Anyone ever replaced a headlight socket? Should I just go buy a universal 9003 one from the parts store and wire it in, or is there an OEM alternative that is plug and play into the harness? 1995 Pickup.

 

several companies make a conversion kit to swap from sealed beam to an H4 bulb. i used the kit that Marlin sells on my 79 pickup and it was an insane difference. i plan to buy the same one for my 87 4runner eventually. high quality, glass housing and you can buy a performance bulb as well.

 

Projector lenses are trash!

Sincerely, everyone that has to drive outside of the city lights and dodge deer and random varmits.

Here's something to think about and once you've noticed it you won't forget. Take note of the color and apparent brightness of cars headlights coming at you in the other lane.. Notice how some are color shifting and vary in brightness as the on coming car bounces and bobbles, those are projector lenses, compared to the fresnel lenses that don't vary in color or intensity. You'll also notice there is way less glare and haze.

 

i think you are talking to my response? what im referring to is not a projector lens. it simply updates the outdates and dim sealed beam style to what every modern vehicle now uses. LIGHTSSSS if you werent responding to my input just ignore this lol

 

The difference was night and day, pun intended, when I upgraded the plug, wiring and used Hella halogen lights.

Light: https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/...?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Plug: https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/...?ie=UTF8&psc=1

This was not plug and play, added separate relays for highbeam & lowbeam using 12ga wire and ran a wire back to the dash so the highbeam indicator still worked. Was a fun little project.

 

I appreciate all the info fellas, but I should clarify. Already have conversion housings to run regular 9003 halogen bulbs, and its great-best $80 I've spent on my truck. Whats fried is the actual connector that plugs into the bulb, the 3 prong female connection. Should I just go buy a universal parts store plug and splice it in with butt connectors, or is there a better option?

 

Any generic plug should be fine. I'd solder and heat shrink the splices to insure long term reliability.

You can get plugs made of porcelain that are made to handle the extra heat thrown by higher wattage bulbs.

 

its super obvious what you were asking now that i read it again haha. sorry, thought you were asking about conversions.

 

These sockets are what I used: https://smile.amazon.com/dp/B076JGTB7H/ref=dp_prsubs_1

 

Great sockets for the price. I won't swear we need ceramics involved, but heck, it won't hurt anything.
Looks like it will crimp in easily. Or solder in. Just make sure that, either method used, you use heatshrink. Meltwall, naturally. It matters, it really does.
Me, I would solder it in.
Tin both wires, bend them both 90°, hook them together, and wrap the tinned ends over the other wire it's hooked to, and then solder them. It's a modified, small version, of what's known as a Western Union splice. You can look it up. It's important to do the bending and wrapping, so you have a good physical connection. A good physical connection is critical to a good solder join. Don't just lay the two wires together and glop solder on them. First, you'll have a lousy solder join, high resistance, second, it'll be weak, and liable to coming apart.
Always use flux, the liquid resin for electronic applications. Just a drop on each wire, then wipe the soldering iron on a wet sponge, put a little solder on it, and touch the wire. The solder will flow into the wire. Wipe the iron and tin it again, before you put it in/on the holder. Get into the habit of wiping and tinning the iron every time you pick it up, and prior to returning it to the holder that you use. It will give you vastly superior solder joins. Keeps the tip pristine, and it keeps fresh solder on it. Gives great solder joins.

Just so you know, I was a component level radar repair tech my entire life, and got soldering school, called Mini/Micro Comp in the Marines as part of that.
Have fun all!
Pat☺

 

Like Pat (OORAAH) says above^^^.
Paul's sockets^^^ look good
BTW, the headlight circuit is flawed, like the starter circuit. Current passes through the dimmer/stalk switch contacts and a convoluted path on the ground return.
Do not run higher-wattage bulbs unless you have the H4 conversion harness or have modded like Paul did^^^ so relay contacts carry the high current.