The ultimate headlight upgrade H4 (not LED or HID)

This is true but, he is also providing the information to one who would be excited to see that this guy understands. Never in the time of our acquaintance have I seen CB80 show a hint of ego bruising. To challenge each other respectfully makes us better or smarter people. CB80 was born to be a teacher. Knowing him the way I do, I would say his response to reading this guy's info would be "YES!!! he understands! Just Saying.

 

Just an FYI,
Crash keeps telling everyone that wants to remove coloring/tenting from the bulb glass/quartz that it may damage the bulb.
Well I have been removing the coloring/tenting for years and I’ve never had a problem and or issue that I know of!! Now here’s how *I* remove and or clean off the coloring/tenting (yellow & blue) from all the bulbs I have purchased over the years.
Use fine line masking tape or regular masking tape and tape off the tip/end where the gray/silver covering is that’s not to be removed.
Now using super fine #0000 steel wool (read the link below for the grades of steel wool) using a medium light pressure start polishing off the coloring using common sense. Different manufacturers will come off differently. When the coloring is removed, remove the tape.
Now use alcohol and cotton balls clean the glass/quartz of any and all oils. Yes even the little bit of oil from your fingers tips can cause damage to the glass/quartz surface in the long run.
Install the bulb/s making sure the bulbs are installed correctly and remember do not to touch the glass. Now enjoy your new non colored bulbs.
I did this way back in the early eighties to my old 78 280Z, 85 POS Jeep and many other vehicles in between.

https://www.steelwool.biz/Steel_Wool.htm

 

Can anyone clarify this?

 

One is a loaded assembly, aka comes with all the bulbs. The other is a bare assembly that doesn’t come with any bulbs. Images would appear that bare assemblies do not come with the dust cap. Unsure if that is true.

 

Did you find any source for boots? Any chance you know the boot part number/numbers for our FGT's? Same as 2G Tacoma perhaps?

 

https://www.toyotapartsdeal.com/oem/toyota~headlamp~assy~lh~81150-04210.html

Looking at this... it seems this has also been replaced with the non-tsb... correct? Also.. is this site legit?

 

Yes, the site indicates the part has been replaced by the non-TSB.

About being legit, it appears so:
https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/is-toyotapartsdeal-com-a-good-site-to-order-from.520242/

 

My headlights came in, Osram 100/90w.
My harness didn't. I don't drive much at night so I put them in. I intended to aim them, however I don't have a clean cutoff line like everyone else.
Original headlight assembly from 2007, they are yellowed and hazzy.

I'm guilty of having had HID's followed by LED's in stock assembly for years, I've only adjusted them down. Thoughts?

I do plan to get new assemblies but not at this time.

 

The bulbs are not an upgrade without the harness. Power draw will be too great and cause significant voltage drop which will reduce output exponentially by the power of 3.4. If your lights are in poor condition you should try to restore them as best you can. Aiming the lights down is counter to seeing better. Brighter short range light does not help down road visibility. If you are unwilling to get the harness, the Philips +200s will be far better performing and a better buy.

 

I already ordered the harness it just didn't arrive yet.
I aimed the headlights down previously when I had HID's/LED's because of my lift. That's the only adjustments I had ever made to this vehicles lights.

As for dressing up the blemished assemblies, looking into trying this weekend.

 

http://www.danielsternlighting.com/tech/aim/aim.html

Here's an excellent article on how to best aim your vehicles headlamps.

As far as the age and condition of your lamps... 16 years is a long stretch, especially if you live near the coast or the southwest of the country. While you may have success sanding off any exterior hazing and crazing of the lens and what little may be left of the original UV protective hardcoat, if you were running HIDs, I'd bet dollars to donuts the UV output of the bulbs will have cooked the unprotected inside of the lens, causing internal lens damage, and also damaged the reflecrice aluminum coating of the reflector bowl.

Regardless, at 16 years of age, if the vehicle is in decent shape and you're trying to maximize the perfor.ance of the headlights, it would be well worth the money to buy new oem assemblies.

 

Yellow hazing is the only visible sign of any issues. The reflective inside doesn't show signs of damage. Doesn't mean it's not there though. Quality HID's we're used. I don't do a lot of night driving. No whitening of the reflective inside.
I'm surprised and not having even a sign of a cutoff line.

Once I get this resolved think I'll hunt down a whiter halogen light. Something closer to 6000k.

I've already got the assemblies in my cart. Just not pulling the trigger yet.

 

There is no such product, nor will there ever be. Halogens are 3000kish.

 

Thank you for that. I saw a few claim 4200k
Might swap out my other LED's because of the conflicting colors.

 

Don't do that! In addition to what @crashnburn80 warned, the OEM harness is not up to running the higher wattage bulbs - the wiring may overheat (or cause a fire). Put your stock bulbs back in until your upgraded harness is installed.

 

I ordered from Headlight Services on Jan 15th.
Never received a confirmation or email from them.
Are they still operational?
Sent an email to them last night and called today but no answer.

"Harnesses are built to your order. All harnesses are made in the USA."

Headlight Services LLC / Parker, CO /
303-747-5450 / sales@HeadlightServices.com

Ordered from bulb America.com on the same day\time and received updates until the 20th when the bulbs arrived.

 

I ordered mine late December for my 1st Gen and it arrived pretty promptly. Headlight Services is a very small enthusiast run side-business by Mike the owner and harness maker, so response times might be slightly delayed vs dedicated full time business. But I do agree that no contact from an order on 1/15 seems pretty long.

 

I'm not complaining at all just curious as to where my money goes. Lol.
Based on the website I assumed small business, which I applaud.

 

Oh and dressed up my existing headlights.
So still trouble shooting my "no cutoff" lighting issue.
Just FYI I'm running stock bubls until my harness arrives, I know people were worried about the osarm higher wattage bulbs I was attempting to aim with.

 

Much improved. What are you using to protect from immediate UV degradation?