Drop-in headlight upgrade?
- Thread starter texadelphia
- Start date
pluton
Senior Member
The OEM 99+ headlight assemblies arrived from the UAE. They *appear* to be authentic Toyota parts, as opposed to aftermarket substitutes. The rear bracket portion is identical to the OEM 96-98 headlights I got from Toyota USA a year ago.
Light production-wise, they are a bit better than the 96-98 units. More even brightness in the periphery. Not totally amazing, just slightly better. Of course, no direct A-B comparisons were made, so it's all impressions and memory at this point.
Light production-wise, they are a bit better than the 96-98 units. More even brightness in the periphery. Not totally amazing, just slightly better. Of course, no direct A-B comparisons were made, so it's all impressions and memory at this point.
texadelphia
New member
I guess I'll try calling Susquehanna on Monday.
I've been driving my 91 Corolla around for the past month while my 4runner was in the body shop and even the headlights on that seem better than the stock setup in my 4runner. I'm running some variation of aftermarket Philips bulbs in the Corolla with the stock housings so that may be a factor.
I'm guessing the higher wattage bulbs are doing the heavy lifting compared to the housings. I'll probably swap out the housings and run the stock bulbs until I get an upgraded harness so I'll report back with any impressions on before and after. I'll try to get some before and after pictures in a consistent setting once I swap them over to try and show how much difference the housings make.
pluton
Senior Member
I'm not going to draw any final conclusions about the 99+ headlights until I try at least one different bulb. I sure wish I could get those 67/60W Philips bulbs. I have fond memories of how nice the light output was (from the old, dirty headlight housings), but they seem now to be a mythical zen object of desire, kind of like people who came to California say that the pizza in New York was so much better.
These "custom" headlights, which unfortunately now appear on most cars/trucks, are a crock. The old 7" round or 5x7" sealed beams could be replaced with way, way cool Hella, IPF, or Cibie aftermarket units (≈$80/pair) featuring exchangeable H4 bulbs. I had those on 3 previous vehicles and they were fine, just fine.
texadelphia
New member
The results are in! Replaced my original housings with the 99+ housings and kept the same bulbs and harness. The pictures speak for themselves. Can't wait to get the upgraded harness and 80/100 bulbs installed.
gamefreakgc
Elite Member
Brand new, clean housings make a world of a difference. That was my experience as well. Much more confident driving at night.
MagusWyatt
New member
The results are in! Replaced my original housings with the 99+ housings and kept the same bulbs and harness. The pictures speak for themselves. Can't wait to get the upgraded harness and 80/100 bulbs installed.
WOW, this is only a change of housings, nothing else?
I have a set of 99+ housings in the garage, I'll have to get on to installing those!
texadelphia
New member
Yep, just the housings...same bulbs and factory wiring. I was shocked at the difference.
beklemmung
New member
The only two parts you replaced are 81130-35320 and 81170-35300, correct?
texadelphia
New member
Correct. Also needed to get 2 of the bulb retainer covers as the 97 version doesn't fit. Part number is 90075-65012.
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19963.4lsr5
New member
With my harness I have 13.45v at the bulb while it’s on. I do not like the .4v voltage drop on the ground lugs to the negative post of the battery. I’m going to try grounding them better or run them strait to the battery.
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Malcolm99
Member
I did extend the H4 grounds to the 10mm bolt the battery ground uses, but I didnt check the voltage at the H4 plug, I assume it would be close to the voltage the battery sees and expect some drop in the voltage going through the 30A relays. I would suspect any voltage drop your seeing is due to any connections/contact points along the positive wire including relay and pin connections, as well as wire length and gauge creating some resistance/voltage drop
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[MENTION=115347]gamefreakgc[/MENTION] I want to thank you for this. I bought the harness and the bulbs you recommended and did the swap out today. The 4Runner came with LEDs, but I got brighted often and high beams were way up high in the trees. Decided to buy a different set of LEDs since I didn’t know the history - same result (I’ll be selling them).
SO, tried your suggestion and am happy with the results. Especially since I am not really an electrical person, this was easy even for me. Thanks!
JZiggy
Senior Member
I had this upgrade for about a year and liked it vs factory for sure. I opted for BX Built LED retrofits and they are a huge upgrade but it was a significant project and I realize not everyone wants to go this kind of route.
One word of caution: when I took the Amazon harness off I found that the terminals in the fuse block had melted the plastic and had or were close to connecting, which would have bypassed the fuse (not good!) So I would suggest adding some insulation or perhaps finding a better fuse block.
One word of caution: when I took the Amazon harness off I found that the terminals in the fuse block had melted the plastic and had or were close to connecting, which would have bypassed the fuse (not good!) So I would suggest adding some insulation or perhaps finding a better fuse block.
so you guys running the 80/100w get flashed often ?
But the other day cleaning up my storage unit I found a older but new in box Hella 130/100 watt harness that I must have bought for another rig and forgot about it. Now thinking I might stick it in this 4runner with 80/100 bulbs.
after reading some of the above posts I will have to look close at the gauge wire used. It does have ceramic plugs for the bulbs and hella brand relays.
I can put on a light bar for the "high beams" but that does not help with the low beam
I dont have inspections up here, just dont want to piss off the state troopers.
But the other day cleaning up my storage unit I found a older but new in box Hella 130/100 watt harness that I must have bought for another rig and forgot about it. Now thinking I might stick it in this 4runner with 80/100 bulbs.
after reading some of the above posts I will have to look close at the gauge wire used. It does have ceramic plugs for the bulbs and hella brand relays.
I can put on a light bar for the "high beams" but that does not help with the low beam
I dont have inspections up here, just dont want to piss off the state troopers.
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JZiggy
Senior Member
I never got flashed with the hella bulbs. Just check your aim after installing.
mine has a TYC with bent reflector on driver side too. is bent down
pluton
Senior Member
Method for headlight aiming:
Find a quiet street and park your car about 25 feet behind another parked car...a normal car, not a tiny sports car or big SUV. Doesn't matter if the road surface is curved or crowned, as long as your car and the parked car are square and in the same attitude with each other.
Adjust lights so that the top edge of your beams illuminate the rear of the car ahead, but without blasting into the rear view or side mirrors of the other car.
I like to spread the beams of the two headlights as wide as possible, but that's your preference.
Done.
