I need brighter headlights

[DWilliam]

Just picked up my new-to-me 2002. Drove it tonight and without a doubt I need brighter headlights. I don’t have the budget for a retrofit, but I’m wondering what can I do now that would be plug and play and less than $200-ish to make sure I can safely drive at night?

I don’t have factory fogs, is there a recommended light that could fill that void?

 

[spartacus]

Cleaning out the headlight housing with distilled water and a drop of dish soap worked for me with new Sylvania super bright h4/9003 bulbs. Headlight services wiring harness will let you run a higher wattage bulb at the cost of sacrificing day light running lights.

 

[T4topher]

Just picked up my new-to-me 2002. Drove it tonight and without a doubt I need brighter headlights. I don’t have the budget for a retrofit, but I’m wondering what can I do now that would be plug and play and less than $200-ish to make sure I can safely drive at night?

I don’t have factory fogs, is there a recommended light that could fill that void?

Just clean the housing as best you can and save up for DIY retrofits imo. Kind of a PITA to install but well worth it in the end. I always say if I were to buy my 4runner again first 2 things I’d do is tundra brakes and retrofits.

 

[DWilliam]

I impulse bought some Sylvania LEDs at Auto Zone today. I’ll update this after some night driving.

 

[Pyral]

You can buy a replacement pair of TYC housings on rock auto for 180$. They have glass lens like the originals and people seem to like them.

Not a huge fan of retrofitting newer lighting tech on older vehicles, doesn't match the rest of the car and looks strange imo. But retrofits will give you the best upgrade possible, wont be DOT legal but nobody enforces than anyway.

Drop in LEDs are really hit or miss, it's not hard to find one that improves visibility. The challenge finding ones that don't blind others.

 

[jross20]

Whatever you do, make sure you don't exceed around 3000-3500k (kelvin). People don't understand that higher kelvin light makes it harder to see in the dark. Lastly, I would avoid any drop in LEDs because reflector housings are not meant for LEDs and you will blind people.

Have you checked to see what wattage bulbs you're currently running?

 

[19963.4lsr5]

Whatever you do, make sure you don't exceed around 3000-3500k (kelvin). People don't understand that higher kelvin light makes it harder to see in the dark. Lastly, I would avoid any drop in LEDs because reflector housings are not meant for LEDs and you will blind people.

Have you checked to see what wattage bulbs you're currently running?

I pass many vehicles I am blinded by in the morning on my way to work.


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[brillo_76]

I pass many vehicles I am blinded by in the morning on my way to work.


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Yes, PA police really needs to crack down on these lights. The new projector lights OEM factory installed mostly are not too bad. Its these folks messing with the headlights LEDs or these LED bars need to be outlawed for safety. You can't blind oncoming traffic.

 

[nissanh]

All the above are excellent suggestions. Also check the alternator voltage. It should be 14 V with AC/ Headlights on at idle. dropping to 13.5 is OK.

 

[DWilliam]

Drive a little at night tonight with the Sylvania LEDs. DRL flicker, but low/high beams do not. I’m planning on cutting my DRL wire anyway so no biggie.

But the light field is just as worthless as before. It only throws light 20’ or so, just brighter. High beams look great, with a nice distance.

My headlights are clean and look almost brand new. Not sure why the low beams are so bad with both OEM and these LED bulbs, but with the amount of wildlife near me at night I really need a good light source. Not sure where to go from here without buying retrofits.

 

[brillo_76]

Drive a little at night tonight with the Sylvania LEDs. DRL flicker, but low/high beams do not. I’m planning on cutting my DRL wire anyway so no biggie.



But the light field is just as worthless as before. It only throws light 20’ or so, just brighter. High beams look great, with a nice distance.



My headlights are clean and look almost brand new. Not sure why the low beams are so bad with both OEM and these LED bulbs, but with the amount of wildlife near me at night I really need a good light source. Not sure where to go from here without buying retrofits.

I do. It's because the lights are designed for Halogen bulbs produce light in a complete 365 degrees. It's how the lights are designed. Putting in LED is a complete waste of time. I believe folks told you this.

If you do a forum search for headlights, how the sticky shows you how to. You see several threads on this subject. Explain all of this in detail.

