Headlight Upgrade

[meyerjohnc]

We have a 2015 Seneca TS which is a huge upgrade over our '94 Fleetwood Coronado but the headlights on the Seneca leave some room for improvement. I plan on purchasing driving lights from Freightliner but doubt these will help much. Any suggestions?

[Bobs A Class]

I'll be watching this thread. My 2015 Precept is weak on headlights. I know I'm getting older and don't see at night like I use to but could use all the help I can get.

Bob

[Shultz01]

I used OPT7 LED's. They're working great and are a big improvement.

[Robbbyr]

I wasn't overly impressed with my stock Seneca headlights either, so I changed the original bulbs over to Sylvania SilverStar Ultras and they are a noticeable improvement over stock. But the biggest help was properly aligning the headlights, they were way off upon delivery. Jayco probably never touches the headlights after building the unit. I also added the factory Freightliner fog lights which help "fill in" the area between the front bumper and where the low beams hit the pavement. Not much aid at expressway speeds, but helpful on dark back roads especially in the rain.

I have tried searching for HID projector headlights for the M2 chassis, no luck so far. I have HIDs on both my toads and wish the MH's headlights were half as good! And too bad Freightliner has never offered LED headlights on the M2 like they do on their new Cascadia semi tractor, those lights are fantastic!

[Robbbyr]

Originally Posted by Shultz01

I used OPT7 LED's. They're working great and are a big improvement.

I wonder how you feel the cooling is for your LED bulbs in your Seneca? Did you leave the rear access cover off of the headlight assembly when you installed the new bulbs? I see the instructions recommend leaving any cover off for cooling purposes citing that the bulb assemblies are waterproof.

I ask because one of my bulb access covers was missing when I took delivery of my unit. It either fell off or was never installed originally. I discovered the situation after a few weeks of ownership when I noticed water in my headlight assembly and then discovered the cover gone. Even though the M2 has a rubber flap covering the back of the headlight, without the cover in place water could still splash up was still filling up the assembly. Freightliner had to replace the headlight assembly due to corrosion that had already occurred.

[Shultz01]

The headlight housings are vented, because you still need ventilation to dissipate any condensation that occurs due to atmospheric conditions. So I left the rear cover on and so far, so good. Yep, the lights are waterproof. They are also self cooling with internal fans.

[Shultz01]

Robbbyr. I took your concern to heart and ordered waterproof vents for the headlight enclosure to add more ventilation for the LED lamps. I'll add two to each cover. This will allow for more ventilation, keep water out and the cover on.

[Robbbyr]

Originally Posted by Shultz01

Robbbyr. I took your concern to heart and ordered waterproof vents for the headlight enclosure to add more ventilation for the LED lamps. I'll add two to each cover. This will allow for more ventilation, keep water out and the cover on.

Looks very intriguing, where did you source the vents?

I will likely do the conversion when I get my rig back from Jayco, it is at the factory Service Center getting the passenger-side slideout repaired in addition to various other issues repaired. I'm suffering withdrawal without it!

[Shultz01]

www.polycase.com

I know what ya mean. We were having our bunk slide worked on too and had withdrawal.

[Shultz01]

Here's the headlight compartment covers with the additional vents added. Note the factory vent circled in red. I don't know if the additional vents are necessary, but they certainly can't hurt with the additional air circulation they'll provide. I love the new LED headlights and driving lights. So if this keeps the headlights at a better temp then I'm all for it.

[Robbbyr]

Look great, thanks for the tips!

[Shultz01]

To answer MeyerJohnC on the Freightliner driving lights, yes, they will help. I changed the bulbs in these out for OPT7 LEDs as well. The hardest part of adding the driving lights if you are going to do them yourself is tapping into the module under the cab in the chassis battery compartment located on the driver's side of the cab. Then it will cost ya $100 or so to have the Freightliner tech program the switch. The lights, harness, brackets and switch are reasonably priced. Here's a pic of our Seneca after adding the driving lights.

[Robbbyr]

Did you replace the bulbs in the Freightliner fogs with LEDs? What part number did you find that works? I tried to replace them locally, but they were an odd skinny bulb that was, I think, 35 watts.

[Shultz01]

Yes. I did. They are type 881.

[Tatanka]

I thought that one of the pluses of LED lighting was much less heat. Why would they require additional venting?

[Shultz01]

The installation instructions say to leave any covers off. I'm sure they didn't have the Freightliner M2 in mind when they wrote the instructions--it's a rather large cover that when left off exposes the other lights and the whole inside to the elements. That being said, I'm of the opinion that lights of this intensity do give off heat--otherwise, why the built in fan on each headlight LED? So knowing that adding vents will allow the fan to circulate the air better--I added two vents to each light. Better to have more circulation potential and not need it then to need it, not have it and cause a light to fail. Hopefully this make sense.

[Luco]

I installed a set of Truck-Lite LED headlights in my Seneca. Huge improvement.

[Robbbyr]

If those are the rectangular lamp assemblies that replace the older "sealed beam" type of lamps they couldn't have been cheap! I know that many over-the-road trucks with that style of light are switching to them because of the lighting improvement they provide and their expected long life.

I hope the LED bulbs installed in my modern composite (aerodynamic) headlight assemblies will give me the lighting I am hoping for and live a long life. I get my unit back from Jayco service next month and I plan to do this upgrade immediately.

[tjbroussard]

Originally Posted by Luco

I installed a set of Truck-Lite LED headlights in my Seneca. Huge improvement.

Can you share more info on the ones you installed? I can't locate any online.

Thanks.

[Luco]

There were a little pricey, but well worth it. I am getting ready to upgrade my Jeep LJ.
Here is a link to Truck-Lite. http://www.truck-lite.com/wcsstore/O...Supplement.pdf