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No headlight bulbs to replace?

Discussion in '3rd Gen. Tacomas (2016-2023)' started by Jared1048, Jul 31, 2023.

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  1. Jul 31, 2023 at 11:57 AM
    #1
    Jared1048

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    Jared1048 [OP] Member

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    Hi,

    Ive got a 22 Tacoma TRD sport and its headlights really suck. I ordered new bulbs but to my surprise couldnt find them on the back of the headlight housing. It looks like its already got LEDs. Is this oem? The manual shows the bulbs like Im expecting.

    16908297061011310624443586276226.jpg
    16908297704388157008581032537540.jpg
     
    Jared1048, Jul 31, 2023
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  2. Jul 31, 2023 at 11:58 AM
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    Chew

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    Chew Not so well known user

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    The LEDs are not replaceable and are the gold standard. Are those LEDs OEM?
     
    Chew, Jul 31, 2023
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  3. Jul 31, 2023 at 12:04 PM
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    Kwm5067

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    Kwm5067 Well-Known Member

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    Those appear to be the OEM LED headlights. They are pretty much the best headlights as far as light output goes for our trucks. Not sure why they aren't providing enough light. Is the truck lifted? Are they aimed properly?
     
    Kwm5067, Jul 31, 2023
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    cryptolime and Chew like this.
  4. Jul 31, 2023 at 12:05 PM
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    Jared1048

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    Jared1048 [OP] Member

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    Dang, ok. Before this I had a really good experience upgrading my bulbs to LED's and saw something like a 300% improvement. This was on my 2012 super duty.

    The lights on this are 1/4 the brightness of what they were on my super duty.
     
    Jared1048, Jul 31, 2023
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  5. Jul 31, 2023 at 12:09 PM
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    Chew

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    Chew Not so well known user

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    Read @crashnburn80 thread, there’s a very good chance what you were seeing was light up front. This makes us think we’re upgrading light, but light down range is what actually helps us see when we’re moving at high speed.
     
    Chew, Jul 31, 2023
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  6. Jul 31, 2023 at 12:11 PM
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    cryptolime

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    cryptolime Here to Help

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    are you sure you aren't running your DRLs at night like i see a lot of people doing on the road?
     
    cryptolime, Jul 31, 2023
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    Kolohe07, Chucky888_2021_TRD_OR and SR-71A like this.
  7. Jul 31, 2023 at 12:12 PM
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    Sharpish

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    Sharpish Well-Known Member

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    You were probably blinding the living hell out oncoming traffic for years too.
     
    Sharpish, Jul 31, 2023
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  8. Jul 31, 2023 at 12:14 PM
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    Tacospike

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    Tacospike Semi-Unknown Custodial Member

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    Thats because they are not OEM
     
    Tacospike, Jul 31, 2023
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  9. Jul 31, 2023 at 12:15 PM
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    Jared1048

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    Jared1048 [OP] Member

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    I had to lower the beam in my truck or else yeah. I was pissing people off.

    Hopefully I was just being an idiot and had my DRL on
     
    Jared1048, Jul 31, 2023
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  10. Jul 31, 2023 at 12:15 PM
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    Tacospike

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    Tacospike Semi-Unknown Custodial Member

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    You only have three reflector buckets for low beams, OEM has 5, first sign it's not OEM. And the wiring doesn't wire in like that in OEM
     
    Tacospike, Jul 31, 2023
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  11. Jul 31, 2023 at 12:16 PM
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    CraigF

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    CraigF Well-Known Member

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    CraigF, Jul 31, 2023
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  12. Jul 31, 2023 at 12:19 PM
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    Chew

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    Chew Not so well known user

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    Yeah, they looked Chinesium to me
     
    Chew, Jul 31, 2023
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  13. Jul 31, 2023 at 12:20 PM
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    Tacospike

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    Tacospike Semi-Unknown Custodial Member

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    Alpharex probably
     
    Tacospike, Jul 31, 2023
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  14. Jul 31, 2023 at 12:20 PM
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    Firn

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    Firn Well-Known Member

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    This guy LEDs!

    He is correct, those look to be aftermarket knock offs and likely explain the poor performance.

    Swap those out with Toyota LEDs or go back to the cheaper Halogen housings and run H9s.

    The stickied thread on 3rd gen lights is a good read as to why you don't want to put just any old light bulb in.
     
    Firn, Jul 31, 2023
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  15. Jul 31, 2023 at 12:25 PM
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    Kwm5067

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    Kwm5067 Well-Known Member

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    Here's my OEM LED headlight for reference:
    They are different on second inspection.
     
    Kwm5067, Jul 31, 2023
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    Chucky888_2021_TRD_OR likes this.
  16. Jul 31, 2023 at 12:28 PM
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    hiPSI

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    hiPSI Laminar Flow

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    Must have had the sun mounted to yer Ferd.
     
    hiPSI, Jul 31, 2023
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    Chew likes this.
  17. Jul 31, 2023 at 12:28 PM
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    Jared1048

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    Jared1048 [OP] Member

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    Taking some more pics...it says "made in china" stamped in the plastic mold... why would someone replace this? 20230731_152448.jpg 20230731_152350.jpg
     
    Jared1048, Jul 31, 2023
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  18. Jul 31, 2023 at 12:31 PM
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    Chew

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    Chew Not so well known user

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    Because they assume brighter whiter LEDs are always better.
     
    Chew, Jul 31, 2023
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  19. Jul 31, 2023 at 12:33 PM
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    Kwm5067

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    Kwm5067 Well-Known Member

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    People also tend to love upgrading components based off of looks rather than functionality.
     
    Kwm5067, Jul 31, 2023
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  20. Jul 31, 2023 at 12:36 PM
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    iwashmycar

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    iwashmycar a lot

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    Looks like someone just liked the look and got them on Amazon or the like

    $360 VLAND Headlights Assembly Fit for Toyota Tacoma 2016-2021 3rd Generation N300 Pickup Truck W/DRL, LED Front light w/Amber Reflective Bowl Black Housing, Plug-n-Play Headlamp
    https://www.amazon.com/VLAND-Headlights-Generation-Reflective-Plug-n-Play/dp/B08HN8P5HJ?th=1

    They probably are junk for light output, as you noted....so finding any OEM assemblies is probably the best course of action.
     
    iwashmycar, Jul 31, 2023
    #20
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Products Discussed in

VLAND Headlights Assembly Fit for Toyota Tacoma 2016-2021 3rd Generation N300 Pickup Truck W/DRL, LED Front light w/Amber Reflective Bowl Black Housing, Plug-n-Play Headlamp
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