Lowbeams on with Highbeams

MiniDevil · **Posted:** Fri Dec 28, 2007 11:35 pm

When I had my other cars, the lowbeam always stayed on when you turned the highbeam on.

I know it's D.O.T. law that when you turn highbeams on, FOG LIGHTS need to be wired to go off. But is itlegal to have low+high beams on at the same time? To be honest, my high beams arent that much better than my low beams. In fact, they are dimmer but go out just slightly further.

If it is legal to do this, how can I do it, and will it have negative repercussions?

corwyyn · **Posted:** Sat Dec 29, 2007 12:07 am

I know on some other vehicles I could get both on if I partially pulled the switch back, but I'm not sure about the KJ, and figuring out the wiring to make it permanent is a project in itself. Probably easier to get some driving lights and wire them into the high-beams.

And yes, the factory lighting is a bit underwhelming...

KJ4ME · **Posted:** Sat Dec 29, 2007 12:30 am

if you rull the stalk about half way back, teh lowbeams stay on with the highbeams

MiniDevil · **Posted:** Sat Dec 29, 2007 12:51 am

KJ4ME wrote:

if you rull the stalk about half way back, teh lowbeams stay on with the highbeams

Yes they do, and they have the power that true highbeams should... but I don't feel like holding the stick back if I am on backroads with noone else for long periods of time.

corwyyn · **Posted:** Sat Dec 29, 2007 1:07 am

MiniDevil wrote:

KJ4ME wrote:

if you rull the stalk about half way back, teh lowbeams stay on with the highbeams

Yes they do, and they have the power that true highbeams should... but I don't feel like holding the stick back if I am on backroads with noone else for long periods of time.

Time for some Hellas, PIAAs or some other form of higher-power illumination

Here's a comparison:

Bob V · **Posted:** Sat Dec 29, 2007 1:24 am

KJ4ME wrote:

if you rull the stalk about half way back, teh lowbeams stay on with the highbeams

The fog lights also stay on.
I did a modifacation to my '05 dodge 3500 that keeps them all on. What I did is to remove the multi function switch and remove some of the plastic housing so that there is a detent 1/2 way up the dimmer switch movement. Now you just pull up 1/2 way and the stalk stays there for hi/low/fog, and tap it back down for low. I have not done this to the jeep yet but I think that it is the same as the Dodge, hope to have it done this weekend. More info here http://www.turbodieselregister.com/foru ... t-box.html

MiniDevil · **Posted:** Sat Dec 29, 2007 1:36 am

Awesome, Bob!

Do I have to add anything in to hold it in that position?

Bob V · **Posted:** Sat Dec 29, 2007 1:51 am

I didn't have to on the Dodge, I just removed a small amount of plastic where a spring loaded "dampner" ( for lack of a better term) rides. If you pull back on the stalk you will see that it wont take much to hold it there.
I also checked on how the multi function switch works on the Jeep. It is the same as the Dodge, No current runs through the switch. There are different resistors in the switch that will send a different voltage through the data link to the PCM(?) that inturn turns on and off the hi/low/fog relays.

MiniDevil · **Posted:** Sat Dec 29, 2007 2:08 am

Is it hard to remove the switch to modify it?

Bob V · **Posted:** Sat Dec 29, 2007 2:17 am

MiniDevil wrote:

Is it hard to remove the switch to modify it?

Just looked at the FSM and it looks easy, wish I could figure out how nto save a page from it so that I could paste it here.

