Capa vs nsf certified - headlights?

I am on rock auto looking for a pair of new headlights since my oem are done

Any know know the difference in certifications ? That seems to change the price

Tyc and dorman brands are available?

I figure out some sylvania bulbs in the new housings

Appreciate the help as current status is not pretty

 

What's wrong with your OEM? Unless it's broken or rusted through I'm sure it can be restored to better than any aftermarket thing.

 

It sure won't last. They look ok once you do them but not long after, they're back to garbage.

For the price of 2 new headlights every 4 or 5 years, it's a no brainer.

 

I did my old Sienna fogged like that one on the picture. Two year later I sold it still like new.
First year of first gen OEM lamps are garbage (Jeep style 6054). No cut off, any small rock craks the glass and low beam last maybe 6 months. I swapped it for Autopal Euro (and later Hela E-code) and that was worth every penny. Solid cut-off, the light is as good as H4 bulbs I put and front glass is made of solid steel (kidding).

Fore later models of 1st gen what I heard the best are still OEM.

 

16 years old
Severely damaged

 

^^^ this

I "restored" the headlights on my 2004 Taco twice. Man they looked great, for about a month... And I never really noticed much of a difference in night vision.

If the fogging is just from scratching and pitting/road debris, then a good polish and "restore" should do just fine, but my lenses were discolored from UV (typical of vehicles of a certain age, like our 1st gens) , and that type of damage (discoloration) goes real deep in the plastic. In that case, there is NO amount of polishing and treating that'll get them back to like new condition. That conditioner stuff you put on after is just like that "wet look" plastic restorer stuff (i.e. it doesn't actually DO anything beside make them look shiny).

FWIW, I went with TYC CAPA certified headlights (also from rock auto). I'm not entirely sure of the difference except that the (iirc) CAPA is the same certification for the OEM suppliers (i.e. Toyota). I think the NSF is an industry standard. But not entirely sure.

For the price difference, though, just go with the CAPA. $40 a side is a bargain!

 

thank you

That is exactly the advice I was seeking

Additionally what bulbs are you using ?

Will order them now

 

They came with bulbs but they are not very bright ones. I have some Sylvanias in there now and are pretty good (I don't remember teh exact ones, tho). I also upgraded the wiring harness at the same time, so if I wanted to put in some *really* bright Osram 80w bulbs (read the upgrade thread below) I can just throw them in and not melt the OEM wiring. Theoretically, just doing the wiring harness upgrade gives you a little more available wattage with the same bulb which makes them brighter.

This upgrade was originally geared towards the 2nd gens, but this thread adapted it to 1st gens...
https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/proper-headlight-upgrade.407879/

 

Thank you

I have read that thread a while ago but I don't have the skill

Thus I don't want to mess with harness

Just a little brighter bulb

I will first use my oem bulbs with the new headlights to see how they look , if poor, will upgrade bulbs to sylvania


I tried for 7 months to do hella lights in bumper etc to get more light but couldn't find a shop to help
With all the deer and bear at night my candle from 1890 isn't working

Thus the must order of rock auto today

Thanks for the help again

 

I second the TYCs. I have the CAPA certified headlights and NSF certified markers.

 

Thanks. Mine should be here Thursday.

 

The harness mod is seriously plug and play, super easy! The hardest part is routing the wires and mounting the relays, but still, not hard. You could probably make your own harness for half the price, but I am inept with wiring so chose the easy way with the purchased harness.

 

If you were local I would ask for your help

 

true. Either buy OEM, or you can buy Aftermarket (CAPA/non CAPA) . The difference is the aftermarket are garbage. I have 40 years working in the auto body industry that confirms this

 

TYC are still junk. I would rate them as "better than nothing"

 

Since my current ones are worthless, the new ones coming today I guess will be better than nothing

 

Here and installed

 

Truck has been sitting for 4 months so need to help ash and detail

 

Hopefully you will be able to properly aim them!

 

I will take it out tonight and see how they are

I have a before pic

I need to see bears and deers only since at the time this truck goes out no one else on road

Will keep posted