Headlights (Can you tell the difference?) Steering wheel upgrade

[1.2gees]

OK, I wired one side directly from the battery, and didn't touch the other, let's see if you guys can tell the difference (100+W high beams on the left, and 55w low beams on the right):


And a head on view:

Finally I put my new steering wheel in, here's a picture (it makes noise when turning, I'll be replacing some parts in there, comments welcome):


I picked up two 'X' relays from a friend's part car today, but haven't wired it in yet, though I think it'll be worth the safety as I've gone through two headlight switches with these high power H4s, and the ignition switch was probably next. While I'm at it, I'm picking up 11.5 volts at the headlights with the factory set up, and 12.7 or so at the battery with the car running. Compared to (IceShark?) my voltage at the headlights is a bit higher, and voltage at the battery is a bit lower, should I look at the alternator to battery cables?

Again, questions comments welcome.
Ahmet

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It's all the driver...
My page over1g@hotmail.com
Porsche owners Gallery.../My 944

[diannone]

i would have run a multi strand #8 wire from the battery to a pair of hd relays for each bulb and continue w/#8 for rest of circuit all the way to ground. the original wireing would handle the switch "control" portion. i believe the #8 to be good for 50 amps.? but who am i?

[diannone]

and i think the head lights should be aimed so that both, angled right sides, have the same fulcrum? way down the road, on the side of the road, gutter area. what ever your comfortable with for distance , it helps to concentrate the light pattern and that with decent bulb housings, cibies, hellas,? they have a nice cutoff line where you can actually see the pattern on the car in front to know if their aimed too high, (please!).

[1.2gees]

Actually, it's common practice to ain the driver's side headlight slightly to the right, as to not blind oncomming traffic.

These lights were aimed exactly the same, before I messed with the wiring on one side

As for the wiring goes, I may try something higher, but using 12 gauge right now, and seems OK. Will try to put relays in tomorrow, if I can get enough parts.

SO, can you tell which side I did the work on?
Ahmet

------------------
It's all the driver...
My page over1g@hotmail.com
Porsche owners Gallery.../My 944

[Kevin C]

Nice!

Where did you get the steering wheel, how much and how long did delievery take?

[Timm]

Bingo... Where did you get the wheel, and how much?



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Timm '88 924S

[porsche1987_944s]

Driver side looks brighter, must be the one you worked on??

[Ehab]

Hey Ahmet, nice wheel ...

As for the headlights, I put my new H4s in with 100/90 Watt bulbs and have not had any problems whatsoever. I think that 12.7 Volts at the battery is pretty damn BAD, and that the burnt switchs are because of your voltage swinging up and down, you obviously need a new Voltage regulator, and if you don't suffer from dead batteries very often, then your alternator might be fine.

With my new VR, I get 12.7 at the battery (when car is OFF), and 14.0 when the car is idling ... be careful, circuits and components do NOT like oscillating voltages. You can get a VR from an alternator shop for $15, and takes about an hour to put it ... very well worth it.

E

[1.2gees]

The wheel I got from AJ-USA for $320 including shipping, which should be slightly less than what the regular price on it is.

I did work on the drivers side, and I think the work was worth it.

I'll check the output, but I'll tell you this, my voltage output is rock steady, and does NOT change. I'm just wondering if it's the wiring, voltage regulator, battery, or the alternator. I'll look into what the outputs should be tomorrow. BTW, the headlights are pretty decent H4s, with good bulbs, I don't remember if the wattage exactly though, 55W low, with 115? W high beams.

Any other questions comments are again welcome, and thanks for the favorable comments.
Ahmet

------------------
It's all the driver...
My page over1g@hotmail.com
Porsche owners Gallery.../My 944

[Dave951]

Ehab: Glad to hear the VR is working out for you(that is the one I got for you, right?).

Dave

[mideastmafia]

ahmet.. can i touch your wheel?

SHAUN

[mideastmafia]

they have a BLUE xenon tint to them. they're the H4's.

SHAUN

[mideastmafia]

LOW BEAM:



HIGH BEAM:


SHAUN

[Dave951]

Shaun, where did you get your tinted Xenon fog bulbs? BTW, I hav those blue tint bulbs in my lights(came with some reflector modules I bought). I like them. Aside from feeling like a ricer, the light is much whiter, giving the perception of better lighting.

Dave

[mideastmafia]

they arent tinted. the glass is actually blue.. its a 100% improvement in my lighting.. before i was having problems seeing on off ramps..

i can get you a set with bulbs for $65.. if you want them, let me know.


SHAUN

[1.2gees]

Tinted bulbs/glass will reduce actual lighting power available to illuminate where your car is pointed. If you have high power bulbs, don't forget to wire in relays, I'm working on mine (driver's side is how it should look, installed).
Ahmet

------------------
It's all the driver...
My page over1g@hotmail.com
Porsche owners Gallery.../My 944

[1.2gees]

Well, I just got done wiring in the relays for both sides... It took 2 fuses, 4 relays, and a bundle of 12 gauge wiring but everything was done per book. Lights are MUCH brighter now (but I burnt 2 fuses cause I like working with music on, and you can't do that with the battery disconnected). My voltage at the headlight(s) is exactly 12.7 right now, same as at the battery (looks like I'm going to have to go with that alternator).

It was a lot of trouble, but they lit up about 150 feet ahead comparable to daylight (not kidding, will take pics when I get the fuses). The relays/wiring made a very big difference by themselves, the alternator would likely make them brighter.

While I'm at it, I also fixed my front spoiler, here are some pics:





Higly recommend doing this (or getting it done somewhere if you lack the knowledge, this can be frustrating), huge improvement in light power.
Ahmet

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It's all the driver...
My page over1g@hotmail.com
Porsche owners Gallery.../My 944