Relay harness required for H9 upgrade?

[dwmilton]

Hello all! I have a 2014 Honda Civic Si, and have ordered Philips H9 bulbs to upgrade my low beam lighting.

I was told on a Civic forum that I should also install relay harnesses, to keep things from melting. Basically that the factory harnesses were thin, and not up to the task.

What confuses me is that in the same forum, I also read of people upgrading to Nokya "stage 1" and "stage 2" bulbs; with only the higher level stating they need relay harnesses. My understanding is that "stage 1" are 65w, and "stage 2" are 80w.

I greatly appreciate everyone's input on this!

 

[MichaelW]

In America, Honda uses 9006 & 9005 [HB4/HB3] low & high beams.
The upgrades are HIR2 & HIR1, assuming you trim the base keying to fit.

 

[-Virgil-]

Hello all! I have a 2014 Honda Civic Si, and have ordered Philips H9 bulbs to upgrade my low beam lighting.

So you've got a coupe, with H11 low beams. That should be a good upgrade, and a safe one. Make sure the lamps are aimed correctly with an optical aiming machine.

I was told on a Civic forum that I should also install relay harnesses, to keep things from melting. Basically that the factory harnesses were thin, and not up to the task.

The stock harness will be fine.

What confuses me is that in the same forum, I also read of people upgrading to Nokya "stage 1" and "stage 2" bulbs

There is no such thing. This is a meaningless marketing term by a brand that sells only Ricky Racer garbage. Steer clear. Use a reputable-brand regular H9 bulb like this one.

 

[dwmilton]

I've ordered OE projector lights. These use H11 for the low beams, like the 2014+ Civic coupes.
I did order HIR1s for the highs, and plan to trim the tabs on those and the H9s.

 

[-Virgil-]

I've ordered OE projector lights.

That may be a problem. Can you please show us a link for exactly what you have ordered?

 

[dwmilton]

https://www.pinterest.com/pin/501236633499267539/

This is the company I ordered through, based in Canada. I heard of these through the Civic forums. A few different groups were importing them, some from Dubai, and some from Germany. They are halogen projectors, used in most LHD markets outside the USA/CAN/MEX.

 

[dwmilton]

A search for UAE Civic projectors will net you more information, as well.

 

[-Virgil-]

If (only if) these are genuine Honda parts, they'll do OK for you as long as you have them aimed to the "VOL" setting described here. But you would have been at least as well off, and probably better, in ter of headlamp performance/seeing range, by sticking with the original headlamps and putting HIR2 bulbs in the low beams. Also, with the headlamps you ordered you will lose the side marker light and side marker reflector functions, which are both mandatory and very effective at reducing your likelihood of getting T-boned or sideswiped. And it's not clear from your link that the ones you ordered are genuine Honda parts. If they are not, they would qualify as unsafe junk you should definitely not use.

 

[dwmilton]

Thank you very much Virgil!

It's my understanding that they are marked Honda on the lense, and Stanley on other areas.

I'm glad to know I won't need relays to run the H9s. If there's any question, I'd definitely retain my stock assemblies, and get HIR2s for the low beams.

 

[dwmilton]

I'll definitely make sure the lights are properly aimed! Thanks for the link. Will probably pay to have the aiming done.

 

[Alaric Darconville]

https://www.pinterest.com/pin/501236633499267539/

This is the company I ordered through, based in Canada. I heard of these through the Civic forums. A few different groups were importing them, some from Dubai, and some from Germany. They are halogen projectors, used in most LHD markets outside the USA/CAN/MEX.

They might be legit, then again, they might not. I mean, they ARE using pinterest for their storefront.

 

[-Virgil-]

They might be legit, then again, they might not. I mean, they ARE using pinterest for their storefront.

Not only that, but I see them referring to "OEM type" headlamps. Emphasis mine. That phrase virtually always means aftermarket knockoff junk.

What prompted the purchase of these headlamps, anyway?

 

[dwmilton]

I wanted OE projectors, and read up on the various groups importing them from foreign markets. I like the look of the projectors vs reflector housings, and the reviews showed that they did have good output, and pattern.

 

[Alaric Darconville]

I wanted OE projectors, and read up on the various groups importing them from foreign markets. I like the look of the projectors vs reflector housings, and the reviews showed that they did have good output, and pattern.

Reviews done by people who don't stop to think that Pinterest as a storefront, and referring to the lamps as "OEM-type", is a sign that something may not be legit. Reviews by people who don't realize that it's easy for a crap light to get a great review, because often what makes a light objectively poor makes it look subjectively good (as examples: excessive foreground light, excessive light in the glare zone).

 

[dwmilton]

My bad on the link. I simply tried to get images of the item, as advertised by the company I ordered from. Here's their actual website: www.kplayground.ca However, these lights aren't listed on the site. You have to message them, and ask for the lights. Once they know your ZIP code, they'll reply with the price, shipping included.

 

[64.5vette]

The real question is are they genuine honda parts or aftermarket?

 

[Alaric Darconville]

My bad on the link. I simply tried to get images of the item, as advertised by the company I ordered from. However, these lights aren't listed on the[ir] site. You have to message them, and ask for the lights. Once they know your ZIP code, they'll reply with the price, shipping included.

They sell so many of the non-legit products (REI HID kits and the like), I'm surprised they sell anything legit. Why the secrecy on their own site regarding the Civic headlamps for Honda Mideast? Are they counterfeits? Are they bought en masse from a Dubai parts counter and resold without authority, perhaps even bypassing any customs (grey market)? Is it from a stolen shipping container?

 

[Alaric Darconville]

They are halogen projectors, used in most LHD markets outside the USA/CAN/MEX.

Just a teeny-tiny bit of quibbling: Headlamps are concerned with traffic directionality, not with the prevailing position of the driver's seat in a car. Yes, the majority of cars here and in Canada and Mexico are left hand drive-- but the salient point is that we have Right Hand Traffic and the headlamps are designed with RHT in mind.

 

[dwmilton]

Understood, AD.