2020 Tacoma OEM LED Headlight Megathread

Oh, that's a better idea, ratcheting wrench. Thanks. I could not come up with good ideas last night and it was late. That sounds preferable to the screwdriver.

 

My old screw driver worked for me

 

I used a ratcheting wrench in my old halogens before. It works. But for me, it was a pain to reach in to turn the bolt and look at the light pattern at the same time. Lurching over the fender didn't do my back any favors. That and it isn't exactly spacious behind the headlights.

More than one way to skin a cat. The screwdriver way just much easier, just "stab" and twist. Should be like a dollar at Home depot.

 

I’m specifically talking about a ratcheting box end wrench not a normal socket wrench. Gear wrench are much lower profile and easy access to the back of the headlights. If you don’t own any, buy them! You’ll thank me later!

 

Like these?

That was what i used before.

 

The correct size Phillips head screw driver is actually the preferred way of adjusting the headlights. I use a Snap-On long reach Phillips on mine and never have a problem.

A possible better alternative to a Gear Wrench ratcheting box wrench (which I also have) would be a 1/4" drive socket with a universal / swivel and a long extension. Since the up / down / vertical adjustment is actually the harder one to get to because its farther down on the back of the housing, I'm not sure a ratcheting box wrench will be much fun to play with in there.

 

Man, I'll tell you, I just went out there and tried a few things and snapped a few picks to help the OP. Being somewhat of a lighting nut, I've probably played with bulbs and aiming way more than most of you. Taking a close look at the passenger side headlight - because it's the hardest one to play with - I just don't see how a ratcheting box wrench will be easier than a screwdriver. And a screwdriver is what Toyota recommends. Here's what my screwdriver looks like in my passenger side vertical adjustment.

 

I’m not saying it’s easier. A properly sized screwdriver is the easiest. I’m suggesting an alternative.

 

Yes. I’m a little partial to Gearwrench, but those will work.

 

Yours is a 2nd gen, so it may be a little different.

For the OEM LED headlights, it is easier on the driver side, cause there is more space. For the passenger side you might have to pull out the water tank to give you more workable room. *If you are going the ratchet wrench method.

Driver's side:


Passenger's side:

 

Oops. Good point. Thanks for correcting me!

 

No worries. There are some similarities and differences between the two, so other opinions are always welcome.

3rd gens do not have a horizontal adjustment though, only vertical.

 

That's what I had read before and what I saw last night so I was confused about multiple adjustment gears till I saw the photo.

The OEM LED screwdriver channel also seems significantly tighter than those photos but that may be my fuzzy memory from midnight after wrestling with my bumper.

I'll try again with a round shank real soon, quite curious...

 

The photos i posted are the back of my OEM LEDs. They are tighter when compared to the halogen's adjustment channels. If i recall correctly, i was able to use my multi tool set to adjust the halogens but not on the LED headlights.

 

I have absolutely no idea why they even put horizontal (side to side) adjusters on headlights anyway. All it does for us 2nd gen guys is cause folks to totally screw up their headlight aiming.

 

Because after it gets smashed in an accident it’s almost impossible to get everything as true as factory spec. Having some lateral adjustment can fix your headlight aim in a situation like that.

 

Yeah, exactly, I was following your advice and suggestions to a T and got confused by the confidence expressed by Mr Stroked until I saw his photos and noticed he rolls in 2nd gen. I then thought maybe I had posted in the wrong thread

It's all good, stoked for the info and help and advice from everyone, also kinda stoked on the new headlights, they are cool. Don't know why I spent so much time trying to decide, f it, it's only money.

EDIT: found the perfect #2 screwdriver and stuck an LED Use Only label on it.

 

Another great use i found for the #2 Phillips is to keep the holes aligned when you are adding AALs to your leaf pack.

 

Anyone use the retrofit source LED conversion harness? They have their plugs wires backwards! There are two little locking tabs on the harness side each at different depths. They have it wired upside down if I match the wires up according to their pictures! You can literally separate the connectors if plugged in according to the wiring diagram in the comments (they don’t even have a wiring diagram on their product page, just pictures). Attached are the wiring diagram I found from a users comment and the pictures of the backwards wired connectors.

If you flip the connector and plug it in, it plugs in good and tight but then you have the polarities reversed.

@TRSAndrew are the pictures on your product page really correct? (A wiring diagram would be really helpful) If so, then you guys should fix this because your plugs are wired backwards.

https://www.theretrofitsource.com/toyota-tacoma-oem-led-headlight-conversion?quantity=1

 

I was able to de-pin the connector and flip the wires, but that’s ridiculous and should absolutely be fixed. These gaskets don’t inspire confidence though. I imagine it won’t be long before these connections are corroded in upstate NY.