16 headlight aiming adjuster broken, help.

SnowTrail

New member
Hello,
I was adjusting the aim on my headlights from the top. I guess I aimed the driver side a little too high, as I was twisting I heard a pop and the light shifted down. Tried to see if it's covered under warranty, dealer said because I had LEDs it's not. The LED have nothing to do with it, but they insisted that since the leds and the fanning silver part of them were jammed behind the dust cover its what cause the adjuster to pop. Regardless, trying not to spend $300 on a new assembly looking for help as to how to fix this? Couldn't find anything online thanks!
 
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It sounds like you ran it past the adjusting screw's limit. I'm assuming you were adjusting counter-clockwise when this happened. You MIGHT be able to rethread it by pushing the light back up and trying to line the screw back up with the female part of the adjuster. Of course you may need 4 hands for this operation....
 
Hello,
I was adjusting the aim on my headlights from the top. I guess I aimed the driver side a little too high, as I was twisting I heard a pop and the light shifted down. Tried to see if it's covered under warranty, dealer said because I had LEDs it's not. The LED have nothing to do with it, but they insisted that since the leds and the fanning silver part of them were jammed behind the dust cover its what cause the adjuster to pop. Regardless, trying not to spend $300 on a new assembly looking for help as to how to fix this? Couldn't find anything online thanks!

I did exactly the same thing once. Dealer is wrong, but regardless it's still not a warranty issue because you broke it. The only way I know to repair it is to remove the headlight and separate the two halves ... which is a PITA due to the Permaseal sealant Toyota uses. It HAS been done by a forum member, but I don't remember who it was.
 
It sounds like you ran it past the adjusting screw's limit. I'm assuming you were adjusting counter-clockwise when this happened. You MIGHT be able to rethread it by pushing the light back up and trying to line the screw back up with the female part of the adjuster. Of course you may need 4 hands for this operation....
Okay, yes it was counter clockwise, by unplugging one of the bulbs I'm able to pull the assembly outward. So now turn clockwise? I'll give it a shot. Thanks!
 
You mean the traitor who dumped his 4runner and ran off with an Audi? What a two timer...

Just sayin'. :ban:

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Just sayin'. :ban:

T4R.ORG FORUM RULES

Usage of this forum is dependent upon acceptance of the following rules:

Rules for Toyota-4Runner.org

2. No Personal Attacks
This includes, but is not limited to, name calling, racial slurs, threats, badgering, shouting (typing in ALL CAPS), etc.

OH ..... OUCH! You know what happened to Simp..... er Stifler when he pissed off the Mod.

:tape2:
 
You mean the traitor who dumped his 4runner and ran off with an Audi? What a two timer...

I'm sure he got one of them super eco-friendly diesels right? :P

Just sayin'. :ban:

T4R.ORG FORUM RULES

Usage of this forum is dependent upon acceptance of the following rules:

Rules for Toyota-4Runner.org

2. No Personal Attacks
This includes, but is not limited to, name calling, racial slurs, threats, badgering, shouting (typing in ALL CAPS), etc.

To be fair, "Traitor" is probably more of a statement of fact than a slur or insult... after all he did betray us for an Audi. :)

Post Note- [MENTION=136637]SnowTrail[/MENTION] I'm not trying to sound like I'm beating you while you're down here more trying to educate, so if I come across like that I apologize in advance.

The Dealer and more so Toyota is not liable/responsible for the damages you incurred on your vehicle due to your own fault. I don't know what LED set-up you have, but I imagine you installed some LED bulbs and that's why you were adjusting the lights. That is on you, there is no defect or fault in manufacturing that would be covered under warranty; it is entirely a user created issue and thus not covered under warranty.

Also depending on what LED bulb you got and how it's designed, it's probably never going to shine correctly like the normal style bulb the vehicle was designed with; I haven't really been too impressed by the LED Bulb offerings lately and very few of the factory set-ups really put out enough worthwhile light. Sorta like people throwing HIDs in non-HID retrofitted housings and wondering why light output/pattern sucks.

All that being said, I am not entirely sure what you're referring to (pictures would help); but trying to rethread the adjusting screw to the inner housing assembly and see if you can get away with that. Unfortunately you may have to bake the lens open and do it that way if you can't, I'm a bit more concerned about the "pop" as some of those assemblies have special plastic stoppers at the end to prevent them from slipping off.

Also, does your vehicle have the headlight adjustment dial? I can't remember if 4Runners get those, but some of the Toyota's have a dial that runs a motor to adjust headlight aim height and there's a specific way you need to adjust those so you're not messing the motor up and/or your actual "Zero" aim height.
 
Last edited:
Hey,
no worries, I understand, I know it is my mess up, wishful thinking as far as the warranty though. Had the Xenon Depot LEDs in there for a few months. I was adjusting the lights because the cutoff was way too low. There is no adjuster. I was using the hole on the top that leads to the adjuster. I will try and re-thread today. Really trying not have to take the whole assembly out and bake it in the oven. Thanks for the advice!
 
Hey,
no worries, I understand, I know it is my mess up, wishful thinking as far as the warranty though. Had the Xenon Depot LEDs in there for a few months. I was adjusting the lights because the cutoff was way too low. There is no adjuster. I was using the hole on the top that leads to the adjuster. I will try and re-thread today. Really trying not have to take the whole assembly out and bake it in the oven. Thanks for the advice!


Well?
 
Hey,
No luck with the re threading. Wouldn't catch. Lucked out with the dealer doing a warranty claim on it...had to really drive home the point that it wasn't because of the LED. They made me revert the lights back to stock. I can't complain.


On the plus side I ordered my TRD wheels while I was there they get installed the same day!
 
Hello,
I was adjusting the aim on my headlights from the top. I guess I aimed the driver side a little too high, as I was twisting I heard a pop and the light shifted down. Tried to see if it's covered under warranty, dealer said because I had LEDs it's not. The LED have nothing to do with it, but they insisted that since the leds and the fanning silver part of them were jammed behind the dust cover its what cause the adjuster to pop. Regardless, trying not to spend $300 on a new assembly looking for help as to how to fix this? Couldn't find anything online thanks!

I have the same issue on my 16 4runner. The driver side light was hanging low so as I was adjusting it up the adjuster let go, before I could match the passenger side height. I have read about using an oven to soften the rubber seal, but there is no way I can separate the covers. The stealer wants 360 with tax. I am trying to find a provider who can send it sooner than later.

I chimed in because I am not the only one who had this issue, and maybe Toyota can do something about it in the future.

BTW I got an HID kit from HIDExtra. One of the bulbs failed within 8 months of purchase and they didn't even blink. They are sending me a replacement ASAP....Excellent customer service!

My sig is about my last 4runner, I will update the profile.

2016 SR5 Premi, "My IRA"
 
I have the same issue on my 16 4runner. The driver side light was hanging low so as I was adjusting it up the adjuster let go, before I could match the passenger side height. I have read about using an oven to soften the rubber seal, but there is no way I can separate the covers. The stealer wants 360 with tax. I am trying to find a provider who can send it sooner than later.

I chimed in because I am not the only one who had this issue, and maybe Toyota can do something about it in the future.

BTW I got an HID kit from HIDExtra. One of the bulbs failed within 8 months of purchase and they didn't even blink. They are sending me a replacement ASAP....Excellent customer service!

My sig is about my last 4runner, I will update the profile.

2016 SR5 Premi, "My IRA"

Did you ever get this resolved?
 

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