TracKick Projector Headlights

I have never been impressed with the headlights on our TracKicks.  Even new they were not very good.  Age has effected the reflector material inside, so they just do not do the job as they should.

A while back I ordered a pair of Nilight® 2.5" Mini HID Bixenon Projector Headlight modules to see if there was something that could be done.

One of my Trackers came to me with very poor headlights.  Rather than toss them, I figured on using these for experimenting.

You can see the black berry vines/leaves INSIDE these lights. I had already replaced them with some from my parts rig. (Even the "new" ones had a rock chip hole in one of them.)  These were in my scrap pile.

I tossed them in the oven at 180 degrees F.  After a while (longer is better) the glue/sealant is so soft the cover will come off with very little prying.  (Both were already broken and the first one shattered when prying after only 30 min in the oven.)

 The light guide/bulb shield needs removed.

Then, after cleaning, the projector can be installed.

They say the module is water proof.... but I can not see how it could be.  I need to figure out some kind of cover for the light. It isn't quite as easy as it would seem.

The projector is longer than the housing, but the stock glass cover/lens looks like it would cover them. The problem is, the stock lens has the lines that bend and distort the light... Yes, the stock bulb needs them to put the light where it is needed, but they are not needed for the projectors.  If fact it would likely scatter the light and cause glare to on-coming traffic.

I need to find something clear that would come close to the stock lens in height.  If plastic, I might even need more distance from the projector due to heat.

I may or not worry about duplicating the stock sealing surface.

Leaving the cover to think about, I wanted to see the pattern the projectors produce.  They say that these will work with "H1" bulbs or an HID H1 kit.

As this is just testing, I picked up a single H1 bulb. --> it did not fit the housing.

As I was tired at the time, I put it all on the shelf and will work on it later.

There is lots of room around the projector for angel/devil eye, LED daytime running lights or other additions.  There is even a reflector section (near the blinker end) that is un-used on North American Market TracKicks but are used in other markets. 

Comments, suggestions or ideas?

I'll get back to this... someday. ;-)

10/26/2016 -- update ----

I found my jewelers file set and filled out the projectors so the "rated" H1 bulb would fit.   When I went to power the bulb, I noticed there is not any ground connection on the projectors.   (An H1 bulb is very simple with only a single spade connection on the bulb itself.)   Even though they claim these are H1 projectors, I suspect they are pretty much meant to have "H1 HID" upgrades installed.

After rigging a ground I got it lit up.  I found that I had it installed upside down.   (High/Low beam "flapper" device actually goes on the bottom.)  When I got it straight,  and just testing in a darkened kitchen with a regular H1 bulb, it seemed like it had a "pretty good pattern" with a good cut off.

I also picked up some LED modules the might make good DRL's inside the housings.

When I have more time, I will take some pictures while I figure out some kind of clear cover to replace the stock lenses.

stickers on the underside of the hood

have not posted in a while.

Here are a few pics requested by "friends" on the forum.

This are the stickers on the underside of the hood, 1989 8v auto trans, US market.

I will be posting more project related things soon as my schedule has changed and I should have more time.

New (to Me) 16v motor

Surfing Craigslist, I found a 16v motor just like the one I swapped from my grey 1992 into the white 1994.  It even came with a wire harness and computer that could be used to make the 16v work in one of the 8v bodies I currently have.

Drove a few hours to get it, we also needed to lift it over a fence.



 it was stuffed into the rear of the white 1994 4 door.



At home I used a cherry picker to get it out and onto the wooden stand. (seen here propping up the motor.)



As of now, I do not know what body this motor is going into.

I am thinking the grey 1992... If I can do something about the missing 3rd gear in the 4 speed auto.

But it could also find it's way in front of a five speed in the little 1994 two door tin top.  Replacing a dead 8v motor.  That is over 15% increase in power!

 I have to think a bit on it.

1998 Tracker passes emissions... but there is a catch

After much cleaning of the EGR passages, The last day of my temp tag I was able to get the Tracker to complete all the tests.


  I used Torque software on the smart phone and a Bluetooth OBD2 adapter.

I had read the requirements for the ECU to run the EGR tests, so it wasn't hard to get it to run the tests.  Warmed it up. Drove a nice level piece of road without changing the throttle any.  Then decelerated for a bit.  Stopped turned off the motor.  after a few minutes, restart and do the same steps on the return trip.   


EGR passed.  (see the bottom item?)

Problem (the catch) is that the noise from the Transmission has gotten very bad.  It seems to "rattle" anytime the input shaft of the transmission is turning and never when it would be still.   I was afraid driving it would damage the transmission even more.  Maybe to the point of making it non-repairable.  I did not know the procedure to get the ECU to run the other tests but figured a long drive would do it.

But it was the last day I could drive it legally.... so I ignored the rattle took it for a long drive.  I also ordered a transmission from a JDM parts importer I had used in the past.


It worked.  First this:



Then these:



 I drove it home and ran it through emissions the next day.  It is good for six months.  So insurance is placed on hold until the transmission is changed.  At that time, it will be registered.  I do not really NEED a convertible in the winter anyway!

The Extraction of GMC #1

There was an offer on my first motorhome, a 1973 GMC.  But it had not been started for about 5 years.  It was also full of stuff that many would call junk.  It took over a month, but I got it cleaned out, started, dug out of the ground it had sank into.  I uncovered it and tried to drive it to firmer ground.

It slipped off the supporting planks I had under the tires and sank back into the soft ground.

More digging.

We hooked on with my white Sidekick, put it into 4 Low.  The Kick added just enough forward movement to get the GMC across the soft spot.

It is now in the new owner's storage yard.

Next project!

Two More Trackers!

Bouncing around the net I found a good deal on a package deal for two 2 door TinTop Trackers.  Both are 4x4 and 5 speed sticks.

I really liked the white 1994, but it doesn't run.

The black 1993 runs, but poorly.

Both have over 300,000 miles.

I should be able to fix both and sell one to cover most of the costs.

Now I currently have 8 TracKicks.  While I believe you can never have enough of them, my neighbors are beginning to wonder about me.

  

But, I can not work on any of these yet.  I have made a deal to sell one of my three motohomes.

So my next project is to empty that, and get it running.

I might take pictures of the last bit as the first isn't that interesting.

1998 Tracker - bumper and grille.

I went ahead and installed the original bumper and grille for now.  I might swap them out later, but I need to get on to other projects right now.

I think I'll get some insurance and a temp tag to drive it for now.  Once I am sure of it, I'll put it up for sale. 

I have several more new projects in the works.  Like the two 2 door TinTop Trackers (one white, one black) in this picture.