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Not having a garage with the freezing temperatures, I had to wait on this. Happy to have a car but adjusting to driving when there is daylight has been interesting. Going for broke tonight and I figure I'd reach out and ask before going any further. Whoever designs these cars is something else. I haven't lost any copper wire on the car side but there isn't much to work with. In a perfect world the tire would be off and this would be 4ft in the air but it is what it is. I'm noticing the coupler matches the diameter of the wire coming from the new headlight harness, but the wire from the car is not the same size. I'm assuming if I crimp the coupler there is no way it's going to get tight enough to hold the car wiring. Am I supposed to twist the two wires and then attempt slide the coupler over the twisted pair and then shrink tube?
Also with battery disconnected, is there a 12 or 24 hour time frame where I'll lose the remote door unlock? If so, I'll have to dig out electrical tape and connect the terminal....
Yeah, you're probably right. I put electric tape on exposed ends and connected the battery. Remote still worked. Researching it more it looks like there are step down butt connectors when transitioning from different gauge wire.. A comment was made about cheap harnesses, but these look premium and cost more than those Dorman ones on Amazon. The Dorman's look like they're the same gauge but I don't know if that even matters here.
If it is a 2008 you might be in trouble if the battery is disconnected for several hours. That mostly affects just the TPMS.
Yeah, you're probably right. I put electric tape on exposed ends and connected the battery. Remote still worked. Researching it more it looks like there are step down butt connectors when transitioning from different gauge wire.. A comment was made about cheap harnesses, but these look premium and cost more than those Dorman ones on Amazon. The Dorman's look like they're the same gauge but I don't know if that even matters here.
When you get around to it, be very careful not to touch the light bulbs. Ideally wash your hands first and use clean cotton jersey gloves to handle them. The slightest bit of oil or dirt can make them burn hotter shortening the life and maybe as in your case melting the socket.
By reputable name brand bulbs. Regular ones. Nothing that claims to be extra bright. Nothing that claims extra long life. Those can all burn it hotter.
LEDs are an option, but most of cheap brand X EbayZon offerings will make a mess of your lighting pattern, and probably blind oncoming drivers. Someone is sure to refute this and say such and such a LED wor great and nobody flashes their lights at me. That's that's because nobody bothers anymore because so many cars have crappy. LEDs.
This was awful. I tried using the butt connectors or whatever they're called and I had no issue crimping them on the harness side. The wire coming from the car is so thin no matter how much I crimped it would not stay. And the female butt connector on that side was a perfect match. Maybe because I couldn't get a better angle on the connector because I didn't have enough slack. So twisting the wires and good old electrical tape and here I am. I broke out a 3M kit sanding and sanding and more sanding and the lights look better than new.
Thanks for all the feedback. If I run into any further HHR maintenance needs or if I want to show off any enhancements I will post it here!
