Got a set of Hella 500's for my Grille Guard seems everyone is happy with them...anyway I have a 2000 X and was looking for a location for the switch, no open spaces, any suggestions/Pics. Much appreciated!

Here is something I have seen done, and what I will be doing with my next set of lights. The switch/switches (pending size and shape of course) can be mounted on the front cabin roof light thingy (very technical term there ). Obviously one would have to pop it off and cut a proportionately sized hole to mount the switch/switches, but from how I have seen it done, the results are rather nice.

I have a couple of switches in the driver's side of the gear shift. I just drilled a couple of holes in the plastic and mounted them. There is enough space to run the wires and I have not had any issues with them. I like them there because they are easy to access and they are out of the way.

For my Hella Install I used the dummy switch next to the rear window wirper switch..... hey WTF is there on the SE's

Not that I feel jipped, it worked great for my install, just wondering

I have used the same dummy switch myself on my SE. That is the only plate that I have to install from though. I have two pair of Hellas 500 switches and a switch for a pair of fog lamps on the back of my rack for reverse lights. I installed one switch in the dummy plate and the other two in the side of my gear shift. If you check out the threads for the Mag light install in the passenger side of the gear shift, you will be able to see how easy it is to use the driver's side to mount switches for lights.

Close1- The 2000s don't have the dummy plate. That is where their cruise control is located.

Ohhh now I see it

Ohhh now I see it

This is what I did with my switches. I needed to locations so I relocated the security flasher to a small LED above its current location and placed the rear wiper switch in its location. I then had two open switch locations for my Driving & Back-up lights.

Lockout

Very clean, very nice

For my Hella 500's, I just drilled a hole into the stock cover plate, and mounted the switch there:

http://www.grovestreet.com/jsp/onepic.jsp?id=154851

Well I decided that since I have no garage that I would have PepBoys install it for me. After almost 5 hours of waiting I got the truck back...that's the good news, the bad news is that they wired it so it only comes on with the high beams, in other words there is only power to the switch with the high beams on. I spoke to the manager and he said I could come back and have it rewired, should I demand a discount?

They wired them the way the Hella instructions describe, and in accordance with what the law allows.

I don't think they would owe you a discount, unless you asked for them to be wired independantly.

Rgr was not sure of that being it that they say they are driving lights and that they are to assist your current lighting, I think I was more pissed because I was told and hour for the install and waited almost 5. Also the directions give you 4 wireing options.

I stand corrected, after doing more reading I got the following: Hella 500 DRIVING LIGHTS - Driving lights are used to supplement your high beams. They should only be used in conjunction with high beam headlights. Thanks XOC, again you are correct.

You can still do them any way you want.

I have my Hellas wired to work whenever I want them. Off-road, I run low beams to light up the ground right in front, and my Hella Black Magics for mid range distance.

5 hours is way too long to wire them up, sinc the harness that comes with them is very well built and easy to install.

Very nice lockout. Good clean install.
Same deal with mine.

Thanks!

I needed a three position switch (on-off-on) so that I could wire my lights to be on when the ACC has power , Center off, & an automitic position that is triggered by the Bright lights/reverse lights depending on the switch. These were the best that I could find. I wouldn't have had to use a relay with them if I wasn't a saftey nut because the were rated at 15 amps.