Swapping LED Headlights for SR/SR5

Since I can't post in the big sticky lighting thread due to my account being less than 90 days old..well, ok, I get to create my very own thread! Mission accomplished!

Would it be possible to 'downgrade' OEM LED's to SR/SR5 headlights or would this require a conversion harness that probably doesn't exist? My truck came with the LED option but I am less than impressed with them. I don't care for the eyebrow DRL's on the non-LED OR/Sport lights (or the LED's DRL for that matter, but I was willing to put up with it if the lighting were what it was cracked up to be). I do actually quite like the base model amber DRL's.

Why would I do this, other than for DRL preferences? In perfect conditions at night, sure, they work well. Ambient light, rain...game over. And bonus fail points for icing over in snow/sleet. First time I drove in the rain I literally pulled over to see if the headlights were actually on.

 

I’m sure it would require a harness and like you said I doubt there’s anyone out there who makes one

 

I'd definitely be willing to swap

 

i have a basic SR5 2021 headlight, dont mind the swap too

 

Those have the DRL and TURN Signal Bulb as one in the Combination meter (gauge panel). This would make it more part$ to achieve proper function.

 

There’s another user who requested the same thing a while back. Someone here was able to make a harness for them, but be prepared to get made fun of in this thread. What you’re requesting is a significant performance downgrade and pretty much everybody here is trying to go the other direction.
On the plus side this means you won’t have any trouble getting rid of your LEDs and will almost certainly be able to swing a trade (with cash to you) for the lights you’re looking for.

 

I have the SR5 halogen lights. I really think you should keep the LED lights. I hear what you’re saying, but I think you will be disappointed if you make the swap you’re suggesting. Good luck with the decision.

 

Ugh. Time to part it out I guess..

I fully expected to get grief for this, but thank you to the 1% with some useful input here. We've got a newer Outback with projectors that I don't recall feeling blind in in foul weather, so unless Toyota's projectors are just vastly inferior I am not convinced the LED's advantages are more than just spec sheet. Could be beam pattern or color temperature, who knows. There's always projector retrofits but that's a gigantic lighting rabbithole I am not interested in going down for now.

Sounds like if there's a will, there is a way here. Not selling/trading (in case of regret/problems, also just to keep all the original parts with it in case of future sale), but I'd be interested in someone's SR/SR5 lights outright in new/take-off condition, otherwise I'll just get new ones.

 

Halogen headlight sets usually go for around $200-300 used with intact tabs. I wouldn’t even mess with new oem, and wouldn’t touch new aftermarket, since take offs are so abundant and cheap but that’s just me.
Being from a real state (not AK) you probably won’t have trouble finding some within driving distance, because shipping is usually a deal breaker. Check FB market and the other local listing sites.

Also this thread is the one I referenced earlier and you should be able to find the username of the guy who helped him out.

 

Edit: everything I needed to see is linked in the post above..thank you musicisevil!

 

I removed it. It was for the OR headlight assemblies, not SR.

 

Ah, got it, missed that at first glance!

 

So I 'just' need a gauge cluster/panel in addition to the lights and harness work or is there more to it than that (like some sort of control module, et al)?

 

Your Taco has all the circuits, but the Headlight assembly you want is not compatible unless other parts are added to the harness.

 

The difference between what the previous guy did is he went back to the OR/Sport non LED instead of the SR.

To get the amber DRL working on an SR5 housing, I believe you’re going to need two relays that are triggered when the turn signal is on (one relay per turn signal) to disable the respective DRL so the turn signal circuit can blink those bulbs instead of remaining powered continuously by the DRL when the turn signal is trying to blink them.

I would definitely not do the work to go backwards from LED, but it’s not as crazy as others will make it sound. The factory LEDs have to meet certain specifications and not be too bright. By law they really can’t be much brighter than the halogens are. I had the halogens and I swapped to the LEDs, simply because I like them. I don’t think they were a huge performance improvement and in some instances like rain, I’d rather have the halogens back. But I don’t regret my swap at all.

Good luck.

 

SR has Turn and DRL to one wire controlled by the PCB in the gauge cluster. I don't think you'd remove and replace to an SR gauge cluster (it has the vehicle milage). There's a member here that has a solution to separate these signals, I do not now if he has the inverse of that.

 

I would think a possible solution would be to put a NC relay at each DRL wire (one relay per side), and run the wire through the 87a and 30 sides of the relay. Trigger the relays with the ground circuits from the multifunction switch that activate when in turn signal mode. The relays would cut off the DRL when their turn signals were on.

then splice the separate turn signal wire into the bulbs wiring ahead of the relay with a diode so the DRL can’t backfeed the turn signal circuit when it’s on.

maybe I’m missing something but I’m pretty certain that would work. I believe the multifunction puts out a constant ground for each turn signal being activated which I’m pretty certain could be used to trigger the coils of relays.

 

I'm assuming this person is somewhere in the big headlight thread? Or maybe the one who made the LED to OR-Halogen harness?

 

Yes & No. @daveeasa assembles the most used harness, but @Puppypunter has the SR solution, but not the one you'd require.