Headlights ,.. again! Will LEDs help?

So if I replace the headlights again, I wonder if using LED lamps would stop the overheat damage, loose pieces you see here. Anyone done that? Are direct plug-n-play lamps available? Lots of questions…. ;~)

 

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/the-ultimate-headlight-upgrade-h4-not-led-or-hid.398066/

Recommend reading the first part of this enormous thread, then PM the author @crashnburn80 if you have further questions.

Lots of very happy 2nd gen owners have followed his advice.

 

Assuming you still have OEM headlights (You stated that you've already replaced them once), you probably have the "non-TSB" headlights. A number of years ago, Toyota recognized the problem with melted lenses and issued a TSB allowing owners to get new and improved headlight housings for free that solved the problem. Although that program has expired, the headlights are still available through your friendly local Toyota dealer.

As for installing LED bulbs (in your parking lights I assume), you could do that and probably reduce the amount of heat generated, but then you'd have to go through the issue of adding resistors in line to fix the hyperflash issue you will create.

 

Quit tossing money at after market junque.

Go to Toyota, pony up for REAL OEM headlights. Yes, they will be pushing $500, but how much have you spent at this point and the problem is not solved?

Sometimes, the Pay Me Now or Pay Me More Later is true.

 

As others mentioned, Toyota updated the design to resolve the issue and offered free replacement to all affected. The free replacement program has ended, but the updated lights are still available. Info is in the original post of the linked thread under the headlight assemblies section. No need to worry about heat damage in the updated assemblies.

 

“Are direct plug-n-play lamps available?” So far, the answer is no….. but this:

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/2nd-gen-led-turn-signals-walk-through.182744/

And this product with the install issue explained / options:

https://www.diodedynamics.com/switchback-turn-signal-leds-for-2005-2015-toyota-tacoma-pair.html

 

I'm using led bulbs in my taco. The key is making sure the led diode is at the same location as the filament of your halogen bulb.

W

 

No, no and no again. If you're running drop in LED headlight bulbs and believe that, you have fallen for the schlock science that most cheap LED bulb manufacturers use to sell their products. Read below and learn the truth:

(1) Why LEDs should not be run in Halogen reflectors | Tacoma World

Why Most LED Headlight Upgrades Don't Really Work: An Expert Explains (jalopnik.com)

 

No. Ultimate halogen upgrade FTW.

 

Just grab some long nose pliers and break the broken lens into pieces and take them out. You can run those headlights without them. And do the “ultimate” headlight mod and you should be golden while saving some coin for other mods

 

I don't know what you've done since this was started, but VLeds.com is my go to source anything that has to do with bulbs. I've had my led VLed replacements for maybe 4 or 5 years with no issues from heat. Only problem is being flashed for the brightness, but when I return the brights back, I get that numero uno wave.

 

You obviously fail to comprehend how these products work. The LEDs have less output intensity compared to a halogen upgrade and poor beam pattern performance. What you get is massively increased glare due to a bad beam pattern and lack of proper cut offs which is why people are flashing you. But clearly you are not getting the message. It isn’t because your lights are bright (they are not if running LEDs in a 2nd Gen reflector) it is because you’ve screwed them up by running illegal LEDs that are not compatible with your headlights, regardless of what some lighting vendor may have told you to make a sale.