on.

I'll do that this weekend.

ty all for the tips/information.