14 TE T4R-Alternative Fog light Bulb

[Hadelson]

Current stock is HB16, a 19w bulb. Looking for simple suggestions on "Plug and Light" Upgrade

Any suggestions?

Thanks

 

[Intruder]

What kind of upgrade are you looking to do with it? Those aren't real fog lights and putting a brighter bulb just to drive around will only end up pissing off oncoming drivers.

 

[Hadelson]

What kind of upgrade are you looking to do with it? Those aren't real fog lights and putting a brighter bulb just to drive around will only end up pissing off oncoming drivers.

To answer your question: Upgrade to stronger wattage that provides better fog light coverage. Back at you on what did you mean by they are not real fog lights. My wife's Camry has H11 in the fog lights that are 55w and the lense structure appears the same......

 

[Intruder]

I mean that none of the "fog lights" that come on vehicles from the factory do you much good in the fog. Even worse is all the people who drive around with them on all the time since these lights usually have no cutoff. I drive single lane and undivided highways at night and the number of times I get blinded by other drivers (especially lifted full-size pickups) running their "fog lights" is ridiculous. Even worse are the people who stick HID bulbs in there.

Here's a few links that do a good job of describing it.

Daniel Stern Lighting Consultancy and Supply

Do you use your car?s fog lights properly? - The Globe and Mail

Why fog lights are such a dim idea - Wheels.ca

 

[Hadelson]

I mean that none of the "fog lights" that come on vehicles from the factory do you much good in the fog. Even worse is all the people who drive around with them on all the time since these lights usually have no cutoff. I drive single lane and undivided highways at night and the number of times I get blinded by other drivers (especially lifted full-size pickups) running their "fog lights" is ridiculous. Even worse are the people who stick HID bulbs in there.

Here's a few links that do a good job of describing it.

Daniel Stern Lighting Consultancy and Supply

Do you use your car?s fog lights properly? - The Globe and Mail

Why fog lights are such a dim idea - Wheels.ca

I understand what you are saying....having spent several years driving in Europe and having cars with great Fog Lamps. The lights on the 14 T4R TE appear to have a good cut-off design so with proper aiming will not blind on-coming traffic.

So back to basic question

1. Can they be increased and based on experience to the 35W area?

2. Will increasing wattage cause heat dissipation issues to the housing?

3. Will increased wattage=Increased Amp draw causing wiring and or fuse issues.

Anyone out there do this and care to share experiences?

 

[eddiebx]

I mean that none of the "fog lights" that come on vehicles from the factory do you much good in the fog. Even worse is all the people who drive around with them on all the time since these lights usually have no cutoff. I drive single lane and undivided highways at night and the number of times I get blinded by other drivers (especially lifted full-size pickups) running their "fog lights" is ridiculous. Even worse are the people who stick HID bulbs in there.

Here's a few links that do a good job of describing it.

Daniel Stern Lighting Consultancy and Supply

Do you use your car?s fog lights properly? - The Globe and Mail

Why fog lights are such a dim idea - Wheels.ca

I completely agree with you about putting brighter bulbs in to the fog light position and blinding the shiet out of everyone one the road because there's no built in glare shield cap in front of the bulbs; but have you every taken a look at our fog light pattern against the wall?

I mean yeah it's far from a razor sharp cut off, but pretty decent for a factory fog light no? The light pattern seems to be pretty characteristic of a fog light in that it spreads very wide and illuminates the sides of the road and the immediate foreground pretty decently; and there's really not a huge amount of glare above the cutoff.

Maybe I am just overly impressed by our factory fog lights because I've had vehicles in the past with waaaay worse factory fog lights that are exactly what you described, lol.

 

[Canazes9]

I completely agree with you about putting brighter bulbs in to the fog light position and blinding the shiet out of everyone one the road because there's no built in glare shield cap in front of the bulbs; but have you every taken a look at our fog light pattern against the wall?

