HOW TO: Install HID's in 2G Dakota & Durango

Should pertain to 97-04 Dakota and 98-03 Durango

Well as some of you know I recently installed a set of 6K headlights and fogs that I got from Twiggy from his retirement from the HID company. So decided to help out anyone else that's thinking of doing an HID conversion. Here is an almost step by step process of doing that.

Step 1: Open hood and remove grille to light rubber dampener and recommended to remove battery. IDK what the technical term is but all I know is it makes the front look better with the hood closed so there's not a huge gap between the grille and lights, and removing the battery just allows you to have more working room. If you do not remove the battery I'd say at least disconnect the negative side.

Step 2: Removing marker/turn signals

As anyone that has taken their lights apart before it is a lot easier to get the turn signals out of the way first and it's not that hard to do. There is a T10 torx bit holding it to the headlight assembly in the center where the three lights meet. After that has been removed the easiest way to remove the light is to place one hand on the inner most side of the turn signal and the other hand on the outer most side of the turn signal, then pull with even force. After the light assembly is out either take the bulbs out or disconnect from the plugs (3 total).

Drivers side

Step 3: Removing headlights

Before you remove the headlight check to see if you can reach the plugs for the light at the back, if not no worries there is enough room to pull the light out far enough to unplug it after all the bolts are out. There are 3 10mm bolts holding the headlight bracket to your fender on either side 2 are on the inner most side and one is on the outer side. The way I removed them was with a 1/4" wrench with a 10" extension with the 10mm socket on the end for the inner 2 bolts. the outer bolt I removed with a 10mm box end wrench going underneath the truck and reaching my arm up behind the bumper. If your flexible enough you can probably remove all the bolts with just the combination wrench. After all three bolts are removed there is an alignment/fitment rod at the top outer side of the lights which will make it seem like the wires are still holding the light back as you pull on it, it just requires some force to pull the light out.

(Drivers side)Three bolts are labeled as yellow and the alignment rod is labeled green.

Step 4: Mounting Ballast boxes and wiring harness

As anyone who has done an HID conversion will say this is probably the hardest part, figuring out where your going to mount the actual ballast boxes. There not too compact for how much room you have to work with. This will also depend on if you have the stock airbox, CAI, E-fan, etc. So this will be your best bet. I already had the battery disconnected from the start but decided to pull it out completely here for more working room. I have a K&N CAI which makes it a lot easier to work on the passenger side, but on the drivers side I have the E-fan controller and relays mounted so left me with less working room over there. Figuring out where to run the conversion cable to get it to the passenger side sucked too. I eventually removed the upper bolts from the condenser and radiator overflow bottle so I could run it above the condenser to the passenger side.

(Drivers side, battery removed)

(Passenger side with air filter removed) mounted in front of PCM

Step 5: Mounting bulbs in headlights

Recommended that you wear powder free latex gloves to install, if you don't you risk accidentally touching the bulb and ruining it. If you do accidentally touch the bulb clean it with alcohol. This is pretty much a straightforward step, since I got the high/low kit I had to disconnect that assembly from the HID bulb so it would fit through the retaining ring.

Metal rod towards bottom

Installed with retaining ring

Step 6: Reinstall headlights and connect all connections

All of the connectors are one way so it would be impossible to get wrong. when reinstalling headlights just watch than none of the wires are being pinched and that they all go back into the hole behind the headlight.

Step 7: Reinstall turn signals

Just as you took them out reverse the process and re-install the torx screw.

Step 8: Reinstall battery and connect

You should know how to do that

Step 9: Test

Hope that you did everything right and flip the switch then stand back and listen to the ballasts as they charge. It really is a nice sound lol.

As for the fogs, well lets just say as soon as I woke up this morning without getting out of my pajamas I went into my garage with a flashlight and a few zipties and got it done in less than 20 min. But if you need any info or help just ask.

Anything else you may need help with or any pictures I could get you just ask and I can post.