2021 4Runner OEM LED Headlights/Lights Performance and Retrofit

[mynameistory]

Is the "quad" a design choice or an implementation detail? All things considered, I'd rather not have the halogens get full power.

It's not by choice. The layout for the 14-20 trucks (and 21 SR5/TRD-OR) is that the halogen DRL and high-beam functions can't be divorced easily. Since both functions use the same wiring and bulb, the main body ECU is what controls the output (PWM for DRL and full voltage for high-beam). If you want to retain halogen DRL without them also being used as high-beam, you will need to go digging into the truck further than I am comfortable with. Or, you might try to adapt your own DRL setup that is agnostic of the main headlight functions.

These adapters will merely use 5-pin relays to isolate the shutters from the high-beam circuit until the low-beams are turned on. Since the DRLs turn off with the headlights, the shutters won't be exposed to PWM voltage (which may damage them or shorten their useful life with high frequency flapping).

So they will only enable the projector shutters. They will not disable the present high-beam functions, those remain unchanged.

 

[uh0h50]

Right now I have a manual switch that controls the high-beam shutters. They do have a nice narrow burst of intensity just above the low-beam hotspot, but lack the general fill/flood of the halogen reflectors.

The new harnesses by Dave use a relay to isolate the shutters when the DRLs are activated (so that they aren't pinged by PWM voltage). Then when the low-beams are on, the shutter is free to activate when high-beams are selected. It should be a plug'n'play solution that won't require any additional wiring to have quad high-beam functionality.

The new harness will bypass the manual switch, correct? I'm assuming the highs will function via the stalk on the steering column.

 

[rageandlove]

It's not by choice. The layout for the 14-20 trucks (and 21 SR5/TRD-OR) is that the halogen DRL and high-beam functions can't be divorced easily. Since both functions use the same wiring and bulb, the main body ECU is what controls the output (PWM for DRL and full voltage for high-beam). If you want to retain halogen DRL without them also being used as high-beam, you will need to go digging into the truck further than I am comfortable with.

Thanks, makes sense. Cool solution.

Installing harnesses designed by fellow enthusiasts on the internet is about as far as I'm prepared to dig in on this one . The OEM LEDs are great and I have a bunch of light bars wired up when I actually need to see further ahead in the dark. I was mostly just curious (admiring) of the solution.

 

[mynameistory]

The new harness will bypass the manual switch, correct? I'm assuming the highs will function via the stalk on the steering column.

Correct, it will require no wiring into the cabin whatsoever. The harnesses will plug directly into the low beam and high beam sockets, with a relay in between that needs to be attached to a bracket nearby.

 

[KA1OTE]

Honestly I'd keep everything about your headlights the way they are. The 21 low-beam only LED lights have the highest performing combination out of all the headlight assemblies. The LED projector low beam and halogen high-beam are the best options. The 22+ headlights with the bi-LED projectors have high-beams that are underwhelming, and the DRL reflector assembly has been altered slightly for more diffusion at the expense of intensity (since they are no longer used as high-beam reflectors).

The best upgrade you can do is to swap Sylvania/Osram 9011 HIR halogen bulbs in (a simple tab trim is all you need, as you may know about). Ensure on the packaging or bulb that they are the newer and better Korean made assemblies instead of the German ones.

If you insist on cooler colored LED lighting, you can look into the Xenon Depot kit, which do include dimming module for DRL use. I had these for a while but switched back to halogen for better performance. The newer trucks (22+) cannot use these because their DRLs are wired in series (and no longer use the reflector for high-beam duty anyway).

https://www.xenondepot.com/4runner-led-high-beams?quantity=1

Thanks for the insight. I've done some more reading and it seems as though I have the most coveted headlight assemblies available.. sounds like no one really likes the output from the Highs in the bi-LED assemblies and are trying to (or already have) performed a swap to my type of assemblies.

I also got to put in some mountain driving last night and the output really is pretty darn good. I can still see a color difference when I flip the Highs on, but it is insignificant when the throw is taken into account. I do wish I could force my Fogs to remain on when I engage my Highs (I did a wiring bypass/upgrade of sorts on my Ram to accomplish this.. I guess I need to try to find out if a similar technique is possible on my 4Runner).

All in all, the output of my halogen Highs with the LED Lows is better than my retrofitted 2016 LED projectors I put in my 2012 Ram.. so I suppose I shouldn't be complaining or demanding too much here. Ha!

 

[mynameistory]

Thanks for the insight. I've done some more reading and it seems as though I have the most coveted headlight assemblies available.. sounds like no one really likes the output from the Highs in the bi-LED assemblies and are trying to (or already have) performed a swap to my type of assemblies.

I also got to put in some mountain driving last night and the output really is pretty darn good. I can still see a color difference when I flip the Highs on, but it is insignificant when the throw is taken into account. I do wish I could force my Fogs to remain on when I engage my Highs (I did a wiring bypass/upgrade of sorts on my Ram to accomplish this.. I guess I need to try to find out if a similar technique is possible on my 4Runner).

All in all, the output of my halogen Highs with the LED Lows is better than my retrofitted 2016 LED projectors I put in my 2012 Ram.. so I suppose I shouldn't be complaining or demanding too much here. Ha!