I mean yeah it's far from a razor sharp cut off, but pretty decent for a factory fog light no? The light pattern seems to be pretty characteristic of a fog light in that it spreads very wide and illuminates the sides of the road and the immediate foreground pretty decently; and there's really not a huge amount of glare above the cutoff.

Maybe I am just overly impressed by our factory fog lights because I've had vehicles in the past with waaaay worse factory fog lights that are exactly what you described, lol.

I'm certainly no lighting expert, but I can see much better with the fog lights on. I like how they shine the ditches. I'm not putting in brighter bulbs, but I like mine and I use 'em. I'm going to keep using 'me too!

David

 

[eddiebx]

I understand what you are saying....having spent several years driving in Europe and having cars with great Fog Lights. The lights on the 14 T4R TE appear to have a good cut-off design.
So back to basic question, can they be increased and based on experience to the 35W area? Will increasing wattage cause heat dissipation issues to the housing? Will increased wattage=Increased Amp draw causing wiring and or fuse issues.

Anyone out there do this and care to share experiences?

I am not familiar with your H16 bulbs on the 14', but on the 10'-13' we have H11 bulbs and those are already at ~55w. People have successfully put in H9 bulbs (rated at ~65w) without issues of melting the harness or housing, if that helps answer your question. Again, I am not positive of the exact characteristics of your 14' fog light housing, but it "appears" similar enough in shape and size

However the issue that I have to repeat over and over again is, the factory fog light housings (on my 12' at least) do not have a glare shield situated in front of the bulb; thus, they rely on the opaque tip of the H11 bulb to prevent forward glare from bothering on-coming drivers. If you put in any higher wattage bulb, be sure to find one that has an opaque tip.

 

[eddiebx]

I'm certainly no lighting expert, but I can see much better with the fog lights on. I like how they shine the ditches. I'm not putting in brighter bulbs, but I like mine and I use 'em. I'm going to keep using 'me too!

David

One very brilliant tip I read on here in the past (sorry I forgot who said it, so I can't give them credit, lol) is that for highway driving, fog lights are a bad idea because it takes your attention away from further up the road due to the wide spread of the fog lights illuminating the ground right in front of you.

So if you have only your regular low beams on, it kind of creates a "tunnel vision" so to speak, and helps you keep your concentration on down the road (instead of right in front of you).

Seems to make prefect sense if you think about it!

 

[Intruder]

but have you every taken a look at our fog light pattern against the wall?

I haven't and I no longer have the factory "fog lights" since mine are now the ones that come with the ARB bumper, but I have been on the receiving end of them in clear weather both oncoming and in my rearview. I found that while they weren't as blinding as someone with their high beams on they still made me squint.

I mean yeah it's far from a razor sharp cut off, but pretty decent for a factory fog light no?

When I had the stock ones I tried using them in heavy fog and pouring rain. I didn't feel they provided any better visibility than just my low beams. At least when people only use them in the fog they're not going to blind other drivers as much. It's the people who run them all the time because they're there who are the biggest problem.

 

[Hadelson]

One very brilliant tip I read on here in the past (sorry I forgot who said it, so I can't give them credit, lol) is that for highway driving, fog lights are a bad idea because it takes your attention away from further up the road due to the wide spread of the fog lights illuminating the ground right in front of you.

So if you have only your regular low beams on, it kind of creates a "tunnel vision" so to speak, and helps you keep your concentration on down the road (instead of right in front of you).

Seems to make prefect sense if you think about it!

Tunnel Vision results from focusing too close in front of your car. Certain driving systems train to focus in the distance with your eyes scanning for danger. Driving is a 360 degree visual reference called situational awareness with your vehicle in the center and you know where everything else is in relation to you vehicle. You also anticipate and always leave yourself an out meaning what you do to avoid a collision. Most people look directly in front of the car with little to no glances to side and rear mirrors. Fog lights are not the cause of tunnel vision. It is in fact directly related to improper driving technique and training when people learn or are taught to drive. Just my 2 cents of course.

I believe I will play around with the H11 and do some adjustments on the housing ensuring they remain in position without blinding on-coming traffic.

