HIDs? Bend your squirrel finders

[l0aded]

There have been questions about squirrel finders in the past so I'd like to share my experience. First of all the squirrel finders are the metal tabs you feel when you stick your finger in the headlamp projector. In order to bend them for HIDs you need more force than your fingers; what I did was stick a flat head screwdriver in and push with a decent amount of force (you are moving metal) for just one push, checked my lights to see if it was satisfactory, if it wasn't then rinse and repeat. Keep in mind HIDs take a few seconds to warm up so make sure you let it sit for a bit before making judgements.

Please no true retrofit or gtfo posts, this is simply for informational purposes and to help make sure no one is being blinded by one of us.

Here is the end results after one iteration (before and after). Beam taken from approximately 3 feet away (I don't have anywhere flat to measure from 25 feet).


Before: http://imgur.com/96I3SDc,Qq5FQjh#1
After: http://imgur.com/96I3SDc,Qq5FQjh#0

Yes it is the same spot. Amazing what bending a piece of metal can do.

[l0aded]

I can take some better pictures if people are wondering about the contrast, my camera focus is slightly off for in depth analysis. I can tell you from actually looking at it there is a substantial improvement though I'm sure it's obvious from the pictures.

[FRSfan111]

The difference is noticeable for sure and ur pics capture that.
The only problem with ur pics is that they are in a link and not posted on here using say the IMG code from photobucket. So many people are lazy and will complain about having to waste 1/2 a sec from their lives to click on a link lol.

[retrosmiths]

I have done the same, but I stuck a wad of those cement sticks in the gap just below the cutoff shield. Worked better and did not messed up the alignment.

Although I did opened mine up, because I was gonna paint the chrome assembly inside.

[l0aded]

Originally Posted by retrosmiths

I have done the same, but I stuck a wad of those cement sticks in the gap just below the cutoff shield. Worked better and did not messed up the alignment.

Although I did opened mine up, because I was gonna paint the chrome assembly inside.

I'm confused don't you have a morimoto retrofit? Is that still necessary?

[retrosmiths]

Originally Posted by l0aded

I'm confused don't you have a morimoto retrofit? Is that still necessary?

Oh sorry, my signature is old.

I sold my retrofitted headlights and went back to stock ones (modded with the above method) because they have more foreground light which I prefer (even though most HIDP members are saying it makes you focus on the front of the car rather than on the road).

[frslee]

Retrofit is the way.... just kidding! ha

Yes, I did the same thing the other night and it did improve the cutoff a lot. I have a skinny finger so I was able to stick it and push it down all the way. I did make a thread before about pulled over by police for having too bright headlight. I'm now using 35w and it's less brighter than the one I used to use, so don't worry people, I'm good now.

DDM tuning bulbs are not really consistent with their colors, so I'm waiting on morimoto 4300k bulb. DDM's 4500k has some bluish light, which doesn't make sense. Let's see how the new bulbs do.

[Books]

FYI HIDs usually have a little light above the line to light up signs like on the highway, etc.

[frslee]

yeah that makes sense, but howcome there's no light present on other factory hid?

I've seen tsx, venza, rx, a4 hids and didn't see any light above the cutoff line though.

[HunterGreene]

HIDs in general are bright enough in the stock housings that they don't need much light above the cutoff line. There is enough light diffused that it will still light up signs more than adequately.

[l0aded]

Originally Posted by frslee

I did make a thread before about pulled over by police for having too bright headlight. I'm now using 35w and it's less brighter than the one I used to use, so don't worry people, I'm good now.

Lol I remember that thread. You're the reason I put up that disclaimer.

[NemeGuero]

This should be stickied with the amount of pnp HIDs on this forum.

Good job.

[Jlturner]

Does anyone have a picture of the actual squirrel finders? The only thing I see is 1 large metal tab that I can reach with my finger. Is that all I need to bend down? I get flashed by almost every car on the road since installing a 6000K PNP HID kit. I might just take it out all together if I can't get the squirrel finders to help.

[HunterGreene]

Originally Posted by Jlturner

Does anyone have a picture of the actual squirrel finders? The only thing I see is 1 large metal tab that I can reach with my finger. Is that all I need to bend down? I get flashed by almost every car on the road since installing a 6000K PNP HID kit. I might just take it out all together if I can't get the squirrel finders to help.

Its better if you just do it by touch, but if you put your finger in the socket, the first piece of metal that you hit is likely the SF. Feel around inside, should have a little springy give to it (otherwise that's just another piece in the assembly). Follow the instructions above and push it down.