DTRL Melting Lens

Both my daytime running lights are melting the interior lens on my 09. Went to the dealer and they searched on the computer and found the issue, but said it is a 3 year/36K mile warranty--I have 40K on my rig. So they give me Toyota's 800 # and I just spent an hour with them to have them say that given my loyal customer status bullshit, they will pay for the parts and I can pay for the labor--on a reimbursment basis ($800+ total and they will pay me $589 back).

That is not a bad deal, but they are stock bulbs and I have my Taco serviced at the dealer, so what happened to the 47 point inspection when they service my rig???

I know you guys can help, so give it up before I explode

 

$800 for new headlights

The daytime running lights melting is a known problem. You should lay into them for it to be free. Serious. It happens to every truck eventually.

 

800?

wtf?

Go on ebay, get new assemblies for 70 bucks, install takes 15 minutes...

 

I was thinking my first response will be to just send me the new assemblies and I will install them myself. Then when they poo-poo that let them have it.

Konaborne,
I can't get ebay at work, so how much of the entire light set can I get? It is all one deal, is it not?

 

You can buy the entire assembly for 70, and if you seal them up they should be fine. Doesn't take too long to put em in yourself either.

Try make them pay for it though, since it is their problem.


800?! Bah....that's horsebananas

 

That's bull $hit they are being this firm about the mileage. I had the same problem that I didnt notice until around 45K miles and the delaership took care of it under warranty.

They did also tell me that the headlights were $800 new!! (highway robbery)

 

Another option is to disassemble your current headlights and remove the inner lens that is cracked then you wont have that problem ever again.

 

I need to think about what to do, but it sucks that I have to fight them over it or do it myself.

 

Last week I did the DTRL mod by jumping the wire from the side marker and utilising the "low" element of the bulb for the DTRL's. I've been reading avout the lens melting and bubbling problem for the last few days and decided to change the bulb to a lower wattage to be on the safe side. I stopped after work at Advance Auto and picked up a pair of 3057A bulbs for $6 total. I liked the spec's on the 3057 because the wattage was lower than the stock 4157 on both the "low" AND "high" element side.

For reference:
The 4157 is 28.5 / 7.5 watts
The 3157 is 26.9 / 8.3 watts
The 5702 is 26.9 / 8.3 watts (also a smaller bulb = further from the lens)
The 3057 is 26.9 / 6.7 watts

For people who have stock relays, any bulb will be better as you will utilize the "high" element for the DTRL's.
For people who modified as I did, the 3057 is the better choice as it's the lowest wattage for the "low" element (the element used for the DTRL's)

Also as a side note:
When I replaced the bulbs this evening, I could hold the 3057 while it was lit in my hand without burning. The same cannot be said of the stock 4157, as it's VERY hot.

 

My mom's '05 Highlander did this a few years ago. Told Toyota about it and they didn't do crap. Said she could buy new lights and that was it. Stock bulbs. No idea why it happens.

 

It seems to be an issues with very few as far as this board shows. If this happens to all Tacoma's with a little time, why have not all the owners of at least the '05 model complained? There are about 6 threads on this.. total.. you could find more posts on which floor mat to buy... doesn't sound like a major issue at Toyota. Shit happens, not need to blow it out of proportion.

Frank

 

I called Toyota back and said I would pass on their offer and that since it is a known problem with a TSB and I have it serviced by their dealer, they should do something about it.

I don't expect much.

 

The melting DTRL are not an eventuality for every Tacoma , DTRL has been mandatory on every Tacoma sold in Canada since the '05's and I haven't seen this as a prevelant issue here .

It happens , but it's the exception not the rule .

 

o.k. I was just putting 2 and 2 together. If you shop on ebay, nearly every single used headlight has a melted drl.

 

Im glad mine came with the DRL delete.....

 

Really.. ? Find just 3 and post links.

Frank

 

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/05-0...Accessories&hash=item3a6a2701e6#ht_1925wt_888

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Toyo...ccessories&hash=item588f2e8d33#ht_1907wt_1112

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/05-0...Accessories&hash=item20bd7de4ad#ht_2780wt_920

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/OEM-...Model:Tacoma&hash=item20b95b1f56#ht_500wt_699

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/2005...Accessories&hash=item2c5fd3fd78#ht_2776wt_919

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/05-0...Accessories&hash=item43a8bfed15#ht_2218wt_699

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Toyo...ccessories&hash=item45f541a6c7#ht_2632wt_1025

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/TOYO...Accessories&hash=item415d84df06#ht_3739wt_801

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/dp04...odel:Tacoma&hash=item4cf6d9721d#ht_5631wt_878



Anything else boss?

Even if not as many as I thought, it is still too many. And this is only the first page.

 

Hey, look, 9 assemblies that remind me of my hunks of junk.

Toyota Dealership near me says bring it in, they'll call a manager to look at it and "go from there."

Stay tuned....

 

Boss? I'm just asking you to back up your "sky is falling" claims. Now not all of those links show or list damage. Between 2005 and 2011 (2nd Generation), Toyota Tacoma (US only) sales numbers are around 994 582. Just shy of 1 million sold in just the US. So how many lights would reasonably have to have issues before Toyota, or anyone (other than the effected) would think this was some type of serious systemic problem other than just their bad luck?

Frank

 

Why does it matter how many are bad? If one of THEIR lights with THEIR bulbs are bad, THEY should replace them-period.