Jeep Garage  - Jeep Forum banner

How-To: Fog light HID kit in 2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee (pic heavy)

71K views 91 replies 46 participants last post by  Johnnyww 
#1 · (Edited)
This How-To is a guide to installing the XenonDepot Extreme Digital HID kit in the 2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee OEM fog light housings. The kit can be purchased here: http://www.kbcarstuff.com/Xtreme-Digital-HID-Kits-s/21.htm

Time needed: 2 - 3 hours

Parts/Supplies needed:
- HID kit above or similar
- 3/16" Shrink tube
- Small, black zip-ties
- 3/4 inch split tube wire loom/conduit
- (2) 9006 male pig-tail sockets
- (2) #6 x 1/2" sheet metal screws
- (4) 1/4" Nylon Pop-rivets, Chrysler P/N 6500911
- 2" masking or painter's tape

Tools needed:
- 10mm socket and ratchet/nut driver
- 13mm socket and ratchet/nut driver
- flat-head screwdriver
- needle-nose pliers
- wire stripper pliers
- solder gun/iron
- knife/razor blade
- Pop-rivet tool/gun

The first 4 photos are of the HID kit and its contents. The Extreme Digital kit comes with a set of rubber coated gloves (for handling the bulbs), 2 HID bulbs with pig-tail and plugs included, 2 HID ballasts with igniters included, 2 relay harnesses, medium length zip ties, and 2 double-sided tape pads (for mounting the ballasts):










The ballasts:










The bulbs are of 5202 (aka H16) type:




These 3 tabs need to be shaved/filed/sanded off for the bulb to properly seat in the OEM fog light housings:


Now for the fun!

Any time I'm removing and/or installing bumper covers, I like to protect the edges of the fender as sometimes the edges of the bumper cover can scrape the fenders:


Bumper removal

The front bumper cover on the 2011 Jeep Grand Cherokee is secured on the sides to the fender liners, on the bottom via push-pins to the lower engine shield, and on top via tabs that catch under the grille.

Repeat for both sides:

Remove the 10mm nut which secures the upper-most corner of the bumper cover to the fender liner:


Remove the lower twist clip by rotating 90 degrees:


Cut off the 2 Pop-rivets using a knife or exposed razor blade. You need to wedge the blade between the bumper flare and the head of the rivet, then slice it off. It will take a little force to cut:




Remove the push-pin retainer closest to the 10mm nut you removed. Push-pin retainers consist of a plunger which slides out, allowing the shaft to collapse. Once the shaft collapses, the retainer can be removed. Use a flat-head screwdriver to pull up on the plunger:






At this point, the fender flare can be pulled loose from the bumper cover. Pulling outward on the flare will release the tabs holding the flare to the bumper. Don't pull too hard or too fast, as the flare is still connected to the top of the fender:






There are 4 push-pin retainers securing the bottom of the bumper to the lower engine shield. Remove all 4:




When all the retaining hardware has been removed FROM BOTH SIDES, you're ready to slide the bumper cover off.
 
See less See more
25
#2 ·
Take a look at the hole where you removed the 10mm screw. The hole in the bumper cover fits on top of the raised lip where the hole for the bumper retainer is:




The edge of the bumper cover needs to be pulled BACK (towards the tire) then out (towards you) to clear this raised lip:


Once you complete this step for BOTH SIDES, the bumper cover will start to separate from the rest of the vehicle:


The top of the bumper cover has tabs that slide into a retainer below the grille. Pulling the bumper cover out (towards the front of the vehicle) releases the tabs:




With the bumper cover loose and enough room to access the back side of the fog lights, either pinch and unclip the bulbs from the housings or unclip the fog light bulb plugs. I find it easier to squeeze and unclip the bulbs from the housings.

With fog light wiring disconnected from the bumper cover, completely remove the bumper cover from the vehicle. The bumper cover is EXTREMELY lightweight. One person can easily handle it. Place the bumper cover face-down on something soft, clean, and non-marring:


Wiring time!

Tie the 2 relay harnesses together using the wiring conduit. Start the conduit at the fuses and run it down the harness about 48 inches or so:




You should end up with a wiring harness that looks like this:


Locate the 12+ power post located near the passenger firewall. This is where the power for the ballasts will come from. Flip open the cover:




Now it's time to route the wiring harness from the bumper area of the vehicle to the power post.

Insert the wiring harness in the opening near and under the passenger headlight:


Looking down from the engine compartment, locate the harness:


Route the harness along the passenger front fender, inside the engine compartment. Take your time to weave the harness in and around other wiring harnesses. If this is done correctly, the fog light harness will look completely stock:




The wiring harness must pass through the baffle near the power post.




Using needle-nose pliers, remove the small, hidden push retainer which holds the weatherstripping down:




The baffle is 2 pieces. 4 clips hold the 2 pieces together. Locate the 4 clips and release them using a flat-head screwdriver:




Pull up to separate the 2 pieces of the baffle:


With the baffle separated, run the wiring harness through the empty slot (if you have one)of the baffle.


Pull the wiring harness through just enough to reach the power post. Snap the baffle back together:




Time to go to work on the other end of the wiring harness.
 
