Headlight Brightness

Hey all,

Wondering if anyone else experiences this:

It seems as though the low-beam headlights on my 2011 are taken by the masses I encounter on the road as high-beams. I'm constantly getting folks passing me headed the opposite direction flashing their high-beams under the impression that I have forgotten mine on and are "politely" reminding me to flip them off. I always reply by flashing them back to show that they are indeed on low-beams. This seems to happen daily on my commute into work. Even on the highway, I have had folks move over from the travel line to let me pass them on the right (I always rock the cruse control at 65mph) then as soon as I'm by them, they dart back into the right line and flip on the high-beans to "get even" and try to blind me in the rear view... That $hit drives me crazy...

My lights are totally stock with stock bulbs. I rarely have my fogs on unless its snowing or raining... The angle at which they project has never been changed from stock (perhaps it should, although I'm running 265/75/16s and my truck is not lifted so I really can't see the angle being an issue). I had stock lights and bulbs on my 05, same rims and tire size and never had this problem...

Apparently, the Tacoma comes with two super novas stuck to the front end! I cant wait to install a brush guard with some hella offroad lights!

 

I would check the leveling of the headlights first. I have read some people say that theirs were off alignment from the factory. I had my truck in for state inspection and asked them to re-adjust while in there. Cost an extra $10 if I remember correctly.

 

http://www.tacomaworld.com/forum/2nd-gen-tacomas/187977-im-getting-road-rage-directed-me.html

 

We have very good halogen lights with a good flat cutoff (that's above where most people want it).

The problem I think resides in the fog lights. Do you have them? For some reason tacoma fog lights like to just shine upward

 

I'll be damned, guess I am not alone on this issue!

I will check the level of the lights next time I am at my buddies house (garage door down on his nice level driveway) and make sure they are not high. I just assumed that being stock, they should be OK, shouldn't assume thought right!

A7xschecter6661, I have fogs but never run them - unless its nasty out.

Talking to a buddy at work who has a Tundra, I guess they have a headlight dimmer on the dash? Fancy! Maybe we'll get that on the 2015 re-design

All this flashing business is really just an annoyance. I have no issue flashing the occasional dingus to show them their error, but it makes my wife nervous. She hears these stories about how headlight flashing is used as a gang initiation practice where gang members will drive around with their lights off, or on high-beam and the good seminarian that flashes them ends up with three to the chest... I don't think this is a concern here in Maine, but on a road trip last year to AZ, we were flashed a few times driving on the outskirts of Phoenix and I did resist the urge to flash back...

 

I have the same problem on my 2014. Been getting flashed for high beams since new.

 

My 2011 head lights would light up second story windows when I got it.

 

This use to happen to me on my last truck, especially after lifting it. It's quite easy to adjust them yourself. I ended up lowering the beam about 3" or 4". No more flashes from other drivers.

 

x2. all though inspection here in TN. but i get flash some as well even though mine are aligned like they should be. mostly i just get flashed by cars.

edit: the taco(and other toyotas i have been in) all seams to have bright head lights stock! my buddy’s dad has a ’11 or maybe ’12 f150 and the damn hi beams on that thing were as dim as my low beams.

 

If you're getting flashed then your headlights are probably "slightly" out of adjustment. I'm running Sylvania zXe bulbs in mine and have never been flashed once.

Here is the diagram on how to adjust your lights just in case.

"A" is vertical
"B" is horizontal






​

 

Thanks for all the input, I'll deff lower those puppies!

Cheers!

 

I'm having the same issue with my 2013. When I read this I decided to call the dealer and schedule them to fix it free. Thanks for the motivation. I will post back with results.

 

Yep, I had the same issue, although worse because when I actually put it against the wall to measure the beams, the driver side had a really odd hot spot shining at the top of the range. I adjusted them down quite a bit. I was getting brighted every time I drove at night. Add my snowmobile or boat trailer and it was even worse.

 

People flash their high beams at me all the time. Sometimes if I'm behind someone they pull over to let me by, and then turn on their high beams. I always thought Tacomas were high beaming me once upon a time. These trucks have very bright lights. It's not a bad thing!

 

if you have a flat drive way or garage and a flat wall and a screw driver. save the time and do it your self. if you don’t have a flat drive way or garage, go find a building that has a flat parking lot. i think you need to be back like 15 or 25’ from the wall, i forget how far have not done it in a few years. it’s supper easy to do.

there other ways of doing it i think, but thats the easiest without special tools.

 

I need an oil change anyway, and it should have been done before I took possession of it.

 

oh. ya if it’s going to be in there anyways have it done.

i checked mine a few months after i got my truck because i keep getting flashed. they where right where they should be. I still get flashed some. mostly by smaller cars or lowered cars. they try and flash me but it dose not effect me at all.

 

Dealers are suppose to do a lot of things, doesn't mean they do.

 

Yup... ^^ This ^^

Just follow the diagram I posted earlier for the 2011 and back headlights. You can adjust them with just your fingers. The knobs turn pretty easy.

 

That is not a problem with my 2014. The headlights have a very sharp top cutoff.