[Thundra04struck]

I have been wanting to put brighter bulbs in my foglights from day one but just had never gotten around to it.

My wife has a 2006 RAV4 that takes the same 9006 bulbs and the 55W bulbs in her headlights, while ok, just don't do it for me, especially when I know that an 80W would be a great improvement as her projectors, like ours, are pretty good.

It was all too easy to undo the 3- 10mm bolts out then reach up and replace the stock 51W bulb and put in the 80W. While I was at it, I raised the aim a bit by moving the strange plastic screw/gear/teeth and I think that for now, I'm good and vision is much improved.

I think I'll look around for new foglight housing as as mine are pitted pretty badly from all the sand up here over the 7 winters now and I'm sure output is decreased from the pitting.

Next, I'm going to do a search and see if I can find a 80W yellow/amber bulb for better snow/rain vision.

 

[Johnny_5]

Did you replace the harness too? I've heard of the stock harness melting when using higher wattage bulbs. Here's a link to what I'm talking about.
CERAMIC WIRE HARNESS 9006 HEADLIGHT PLUG-N-PLAY BULB : eBay Motors (item 370333451012 end time Apr-10-10 23:35:04 PDT)

 

[RCsTundra]

This place uses 12 gauge wire and is around the same price as those ebay ones that use 16 gauge wire....Ive bought connectors etc. from them many times in the past.

Automotive Connectors

 

[Thundra04struck]

I've been running from 80/100W H4's to 100/130W H4's with no issues now for the past 7 years in this Tundra.

I can't help but to think that going from a 51W bulb to an 80W bulb is going to be any different with me having no issues.

In addition, I have been running a 80/100 in my snowmobile, no issue.

I have 80W 9006 bulbs in my wifes RAV4/2006, works well.

 

[SuckersWalk]

what bulbs are you running that are 80/100 and 100/130? wonder if those are true wattage, or just an advertised number on the package.

 

[Thundra04struck]

I'm not one of those "suckers" who goes for those tinted bulbs or the Silverstar/Ultrastar-crap, I have been using only clear halogens like Narva's or Eiko and also Brite Lights and they have worked well and do put out more Watts as evidenced by looking at a 55W bulb and the 80/90/100W.

They work well and don't blind as the cutoff's on our projectors is quite good.

Even JC Whitney has clear halogen H4's that are 80/100 or 90/100 or even 100/130 made by CEC Industries. I have the 9006's right now and they are good bulbs, cheap too.

 

[Thundra04struck]

An update;

I got the chance to do some more fine-tuning on my fogs. I can hardly believe that I did not fiddle with the aiming 7 years ago as it is only 3 10mm bolts and a simple turning of the adjuster to adjust vertical alignment.

At my local cemetary I covered my headlights with a blanket and adjusted my foglights and what a great difference coupled with the 80W bulbs, so much better vision now.

I'm now contemplating new housings as mine are somewhat pitted after 100,000+ miles and 7 years of winter driving here in MA. Anyone have a good lead on new foglight housings?

 

[jpeepers]

Here is some general info on wire size and current.

Calculate amps-
(example)
80 watt bulbs, 12Vdc source.

80/12= 6.6 amps

Recommended max amps for wire gauges

16AWG - 3.7amps
12AWG - 9.3amps
10AWG - 15amps

So for a 80 watt bulb you would want 12 gauge wire

Obviously this is just a general rule and very conservative numbers so it may work with smaller wire with out issue but it's something to keep in mind.

JP

 

[Shrimphombre]

So what is the gauge of the oem harness?

 

[WhiteLiteNin]

So what is the gauge of the oem harness?

and more specifically, what is the guage wire running the fog lights?

 

[Johnny_5]

I mentioned the new harnesses because the connectors are ceramic rather than plastic. I have replaced melted plastic connectors several times, although not on Tundra foglights. I'm not sure what size the stock wiring is, but the 12ga wire in the aftermarket harnesses doesn't really matter if stock is only 14-16ga.