#3 · (Edited)
Locate the original fog light bulbs, which should still be connected to the wiring harness (if you unclipped the bulbs from the housings):


Remove the bulbs from the stock connectors. The stock connectors need to be cut off and replaced with the 9006 connectors, as that's what plugs into the HID relay harness:






I trimmed some of the excess wire from the 9006 pig-tails:


Solder in the 9006 pig-tail. Make sure you get the polarity correct. In my case, the yellow wire on the 9006 pig-tail connected to the white wire from the OEM harness. The black wire one the 9006 pig-tail connected to the black wire on the OEM harness:


Clean it up with some conduit and a zip tie:


Now, you have a true plug-and-play system, as the OEM wiring harness plugs directly into the HID relay harness:


The HID relay harness needs a good ground. This ground on the frame rail is in the perfect location:


Remove the 10mm nut, install the HID relay harness ground, and reinstall the nut:


For now, you're done with the wiring for the passenger's side. Run the second half of the HID relay harness across the front of the vehicle and over to the driver's side. Make sure to wrap the harness in the remaining conduit:




Use the same procedure as above to replace the OEM fog light plug with the 9006 pig-tail:






Mount the ballasts to the vehicle. I used the provided double-sided tape pad to affix the ballasts to the backside of the front bumper reinforcement, one on the passenger's side, one on the driver's side:




Plug the HID relay harnesses into the ballasts. You should be left with the relay, igniter, and HID bulb plugs hanging down. Using a #6 sheet metal screw, mount the relays to the plastic support panel under the headlights:


The igniters and HID bulb plugs should be the only items left to address:


I used some 3M double-sided tape I had laying around and affixed the igniters to the front bumper reinforcement, just next to the ballasts. This gets them out of the way and secures them. (No picture)

Connect the HID relay wiring harnesses to the power post. Using a 13mm socket, remove the post. Slide the HID relay wires onto the stud of the post, and reinstall the post.

***NOTE*** I had to notch the eyelets on the wires to get them to fit over the post stud:


Replace the cap on the power post, and shut the hood.

With the front bumper cover still removed, take the HID bulbs and install them into the OEM fog light housings. Just push them in slightly and they'll snap into place. Be gentle when doing this, as I found the tabs on the bulbs to be extremely brittle.

Once the bulbs are installed, slide the bumper cover back onto the vehicle. Slide the top of the bumper cover in first, letting the upper bumper tabs slide into the retainer under the grille.

With the bumper cover partially installed, get under the vehicle and plug in the 2 wires from the ballast to the HID bulbs.

At this point, activate the fog lights to make sure the HIDs turn on.

If all seems well, reinstall the front bumper cover in the reverse order it was removed.

Then end result should be this:




Headlights only:


Headlights and fog lights:


Fog lights only:


Enjoy the fantastic light output. :)
 
#10 ·
Note: I added to the original thread. I took a couple pictures today to show the light output/intensity and beam pattern of the headlights, headlights with fog lights, and fog lights only.

I just WISH I had a picture of the intensity (or lack thereof) and beam pattern of the OEM bulbs.

These HIDs match the color of the OEM headlights perfectly. 4300K.

The fog lights fill in the "empty space" of light the headlights produce. I can't be happier. Best mod to this truck EVER.
 
#12 ·
Hey man awesome right up. Only thing I did my install without removing anything. Not so sure how necessary it is. Still giving you a rep point though.
 
#14 · (Edited)
Yeah I know another guy here that installed it without pulling the bumper also. However, I wanted to 1000% completely hide the entire kit, no wires, no ballasts, igniters, nothing at all shows from inside the hood or under the truck. Hell, even if you pull the bumper, it's hard to tell anything aftermarket was added at all. I'm not a fan of zip tie-ing components to the truck, etc. So, I figured I'd just be safe and pull the bumper. That's not to say it cant be done WITHOUT pulling it. :)

Also, I wanted to pull the headlights as I tried to bake them to paint the bezels black. Bumper has to come off for that. However, these headlights lights don't come apart. :(
 
#24 ·
Wow.. Thank you so much for taking the time to put together such a detailed review of the product. I'm sure that many forum members will be using this when installing an HID kit in their fog lights.

I'm trying to remember. Did you purchase a 5000k Xtreme HID kit or a 4300k Xtreme HID kit?

For those interested in this kit, make sure to use coupon code "JG" upon checkout to save $25 on your order. You will also get free shipping for a limited time on the Xtreme HID kit within the continental USA.

Steve
 
#26 ·
Hey Steve..I purchased the 4300K. You and I have spoken on the phone a couple times about that little issue I had, remember?


Polak...I don't have any pics of the bulbs INSIDE the fog light housing, but I guess I could snap one.

There is NO modification to the fog light housing whatsoever. The only modification necessary for the HID bulb to fit correctly is to shave off the little tabs, as explained in the write-up. :thumbsup:
 
#31 ·
If conditions are normal (not foggy) don't do it! Don't use your fog lights (HID or normal) when there is oncoming traffic. Now ... off road that's a different story. Someone could also make a case for use in an extremely rural setting (like a forest service road) where's there's lot's o critters and a very low chance of encountering someone coming the other way.
 
This is an older thread, you may not receive a response, and could be reviving an old thread. Please consider creating a new thread.
Top