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Need help identifying HID/Xenon headlight replacement

Discussion in '2nd Gen. Tacomas (2005-2015)' started by treysome, Jan 26, 2015.

  1. Jan 26, 2015 at 5:16 PM
    #1
    treysome

    treysome [OP] Member

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    I picked up my 2013 Tacoma 2 weeks ago and the headlight went out tonight. I went under the hood to check the bulb and I noticed the wiring seemed a bit strange. After doing some research it looks like whoever owned the truck before me installed a HID/ Xenon headlight kit. Problem is I have no idea how to order a replacement bulb. The only model number I found is H4. I found this:

    http://www.amazon.com/Kensun-6000k-...22319912&sr=8-1&keywords=h4+bi-xenon+hid+bulb

    Are all replacement bulbs going to work? Or do I have to find one to match my kit? (Even though I can't ID the kit). I don't really know how I'm going to match the color since there is no indication what it is. Does the replacement bulb have to be made for a Tacoma since it's plugging into the stock harness? I'm guessing they would be lo / high halogen since the high beams are normal looking lights. Any help would be greatly appreciated. Pictures of bulb / harness below along with a picture of the working side to see if the color can be ID'd:

    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]
     
  2. Jan 26, 2015 at 5:25 PM
    #2
    NCtaco914

    NCtaco914 MALLIN'CRAWLIN'

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    Doesn't look name brand to me...

    Also your ballast could be out not the bulb itself. Try swapping ballast and see if the problem transfers to the other side.

    Also you might be better off replacing them with a name brand hid kit with a warranty or doing away with them. Which is what most ppl on here will tell you.
     
  3. Jan 26, 2015 at 5:42 PM
    #3
    treysome

    treysome [OP] Member

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    Would the high beam still working be an indication that it's not the ballast? The dude didn't even have the ballast anchored down to anything, so it wouldn't be too surprising if it was busted...
     
  4. Jan 26, 2015 at 5:46 PM
    #4
    KenLyns

    KenLyns 8.75" Third Member

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    ^Look closely at the bulb. The high beam is a conventional halogen bulb sitting under the HID lo-beam bulb. The high beam effectively doesn't go through the ballast. There are other kits which does away with two-bulb design; instead it tilts the lo-beam bulb up with a magnet.

    At this point I'd stop dicking around with HIDs and just get LED headlamps like these ($140 for pair):

    http://www.motorfiend.com/dual-beam-cree-headlight-p-2891.html

    [​IMG]


    I run them on my Subaru, replacing 35W HID retrofit bulbs. The LED is brighter and the beam pattern is better. There are proper lo- and high-beam chips on the module.
     
    Last edited: Jan 26, 2015
  5. Jan 26, 2015 at 5:54 PM
    #5
    jmg256

    jmg256 Calmer than you are

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    Ditch the HID set up and go back to a stock setup. You're blinding your fellow motorists with all the glare your putting out with bulbs that aren't matched to your housings. You need to buy bulbs anyway, why not make it proper? Also, those HID lights are not putting as much light on the roadway as stock... Its being sent into the eyes of oncoming traffic!

    So, in short...rip all that aftermarket crap outta there, and get stock replacement bulbs.
     

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