The ultimate headlight upgrade H4 (not LED or HID)

The UV protectant is baked into the outside of the lens. Any polishing/sanding will remove it. Once the UV protectant is degraded (lens is beginning to haze over) it needs sanded off and the polycarbonate lens will need wetsanded and polished to remove the craze and provide a surface that will provide a good mechanical bond for a new clearcoat.

We've discussed (somewhat offtopic) polishing and recoating lenses in this thread.

Quick rundown- waxes/ceramic coatings aren't going to do much. You need something that is actually protective and bonds or cures to the polycarbonate.

A method I stick to because it's very easy/simple/effective is to dilute outdoor rated (UV stabilised) gloss clear polyurethane (valsparr) with mineral spirits 50:50 after wetsanding to 1500 or 2000 grit and apply it to a lens with a lint free cloth. If there are fisheyes or runs, mineral spirits will take it right off and its easy to reapply.

Best is either 2k automotive clearcoat (you need a chemical rated respirator, read the MSDS) or a product like LightRite (which is also a spray product but UV cures to the polycarbonate).

Edit- if you want an example of some lenses with the polyurethane coating look back about 60ish pages. I coated my parents 2nds gen driverside headlamp. I can also post an update pic of my sisters Scion xB which is going on about a year and a half since I polished and coated, and she lives in myrtle beach so it gets a ton of UV and salt exposure.

 

I would suggest is using a maintenance type of applied UV protectant product, there are many for headlights though I don't have any recommendations for which is best. This one looks promising as a polish and UV protectant in one. I personally like maintenance solutions that don't alter the headlights like painting does. They are low effort and typically last 1-2 years. Just reapply when waxing the truck.

$20 Chemical Guys GAP11516 Headlight Restore and Protect, (Great for Cars, Trucks, SUVs, RVs, Motorcycles, & More) 16 fl oz

https://www.amazon.com/Chemical-Guy...ds=headlight+protectant&qid=1617916852&sr=8-2

 

Speaking of headlights, does anyone have any good recommendations on LED daytime running bulbs for the Tacoma that doesn't cause rapid flashing? The factory daytime running bulb's heat is damaging the headlight housing.

 

Are those TRD PRO lights?

 

Nope, stock SR 2014 Headlights... maybe they look like Pro's just cause of the lighting?

Anyways, completed this mod this afternoon. Very time consuming with also having to swap out the headlights. Headlights are a bitch to get in and out, like a jigsaw puzzle piece! The wiring was fairly straight forward. I ran into a hiccup of when removing the positive battery terminal - my main aftermarket stereo power line just popped right out of its crimp terminal. Thankfully I had spare terminals and just crimped a new one on. So that added to the time. Otherwise... broke some clips holding my radiator cover on and a clip holding my inner fender lining on when getting that damn third bolt for the headlights. Went from:



to:



I hooked everything up and the lights work (low beam/high beam) so that's always a positive when i work on my truck, lol. Obviously won't be able to tell the difference until night but i'll take some pics tonight. My dumbass didn't take any before photos...

 

Absolutely recommend Jumpers leds https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/jumpers-leds.176932/

Have switchback turns and parking and work amazing. Had em for over 3 years now and work amazing. Has a few different options. More pricy but much better quality than gambling with Amazon.



Popping in the normal osrams tonight. Real excited.

 

I'm sure it's nothing, but after completing the mod like an hour later i went to grab some takeout and the truck started, then immediately died. Started it again and ran no problem. Just a hiccup after disconnecting the battery?

 

It will take a few start cycles for the truck get dialed in again as far as the engine runs.

 

Normal after disconnecting the battery. As mentioned above, a few drive cycles will fix it.

 

Like everyone’s said. Normal stuff. If I have mine disconnected for more than 30/60 minutes. I turn it back on and let it idle for a few minutes to gather itself and then after that she’s back to normal.

But just put in the normal 90/100w Osrams. Absolute monster difference...