I believe there's an aftermarket solution called the Brite Box that might be able to help you with your idea. In the Tacomas there was an easy mod called "fog anytime" that involved a simple jumper in a factory harness, but it appears that it's not as easy in the 4Runner.

I have driving lights (Diode Dynamics SS3) which are street legal to use as auxiliary high-beams. I connected them via a rocker switch that allows me to use them anytime (for off road, etc) so that the fogs stay on as well. Or, I can flip the switch so that they're tied into the high beam toggle for legal use on the road.

mynameistory's not-a-build thread | Page 2 | Toyota 4Runner Forum [4Runners.com]

 

[mynameistory]

Here are the prototype harnesses for plug n play headlight retrofit!

All of the connectors are OEM quality and plug directly into your existing wiring to interface with the new headlights. The relay prevents any power from reaching the high-beam projector shutters until the low-beams are activated. Really clever and simple solution from FBC! I spent more time picking which beer to drink than I did plugging them in.

<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/zrLmPVdgExo" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe>

 

[uh0h50]

Here are the prototype harnesses for plug n play headlight retrofit!

All of the connectors are OEM quality and plug directly into your existing wiring to interface with the new headlights. The relay prevents any power from reaching the high-beam projector shutters until the low-beams are activated. Really clever and simple solution from FBC! I spent more time picking which beer to drink than I did plugging them in.

<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/zrLmPVdgExo" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe>

Awesome stuff. Please let us know when these become available!

 

[mynameistory]

Awesome stuff. Please let us know when these become available!

Looks like the site will be freezing orders for a bit, but Dave anticipates that he should have them up soon.

https://fbchs.square.site/

 

[violane]

Any word on when these adapters are going to be hitting the site? I haven’t seen them go up just yet.

 

[uh0h50]

Here are the prototype harnesses for plug n play headlight retrofit!

Are the prototype harnesses still working out well for you?

 

[mynameistory]

Any word on when these adapters are going to be hitting the site? I haven’t seen them go up just yet.

Spoke to Dave last night and he is expecting that his order of relays has shipped (very delayed) and when they arrive he will list them. Not 100% sure about timeline.

Are the prototype harnesses still working out well for you?

Yep! Headlights work as designed. My only problem is that I've burnt out both halogen bulbs. Not sure if it is indicative of extra power pulled by relays (it shouldn't be, they require only a tiny amount of current to switch) or it is a result of using the spicier 9011 bulbs. Since they are high-intensity and temperature, they may not like running continuously in DRL mode the way that spec'd 9005 bulbs are. The LED high-beams still work, because of that I've just been too lazy to change the halogen bulbs and test new ones. I'll get my old ones in.

 

[NB17Limited]

Spoke to Dave last night and he is expecting that his order of relays has shipped (very delayed) and when they arrive he will list them. Not 100% sure about timeline.



Yep! Headlights work as designed. My only problem is that I've burnt out both halogen bulbs. Not sure if it is indicative of extra power pulled by relays (it shouldn't be, they require only a tiny amount of current to switch) or it is a result of using the spicier 9011 bulbs. Since they are high-intensity and temperature, they may not like running continuously in DRL mode the way that spec'd 9005 bulbs are. The LED high-beams still work, because of that I've just been too lazy to change the halogen bulbs and test new ones. I'll get my old ones in.

Didn’t you figure out on a different thread that the new reflectors are designed differently and not technically the correct beam pattern for a high beam? I would think it wouldn’t really matter then if you use the lower powered 9005, right?

 

[mynameistory]

Didn’t you figure out on a different thread that the new reflectors are designed differently and not technically the correct beam pattern for a high beam? I would think it wouldn’t really matter then if you use the lower powered 9005, right?

Correct, that thread is here:

OEM LED headlights conversion adapters for 14-20 halogen 4Runners! | Toyota 4Runner Forum [4Runners.com]

You're right, it probably does not matter as much with the newly diffused pattern. I don't have a way of verifying if it's a worthwhile improvement with the new reflectors.

 

[4CrawlerORP]

You're right, it probably does not matter as much with the newly diffused pattern. I don't have a way of verifying if it's a worthwhile improvement with the new reflectors.

Is it feasible to swap the reflectors? I just installed the bi-LEDs but I still have the original headlight assemblies from my 2020.

 

[NB17Limited]

Is it feasible to swap the reflectors? I just installed the bi-LEDs but I still have the original headlight assemblies from my 2020.

You’d have to crack both assemblies open and swap the reflectors and reseal well enough to not let moisture in. I have an extra set of the OEM LEDs I plan on breaking open to make a better looking DRL and mount a high beam in (probably SSC1 or 2, but if it was to just swap the reflectors, I probably wouldn’t bother opening them

 

[mynameistory]

I agree, I think it presents a huge risk with a minimal payoff. I'll just reconnect my SS3 driving lights when I need an extra boost.

 

[Kunimatsu]

PSA: Looks like FBC has the full quad high beam harnesses now available for purchase.

 

[uh0h50]

PSA: Looks like FBC has the full quad high beam harnesses now available for purchase.

Hot damn $120

 

[Leucoandro]

Really good thread. After reading through a seperate thread comparing bulbs and headlight assemblies (linked below) I am jelous of those with 2021 T4Rs. I just missed out with my 2020 4Runner.

Headlight comparison stock vs others