The ultimate headlight upgrade H4 (not LED or HID)

Well, you’ve talked me outta that one. And saved me over a $1000 . I’ve decided to just get a new oem housing (old one is shit) and keep the light output as is, as it is the best. (I have like 6 spare osrwam spares too). I did already order the alpha Rex tail lights, as those look pretty sweet. Hopefully they match up ok with new own front headlights. Appreciate the help.

 

Got the headlights installed Sunday. Headlight services harness installed tonight.

Still waiting on the bulbs from PowerBulbs…

Right after I reconnected the battery, I flipped my lights on and they didn’t work. My heart sank bc I just spent all that time running the wires etc etc. I had just lightly glanced at the instructions before install. Thought to myself “surely I didn’t do something wrong?” About 30 seconds later I realized I forgot to put the fuses back in

My eyes can’t really tell a difference with the stock bulb brightness now running on the harness but just by feel, it seems like the bulbs put out more heat than they did before?

 

Got bulbs this morning. Installed and tested tonight. What a difference!

Any one run dielectric grease on the new plugs or the relays? My relays are mounted up front near the battery and I’m somewhat concerned about corrosion over time.

Also, something interesting I noticed. On my truck on a cold start, if I have the lights on and start driving, the lights dim briefly then go back to full brightness. I think it’s one of the start up routines the truck does like the air injection pump causing a slight dip in voltage or something.

I figured it would quit doing it after doing this mod but it didn’t.

 

Self leveling laser?

 

The most likely DO put out more heat and light. The harness eliminates voltage drop inherent with stock wiring, meaning your lights are receiving 100% of what the electrical system can deliver, rather than something less.

 

I know this is primarily about headlights and headlight bulbs… but what about Fog light bulbs. I’m thinking these look awesome! Are they a direct plug and play or would I need different wiring for these? They’re PRICEY!
has anyone got these and what were your results/longevity?
I’d hate to spend that kind of money if they don’t last!

https://www.tacomalifestyle.com/col...reme-switchback-front-turn-signals-for-tacoma

 

I don't know the bulbs but the vendor (drop shipper really) has has a lot of complaints from other members about failure to deliver and some have called for them to be band for TW

 

Those are switchbacks for the turn signals not the "Fog Lights"

These are what you should be looking at https://www.tacomalifestyle.com/collections/fog-lights

 

All you need to know about our fog lights is available here...
- The ultimate foglight upgrade H11 (not LED or HID) (still my goto)
- The LED SAE J583 Fog Pod & Fog Light Review

 

Yes. Like this, lots of cheaper ones too:

$119 SKIL 65ft. 360° Red Self-Leveling Cross Line Laser Level with Horizontal and Vertical Lines Rechargeable Lithium Battery USB Charging Port, Compact Tripod & Carry Bag Included - LL932201

https://www.amazon.com/SKIL-Self-Le...s=hi&sprefix=laser+level+36,tools,164&sr=1-22

Dielectric grease never hurts, though I didn't put any on my relays. As for the dimming, the harness boosts the voltage by reducing voltage loss in the wiring but if there is a voltage drop in the system from load on the alternator, the same net drop will occur throughout the electrical system regardless of the wiring.

Lots of products in there too are not fogs, even though they mount in the fog location.

This is the ideal spot to compare fogs, the SAE J583 review thread has most. The SS3 Max in selective yellow is the highest performing, though the SS3 Sport and Elites in yellow are worth considering if snow melting isn't a concern.

 

dang! I could have sworn I was looking at switchback bulbs for the fogs that you could select amber or white by turning the lights on and off. Maybe I saw those somewhere else.
If anyone knows of what I’m talking about let me know because that would be awesome!…. So many threads and posts about this I get confused! Plus I’m also on Rav4world searching options for our 2013 Rav ltd.

Thanks all. I will check out the ultimate fog thread.

 

Are you talking about VLeD’s or the Tacoma website?

 

any LED bulb that is multicolor is a straight up POS, it is impossible to have more than 1 emitter in the sweet spot. meaning that nether color can produce a good beam pattern

 

Looking forward to seeing how you do this.

 

I had installed the updated harness and bulbs using my old headlights, and the results were really good. But yesterday I installed the new pro headlights and wow it’s a big improvement.

 

UPDATE: THESE ARE NO BUENO
https://undergroundlighting.com/col...rs-no-hyper-flash-pair?variant=32000496566341
These LED's are No Bueno in an 09-11 for the melting DRL's and hyperflash issue. 3rd. set arriving today and going to install. Seems like 4 month's of not driving much at all. (I put 5k on my 09 in a year.) Put 1st. set in in June, replaced them in Oct. 4 months later, and now replacing in Feb. 4 months later. This is the email I recieved from them last week.
"We will replace it one last time. You need to drive with low beam on so the drl is not on high filament, The toyotas are wired liek that and the resistor is on all the time it wont last."
So after some exhusting research I found this this thread:https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/how-to-disable-2011-drls.113172/
@boomer6 provided info on what they did and part #'s so I'm going to give it a try. The parts are not too bad the junction block is only about $10.00 shipping costs just as much. And I found the relay used on ebay for about $20.00, the relay new from Toyota is around $60.00 without shipping.

I will update as I install and progress

 

This thread isn’t about replacement LED bulbs, those have all been proven junk by @crashnburn80

 

Your missing the point this is about upgrading the 2nd gen lights and the melting issues the DRL's have in the housings. That's why it got posted here as others have been trying to keep their 09-11 housings in good condition.
If you read back @crashnburn80 and I have discussed this in previous posts.

 

I don't know about you. Id just opt for the DRL delete and just keep normal headlights on.
I did the DRL delete not even 3 months after owning my taco.

 

That's what I'm doing delete those darn things and roll on. What method did you use?