The 90/100w cool blue boosts just don’t do it. They’re much more potent than any other tinted bulb, but not worth the lack in light. I noticed probably 3 times more light to the normals. The tint “looks” cool, don’t get me wrong, but the output overpowers the look, hands down. I’ll absolutely have pics this weekend when I have time to swap em back and forth at night and do a side by side

 

Ok good to hear. That's what I figured. Here's the 'after' photo. Terrible photo with no context to the 'before' for all of you, but i can say for certainty they are WAY brighter than before. I'll have to take another one without a bunch of background light (house lights/street lights/etc). Very happy so far with the outcome!



Just focus on the middle by the neighbors garage. You'll see more yellow light off to each side, those are my Diode Dynamics Sport fog lights light as well. But the light on their driveway is the new Headlight Upgrade light, which is muuuuuuch brighter than it was before.

 

I just did the upgrade in conjunction with installing new headlights (Eagle Eyes brand made in Taiwan... look to be good quality) to replace my cloudy ones. Got tired of using the restore kits. The upgrade using the Headlight Services harness was truly plug and play. You could make this harness up yourself but honestly for the cost it isn't worth it... and you still might not have as professional results. It's a nice heavy duty piece. I already had a terminal on my battery for a subwoofer amp so I had a ready made place to bolt on the + lead. I am using the 100/90W normal color temp Osrams and the pattern and brightness look good in daylight. These aren't going to be as bright as aftermarket LED aux lights or anything crazy like that, but you don't want that for street driving. Just make sure they are aimed properly. I'll get them out at night one of these days soon. I will probably keep my old headlights and do a full restore and clearcoat to have as spares.

But LOL... every plastic push pin I had to remove to do the headlights disintegrated. I need to go online and get some new ones. It is all holding together but barely.

 

I broke a bunch of clips off while doing this mod as well. Like 90% of my radiator shroud clips are gone now.

 

LOL... indeed. I didn't mess with those on purpose. Instead I just drilled a couple of holes in the lip and zip tied the Harness wire to the passenger light and tucked it in along the edge. I knew they would break if I messed with them. The ones I need to replace are the ones that connect the grill to the headlights and the little trim strip under the headlights to the bumper. I found these on the Toyota parts site and ordered. I also need and couldn't find the plastic rivets that go in the wheel well liner. I had to remove those to get access to that one outboard bolt on the headlights and of course they also broke. I'll let the dealer look those up when I go to pick up my order. He has better drawings.

 

I beg to differ. Having had the Ultimate Headlight Upgrade in my Tacoma, it is WAAAAY brighter - and better focused - than any LED bulb. That's the beauty of the upgrade. It's bright, but the light goes where it doesn't bother other people and benefits you.

 

I agree LED *bulbs* are lame in stock headlights. They don't produce the right light form to work with their geometry. I said LEX *AUX* lights. if you have never seen Clearwaters... even their smaller "Darla" model that I have on my motorcycle... you probably have no idea. They literally turn the night into day but would blind other drivers a half mile away.

 

Ah, not street legal then. Understand.

 

Exactly. They are legal on motorcycles and the good ones like the Clearwaters have a knob that adjusts the intensity from off all the way to full. We run them fairly dim as extra DRLs in addition to the headlights and fill in light at night. They also go full bright when you hit the high beam switch no matter where the adjustable knob is set so you don't have to mess with the knob when you need them. You can add them as aux lights to your truck for off road use. You see a lot of pics of off road rigs with fancy light bars and such.

 

The new Morimoto 2nd Gen LED headlights have been ordered, should be very interesting to see how they compare. I almost think we should take wagers. No way do they exceed the performance of the halogens covered in this thread. But where in the spectrum will they fall...

 

let’s be real here LOL!

Quick question, the harness should work for a 3rd Gen 4Runner with no problems correct? Thinking of getting the kit for my old man, does a lot of night driving.