Hi from WA

[PapaDuck]

Name: Tony
Ride: 2008 Liberty GTb sedan
Location: South West WA
Mods: Stock
Plans: Not much….. Tune, exhaust and see where that leads
Occupation: ICT manager
Year of birth: '70
Previous Rides: 2002 Patrol, 99 Commodore wagon


Gday everyone,
I’ve been hitting this forum since I purchased my 2008 Liberty a few weeks ago and thought it was about time I introduced myself and say thanks for the help so far.
This forum is great- lots of useful information that has really helped me get a few of the little annoyances improved- Speedo healer, v20 Sat Nav update and LED parkers, I’m also thinking about replacing my high beams with HID’s because I do a fair bit of country driving. I have a set of 100W ballasts, just need to buy a set of globes. Bit scared 100w will be too hot for the plastic lenses??

Absolutely frickin love the Liberty, already so much fun to drive so not looking to do much more except a tune and perhaps exhaust when the cash is available.
I’ve read through the Tune threads and while the improvements look worthwhile, I’m stuck between getting someone like Kido to hook me up with a remote tune or heading up to Perth to the likes of All Star Garage for a dyno? I’m leaning toward a remote tune to start with, but if anybody from WA wants to impart some wisdom I’m here to learn.

Couple of quick snaps:

[jslayz]

Welcome to the fun,

Regarding the HID's:
Car wiring only designed for 55w circuit.......install and use 100W ballasts and globes at great risk.....

J

[PapaDuck]

Thanks J,
the last thing I want is to be popin fuses all the time.
The Ballasts are on the large size as well so will probably be a pain to fit somewhere.


tony.

[Flat6Estate]

and that is why the relay was invented...
use the high beam circuit to trigger the relay, and power the ballasts (and therefore the lights) directly off the battery

This is the best way to power auxiliary driving lights. can't see why it wouldn't work for "optional" high beam lights as well.

or are modern cars electronics too sensitive for this these days?

[PapaDuck]

true that Flat6Estate- cant see why a relay would not work.
I'm more worried about the melt factor- the 100w HID's burn hot!

[jslayz]

and that is why the relay was invented...
use the high beam circuit to trigger the relay, and power the ballasts (and therefore the lights) directly off the battery

This is the best way to power auxiliary driving lights. can't see why it wouldn't work for "optional" high beam lights as well.

or are modern cars electronics too sensitive for this these days?

Can do it this way but you are right about the heat.....you could rewire and give it a go and monitor it for a long while.....
Seems risky to me though.

Obviously post up if you give it a go so we can all be educated

[Flat6Estate]

Could always "downgrade" to 55W HID's.

Couple of advantages:
Less heat - wattages equal with stock halogen - but better light
more modern slimline ballast - easier to hide

In regards to wiring, this is how i did my 03 RS impreza, when i ran low and high hid's for a while.

Disconnect both high lights from the globes, and tape off and tuck the drivers side wiring away neatly.
Use the passenger side high beam wiring to trigger the relay
Run the new wiring from the output of the relay to the passenger side ballast directly, connect and install globe
Run the new wiring from the output of the relay along the top of the radiator in some loom tube to the drivers side ballast, connect and install globe.

Bob's your Uncle
Martha's your Aunt
Job done

Back in the early days of ebay HID's the ballasts were very slow to light the globe. I found that high beams were too slow to be usable, because when you hit the lights you generally need them quickly rather than after a few seconds. Low beams were acceptable because they were on all the time and alway warm.
Once the higbeam lights were "warm" you could go up and down quickly, but the initial time was way too slow.

I hope the newer ballasts have faster ignition times. I might even do this again myself if this is the case.

[Anson]

Welcome to the forum!

Highly recommend a set from the retrofit source.
http://www.theretrofitsource.com/hid-systems/morimoto-elite-hid-system-9005.html#.VAeuqksdu2w
55W - 5000k.
Come complete with relay which will connect straight to the oem hi beam plug.

Have being working flawlessly in my outback(now sold) and my liberty for over a year now.

[KiDo_Tuning]

In Perth again in a few weeks

[Bezzza]

In Perth again in a few weeks

YAY!!!!!

Welcome mate
You will love the liberty, definitely a solid car and great for the open road too!
Did you manage to snag a manual?

On the topic of tunes. Definitely hit up the remote side of things with Matt/Kido. Especially if you can spare a weekend to drive up to Perth when he is here. It's becoming more and more frequent to hear bad stories of the guys here in Perth doing them, mostly on the communication and friendliness side of things. They aren't the nicest of chaps from all accounts and the tunes aren't that flash either.
I would suggest buying a tactrix cable and laptop, teamed with the free online software available just to do check ups every now and then if tuning. Essential really and especially given your location down south.

Ian

[Scratchy]

Welcome, feel free to head up to perth and put some names to faces for John's cruise Friday night!

[PapaDuck]

Sorry for my late reply- back at work.

Thanks for all the welcomes and help.

Highly recommend a set from the retrofit source.

Could always "downgrade" to 55W HID's.

Couple of advantages:
Less heat - wattages equal with stock halogen - but better light
more modern slimline ballast - easier to hide

Can do it this way but you are right about the heat.....you could rewire and give it a go and monitor it for a long while.....
Seems risky to me though.

I think I’ll invest in a 55w kit for the HID’s.
Will probably be enough light output and I won’t have to mess with the stock wiring or worry about melting my lights.
If not I’ll have to rig up a relay and test the 100w setup on a cold day.

In Perth again in a few weeks

Thanks for the heads up Matt- I’ll send you a PM after this.

Did you manage to snag a manual?

On the topic of tunes. Definitely hit up the remote side of things with Matt/Kido. Especially if you can spare a weekend to drive up to Perth when he is here. It's becoming more and more frequent to hear bad stories of the guys here in Perth doing them, mostly on the communication and friendliness side of things. They aren't the nicest of chaps from all accounts and the tunes aren't that flash either.
I would suggest buying a tactrix cable and laptop, teamed with the free online software available just to do check ups every now and then if tuning. Essential really and especially given your location down south

Nar Bezzza- it's an Auto (there's a chance I'm getting old and lazy)
Thanks for the local information
Yes a Tactrix cable is on the list of needs.

Welcome, feel free to head up to perth and put some names to faces for John's cruise Friday night!

Cheers Mate- I'll keep an eye out for future meets- I'm only home every second weekend, but we head to Perth every now and again.



I'll find the right section and post pictures of the HID fit-out when it happens. (next time I'm home hopefully).


tony.