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[DWilliam]

I do. It's because the lights are designed for Halogen bulbs produce light in a complete 365 degrees. It's how the lights are designed. Putting in LED is a complete waste of time. I believe folks told you this.

If you do a forum search for headlights, how the sticky shows you how to. You see several threads on this subject. Explain all of this in detail.

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I think I’ve read every headlight post on this forum. There’s numerous people who recommend LED, harness upgrades, new reflectors, and the same amount who say those don’t work. Just the nature of forums I guess.

I think my next try will be the upgraded harness with the hella 80/100 bulbs.

 

[JoeT4R]

I think I’ve read every headlight post on this forum. There’s numerous people who recommend LED, harness upgrades, new reflectors, and the same amount who say those don’t work. Just the nature of forums I guess.

I think my next try will be the upgraded harness with the hella 80/100 bulbs.

Excellent points were made above. LEDs are not made for halogen housings, are illegal in many states and will straight up blind oncoming drivers.

I am guilty of this in the past. I ran LEDs for a little over 2 years +/- and while they're "bright" they aren't clean, aren't legal and don't illuminate quite as nicely as a fresh set of brand new halogens. I will drop a photo of the bulbs I'm currently using, but by no means am I saying that this is the right option or the only option. This is simply what I am using and have had good results with so far. I think they were around $50 or $60 at my local Walmart.

I used cheap Hella bulbs (halogens) and they only lasted a few months before switching to these. They illuminate the road extremely well, especially in the dark, rain or snow and look very fitting for the truck itself. Just my .02

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[Mendoncyclesmith]

If you plan on keeping it for a while? Auxiliary lights are the ticket.

I have a small "bar" flood and two spots.

Had my local garage rewire so they kick on with my high beams, and off with the lows.

Bar does a good filling in, and the spots, once properly aimed on a dark, quiet back road, give me fantastic side of the road coverage and project much farther than typical headlights will.

I think with parts and labor for electrical work, I'm out, maybe $400?

Otherwise, plug and play, yeah, the Sylvanias folks are mentioning, are you best cheap minor upgrade (and housing cleaning of course).

 

[brillo_76]

As long as you don't blind incoming traffic. Mostly a good fog light for the lows really help.

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[DWilliam]

Thanks for the replies. I think I’ll return the LED and stick with stock until I can pony up for TEQ retrofits.

How difficult is it to wire in fog lights that come on with the headlights?

 

[prybar]

Another good option: upgrade to 80W/100W bulbs.

Very cheap and easy, total cost around $20 and much, much brighter lights.

Writeup:

Drop-in headlight upgrade?

Check post #3 by [MENTION=115347]gamefreakgc[/MENTION]. Pretty solid advice.

 

[gamefreakgc]

I think I’ve read every headlight post on this forum. There’s numerous people who recommend LED, harness upgrades, new reflectors, and the same amount who say those don’t work. Just the nature of forums I guess.

I think my next try will be the upgraded harness with the hella 80/100 bulbs.

I installed a light bar years ago to help. It's a flood/spot combo. Then I did the harness upgrade with 80W/100W bulbs and haven't used my light bar since. It retains the stock beam cutoff and is so bright I also don't ever need to use high beams either unless I am in deer country and need to see their eyes. If you go this route you'll find you'll not want projector retrofits any more. Plus you cannot beat the price, the harness plus bulbs is about $40!

 

[DWilliam]

I installed a light bar years ago to help. It's a flood/spot combo. Then I did the harness upgrade with 80W/100W bulbs and haven't used my light bar since. It retains the stock beam cutoff and is so bright I also don't ever need to use high beams either unless I am in deer country and need to see their eyes. If you go this route you'll find you'll not want projector retrofits any more. Plus you cannot beat the price, the harness plus bulbs is about $40!

Can you post a link to the harness? It is simply plug the harness into the stock plug and then into the hella bulb? Do I only need one harness, and one stock plug stays unplugged?

 

[prybar]

Can you post a link to the harness? It is simply plug the harness into the stock plug and then into the hella bulb? Do I only need one harness, and one stock plug stays unplugged?

One harness, plug and play.

From [MENTION=115347]gamefreakgc[/MENTION] in another thread:

Harness:
Amazon.com

Bulbs:
Amazon.com