MiniDevil · **Posted:** Sat Dec 29, 2007 2:30 am

Save a page from where

Bob V · **Posted:** Sat Dec 29, 2007 2:38 am

From the factory service manual

REMOVAL
WARNING: To avoid personal injury or death, on
vehicles equipped with airbags, disable the supplemental
restraint system before attempting any
steering wheel, steering column, airbag, occupant
classification system, seat belt tensioner, impact
sensor, or instrument panel component diagnosis
or service. Disconnect and isolate the battery negative
(ground) cable, then wait two minutes for the
system capacitor to discharge before performing
further diagnosis or service. This is the only sure
way to disable the supplemental restraint system.
Failure to take the proper precautions could result
in accidental airbag deployment.
(1) Disconnect and isolate the battery negative
cable.
(2) If the vehicle is equipped with the optional tilt
steering column, move the tilt steering column to the
fully lowered position and leave the tilt release lever
in the released (down) position.
(3) From below the steering column, remove the
two screws that secure the lower column shroud to
the upper shroud (Fig. 61).
(4) Using hand pressure, press inward on both
sides of the upper shroud above the parting line of
the lower shroud to release the snap features that
secure the two shroud halves to each other.
(5) Remove both shroud halves from the steering
column.
(6) Disconnect the two wire harness connectors
from the back of the multi-function switch housing.
(7) Remove the multi-function switch from the
steering column lock housing by carefully rocking the
switch and pulling the switch housing upward far
enough to disengage its alignment posts and locator
tabs from the lock housing.
INSTALLATION
WARNING: To avoid personal injury or death, on
vehicles equipped with airbags, disable the supplemental
restraint system before attempting any
steering wheel, steering column, airbag, occupant
classification system, seat belt tensioner, impact
sensor, or instrument panel component diagnosis
or service. Disconnect and isolate the battery negative
(ground) cable, then wait two minutes for the
system capacitor to discharge before performing
further diagnosis or service. This is the only sure
way to disable the supplemental restraint system.
Failure to take the proper precautions could result
in accidental airbag deployment.
CAUTION: Before attempting to install the multifunction
switch, be certain that the left control stalk
is in the neutral turn signal position and the turn
signal cancel actuator is in the retracted (neutral)
position.
(1) Position the multi-function switch to the steering
column.
(2) Reconnect the two wire harness connectors to
the connector receptacles on the back of the switch
housing (Fig. 61).
(3) Position the multi-function switch onto the
steering column lock housing. Be certain that the
switch alignment posts and locator tabs are fully
seated on the lock housing.
(4) Position the upper and lower shroud halves
onto the steering column.
(5) Align the snap features on the lower shroud
with the receptacles in the upper shroud and apply
hand pressure to snap them together.
(6) Install and tighten the two screws that secure
the lower shroud to the upper shroud. Tighten the
screws to 2 N·m (20 in. lbs.).

MiniDevil · **Posted:** Sat Dec 29, 2007 3:35 am

oh wow! you are the man!

thanks!

Gives me something to play with this weekend

Neal · **Posted:** Sat Dec 29, 2007 8:21 am

Is there any problem from overhearing anything from all the lites being on at the same time?
Have thought about doing that for some time, but wondered if the plastic would get too hot.
Waiting for someone else to do the testing

tjkoen01 · **Posted:** Sat Dec 29, 2007 10:54 am

I would keep a close eye on the wiring. Most headlamps have both filaments sharing the common (ground) wire. With both on, you will be pulling almost twice as much current thru the ground wire going to the lights. Be sure not to set your KJ on fire, that would suck.

Bob V · **Posted:** Sat Dec 29, 2007 12:18 pm

tjkoen01 wrote:

I would keep a close eye on the wiring. Most headlamps have both filaments sharing the common (ground) wire. With both on, you will be pulling almost twice as much current thru the ground wire going to the lights. Be sure not to set your KJ on fire, that would suck.

This is one thing to keep in mind. Keep a close eye on the wireing and the lights themselfs. The Dodge and jeep are very close in control and wireing. The Jeep has 18 gage wire for both the high and low beams with a 16 gage for the ground. There has been no issues with my truck in 3 years and there are more people with this mod and no problems. Again, I have not done this yet to the Jeep, hopefully today.

Bob V · **Posted:** Sat Dec 29, 2007 3:06 pm

I took the MFS out this AM, took <5min to do. But, the unit is held together by about 14 "clips", and it is the wifes daly driver, I thought I would play it save and NOT take it apart untill I find a cheep one (e-bay) to play with. I did, however, add a ruber band around the stalk and the housing that will hold the stalk up half way after it is moved there, and still not let it move on its own. I'll post more on this later, along with some pictures

MiniDevil · **Posted:** Sat Dec 29, 2007 10:21 pm

Thanks bob

ShafferNY · **Joined:** Wed Dec 26, 2007 3:51 pm **Posts:** 88

My $.02

If I were to attempt this, I would do it with a relay and resister by tapping into the BCM and use the factory fog lights. They use a separate circuit so there is no need to worry about wiring over heating and such. Plus, I know how bright they are with the low beams on.

I would just worry about getting busted for it.

On the other hand, when you buy a set of fog light from Wal-Mart, they don't make any provisions to wire them into the MFS or say anything about it being illegal to have them on with your headlights. They just come with a simple rocker switch that's usually dash mounted.

MiniDevil · **Posted:** Tue Jan 01, 2008 3:56 pm

ShafferNY wrote:

My $.02

If I were to attempt this, I would do it with a relay and resister by tapping into the BCM and use the factory fog lights. They use a separate circuit so there is no need to worry about wiring over heating and such. Plus, I know how bright they are with the low beams on.

I would just worry about getting busted for it.

On the other hand, when you buy a set of fog light from Wal-Mart, they don't make any provisions to wire them into the MFS or say anything about it being illegal to have them on with your headlights. They just come with a simple rocker switch that's usually dash mounted.

I could use the factory fog light relay maybe? I dont have fogs and don't plan on getting factory fogs.

Lowbeams on with Highbeams

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