Alpha Rex headlights

[Ranger8729]

All the harping on "plug and play" has me questioning that. Adding a wire to a empty fuse is not "plug and play" but we'll within my skillset. Forscan is also an option, though this truck hasn't seen it used.

For the luxx/Nova: My XLT runs the headlight bulbs at low wattage for DRLs. What do these do with the signal from the truck then? Would the lights flicker, light up dim, etc?

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[shaketxavius]

I was just browsing the forums and saw this. After a whole bunch of hmming and hawing, I ordered a set of LUXX Alpha-Black for my XLT. I'm stoked

Only thing I'm curious about with install is the resistors I spliced in for my Diode Dynamics Switchback turn signals and what happens when I remove them. I assume just tape em up and go, but I'm certainly no electrical genius.

 

[Gizmokid2005]

I was just browsing the forums and saw this. After a whole bunch of hmming and hawing, I ordered a set of LUXX Alpha-Black for my XLT. I'm stoked

Only thing I'm curious about with install is the resistors I spliced in for my Diode Dynamics Switchback turn signals and what happens when I remove them. I assume just tape em up and go, but I'm certainly no electrical genius.

That was why I never sprung for LED turn signal lights. You can remove the splice and wrap some heat shrink around it and some electrical tape (that's probably what I'd do to be safe) since the splice actually breaks through the shielding around the copper.

 

[shaketxavius]

That was why I never sprung for LED turn signal lights. You can remove the splice and wrap some heat shrink around it and some electrical tape (that's probably what I'd do to be safe) since the splice actually breaks through the shielding around the copper.

That's what I figured. Easy fix I suppose.

I had gone with the switchbacks because I wanted some kind of white LED DRL and headlight housings were crazy priced. And then I saw this., and they look so good. In hindsight as well I could have just turned off the hyperblink in forscan, but didn't realize that until I went to set them to be on in DRL. Oh well.

 

[Gizmokid2005]

That's what I figured. Easy fix I suppose.

I had gone with the switchbacks because I wanted some kind of white LED DRL and headlight housings were crazy priced. And then I saw this., and they look so good. In hindsight as well I could have just turned off the hyperblink in forscan, but didn't realize that until I went to set them to be on in DRL. Oh well.

I hear you. It was the same reason I never did the same thing on Mustang. I wound up purchasing new aftermarket housings for that. I like the amber color on the front so I never wanted to do white.

 

[theanswer3]

looks like my lights shipped

 

[Gizmokid2005]

looks like my lights shipped

Mine too. They'll be here tomorrow, but I won't be able to install until Sunday.

Their install instructions on their website right now are still for the F-150, but after looking through the shop manual, it's a bit involved (mostly because of the buried bolt behind the upper bumper trim), but should be pretty straightforward.

 

[Jrel209]

Ohhh please post pics yall! Still debating on these or the morimotos

 

[Gizmokid2005]

Ohhh please post pics yall! Still debating on these or the morimotos

I'll get some up when I have them. The Moris were too much like a taco and they're still not out to market anyways, so that's my big sway. Plus I like the bit of flair they have on startup.

 

[Gizmokid2005]

Mine came today. I'll likely do the install on Sunday. It's not super quick, but it should be pretty straightforward.

A note though - they apparently have *no* install instructions specific for the Ranger, including wiring the included module for startup sequences (which they apparently refer to as the DRL module). I reached out to them to see if they had anything or if they wanted to use my truck as a guinea pig to do the install writeup and all I've gotten so far is "they charge for install" and no other feedback.

**EDIT** I just heard back, they want $180 to do the install.

They even sent me this video (which isn't even theirs) as a install guide for how to replace them:

So if I hear back from them and they do the install/writeup, I'll follow-up, otherwise I'll do the install on Sunday and post a guide here next week.

 

[Gizmokid2005]

So do the DRL strips not work without wiring that in? Or is it just that the startup sequence doesn't work unless it's wired in?

As much as I can tell based on the information I've seen and how this wiring harness *looks* - it seems that it's just the startup sequence that won't work, but I won't be able to confirm until I test it out. They say it's wiring the DRL harness in their install stuff, but I'm not sure if that's the case or not. https://alpharexusa.com/how-to-wire-the-drl-harness/

I think it's probably a dual-use harness they include.

Also edited my post to reflect the $180 install charge they want...

 

[Gizmokid2005]

Okay, thanks! I'm still on the fence on these and since they never responded to my inquiry about this issue I sent to them over a week ago I'll have to check back in a few days and see what you've discovered.

I'll keep this thread posted and will probably post a writeup bout the install afterwards as well.

 

[Gizmokid2005]

I sent an email to them last night asking about the DRL functionality coming from an XL/XLT. And whether or not there is additional wiring involved to get the DRL function to work. We'll see what they say.

I'm still waiting to hear back from them about my inquiry.

So I guess since it looks like others have had theirs ship we'll have to use them as an example of how this will go. I look forward to seeing how involved install is and how much, if any, extra wiring is involved. If it's all too much, then I'm out.

In trying to understand all of their wiring, I took a look at the harness that comes with the lights and asked them some questions. Here's what I've got for you.

This is their DRL Harness. The left side wires to the vehicle (positive, negative, grey fuse-tap to ignition-tied source), the right side runs to each of the headlight housings that have a single lead they connect to:

1. The DRL harness (shown above) is a dual-purpose device:
   1. It is used to power the LED bars startup sequence.
   2. It appears (this is still slightly nebulous based on the information I have) that it also controls whether or not there is any DRL function in the headlights at all (they haven't given me concrete answers, but it sounds like the "standard" DRL signal from the truck is ignored in the housing if you don't have the DRL harness installed).
2. The lights will function just fine without this DRL harness, the LED bars will then be activated with the parking lights, including the startup sequence.

I will be testing this on Sunday to get a confirmation one way or the other about point 1.2, because it would be weird to me if there was a special signal that the truck was sending to the headlights to run the low beams at low-voltage for DRL usage.

Hope that helps, let me know if you have other questions and I'll try to get more answers.

 

[User79]

Is pin 6 wired on the headlight harness? That's the pin that powers the lariat drl strip, if it's not there then it's definitely controlled by the drl harness. Which is good in a way....you won't need forscan to activate pin 6 or to de-activate drl through the headlight.

Headlight diagram is attached.

 

[Gizmokid2005]

Is pin 6 wired on the headlight harness? That's the pin that powers the lariat drl strip, if it's not there then it's definitely controlled by the drl harness. Which is good in a way....you won't need forscan to activate pin 6 or to de-activate drl through the headlight.

Headlight diagram is attached.

Based on what I'm reading from your doc and the way this harness is wired, it appears they've wired 1, 4, 5, 6, 7, and 8 on their assemblies. The brown wire is the additional wire that plugs into their DRL harness.

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