 

[eddiebx]

I haven't and I no longer have the factory "fog lights" since mine are now the ones that come with the ARB bumper, but I have been on the receiving end of them in clear weather both oncoming and in my rearview. I found that while they weren't as blinding as someone with their high beams on they still made me squint.


When I had the stock ones I tried using them in heavy fog and pouring rain. I didn't feel they provided any better visibility than just my low beams. At least when people only use them in the fog they're not going to blind other drivers as much. It's the people who run them all the time because they're there who are the biggest problem.

Hmm good point, I've not been on the receiving end of them to really know how they affect your eyes at night from a distance; plus one big difference possibly is I mainly drive in the city where the roads are well lit, so my pupils are not wide open and can handle some amount of glare before I have to squint.

 

[eddiebx]

Tunnel Vision results from focusing too close in front of your car. Certain driving systems train to focus in the distance with your eyes scanning for danger. Driving is a 360 degree visual reference called situational awareness with your vehicle in the center and you know where everything else is in relation to you vehicle. You also anticipate and always leave yourself an out meaning what you do to avoid a collision. Most people look directly in front of the car with little to no glances to side and rear mirrors. Fog lights are not the cause of tunnel vision. It is in fact directly related to improper driving technique and training when people learn or are taught to drive. Just my 2 cents of course.

I believe I will play around with the H11 and do some adjustments on the housing ensuring they remain in position without blinding on-coming traffic.

Sorry, I think I might have wrote my other post in a confusing manner, I don't know if the H9 to H11 swap will work at all for your 14' housing because the factory fog bulb is an H16 now...you would need to find an appropriate bulb that can be modded to fit in the H16 if you really want to play around with a higher wattage bulb.

This is what I did on my '12, just to give you some ideas: http://www.toyota-4runner.org/5th-g...light-bulb-conversion-h11-h9-9005-9011-a.html

 

[WV runner]

I have a '14 TE and just yesterday I changed the H16 for LED H11s. From what I read the H16 is just a 19W H11. Be prepared, on the passenger side there is a cylindrical cover over the rear of the fog light and it was a BEATCH to change. Drove it some last night and didn't get flashed once. The LEDs are 5000K color and are much whiter and somewhat brighter and draw less power than a regular 55W bulb.. I also changed the high and low beams to Osram Night Breakers, not a lot of change (a little brighter) in the projector lows but the high beams are BRIGHT. This what I was after as I drive to and from work in the dark usually and want the highs to be on "melt". I used this same Osram setup on my '12 SR5 for a year with zero problems for me or oncoming drivers.

And no I didn't take pictures, before you ask.

 

[noncontributingzer]

I have a '14 TE and just yesterday I changed the H16 for LED H11s. From what I read the H16 is just a 19W H11. Be prepared, on the passenger side there is a cylindrical cover over the rear of the fog light and it was a BEATCH to change. Drove it some last night and didn't get flashed once. The LEDs are 5000K color and are much whiter and somewhat brighter and draw less power than a regular 55W bulb.. I also changed the high and low beams to Osram Night Breakers, not a lot of change (a little brighter) in the projector lows but the high beams are BRIGHT. This what I was after as I drive to and from work in the dark usually and want the highs to be on "melt". I used this same Osram setup on my '12 SR5 for a year with zero problems for me or oncoming drivers.

And no I didn't take pictures, before you ask.

How do you remove the cylindrical cover? I just bought some fog lights and I don't want to break anything.

 

[dhylander]

How do you remove the cylindrical cover? I just bought some fog lights and I don't want to break anything.

If you are changing bulbs, they don't go in through the front. You have to remove three screws from the fender liner and pull it back to expose the back side of the fog light. Check your manual, it should show how to do it.

 

[noncontributingzer]

I checked the manual. It says to take the car to the dealership to change the passenger side fog light. I finally got the cover off by going underneath the car and prying off the cover with a screwdriver.

Now I just need to figure out how to get H11s to fit in a H16 housing.