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aftermarket headlights

Discussion in '1st Gen. Tacomas (1995-2004)' started by zach141b, Aug 11, 2018.

  1. Dec 14, 2018 at 12:40 PM
    #21
    El Taco Diablo

    El Taco Diablo Professional Pinstriper

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    OEM isn't the only way to get correct beam pattern, I think @jbrandt has already attested to that.

    I definitely agree with clear coating lenses though. I'll be doing that when I replace mine, just haven't figured out what I'll be using for replacements.
     
  2. Dec 14, 2018 at 1:09 PM
    #22
    jbrandt

    jbrandt Made you look

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    That depends. Mine were 13ish years old when they finally yellowed enough to notice, which is pretty good I think.

    Those headlight restoring kits are crap, too. That's what I tried (twice) before just getting the new CAPA headlights. The thing is that no amount of sanding and polishing will remove the UV damage from the entire thickness of the lens. So if you have bad headlights, just replace them.

    I'm still not really sold on the clear coat stuff, either. Read some of the comments with that MeGuiar's stuff. People are having it peal off after 8 months, then another said that after a rain, it fogged, pealed and blistered... It doesn't seem to pencil out. Assume you have to do this treatment 1x a year (it's probably a lot more than that, actually), but even still, that'd work out to $130 over 13 years, of which my new headlights cost $80 in that same time.

    My problem is also that I'm lazy. If I can spend $80 on headlights every 13 years and not have to do a single thing to them that whole time, I'm good...
     
    RysiuM likes this.
  3. Dec 15, 2018 at 2:26 AM
    #23
    UtahTacoma02

    UtahTacoma02 Well-Known Member

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    As far as I know 98-00 headlights are glass as opposed to the plastic ones on 01-04 which is probably why they cost more.
     
  4. Dec 15, 2018 at 6:51 AM
    #24
    TacoHank1998

    TacoHank1998 Well-Known Member

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    Nope... my 98 is most definitely plastic.

    And ALL plastic sealed-beam headlights are subject to yellowing over time. Proper care will indeed limit that.
     
  5. Dec 15, 2018 at 8:57 AM
    #25
    xtremewlr

    xtremewlr Well-Known Member

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    Yeah, NOT glass. My 99 are plastic as well.
     
  6. Dec 15, 2018 at 9:15 AM
    #26
    UtahTacoma02

    UtahTacoma02 Well-Known Member

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    Thanks for the correction.
     
  7. Dec 15, 2018 at 9:34 AM
    #27
    kgw

    kgw Well-Known Member

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    Rock Auto site shows the right headlight ass. for 26.00, while the left one is 80.00 something...? So the pair is 100 and change for the tyc' s
     
  8. Dec 15, 2018 at 9:38 AM
    #28
    Sunshine1971

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  9. Dec 15, 2018 at 9:57 AM
    #29
    taco03Trd

    taco03Trd 03 rig trd v6

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    Aim in the market for headlights so depo's are pretty good ? How about the ones with a ligth strip build in any one here have those ?
     
  10. Dec 15, 2018 at 2:02 PM
    #30
    jbrandt

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    Um, no, not really. They should be the same price each side. YOu sure you're looking at the same brand/type?
     
  11. Dec 15, 2018 at 5:24 PM
    #31
    Fstrnyou

    Fstrnyou Well-Known Member

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    I have a set that look identical to the one linked in OP. I don’t recall the brand/seller though. I’ve had them for quite a while now with no quality issues.
    I was going for the “not so much chrome” look.

    Note:
    The lower valence turn signal housings are NOT smoked lenses.
    They are a clear lense with a flat black “reflector”.
    They look fine as long as the bulb isn’t lit up.
    I’m considering putting the stock lower housings back in, but with smoked vinyl film applied.
     
  12. Dec 16, 2018 at 5:41 PM
    #32
    kgw

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    [​IMG]

     
  13. Dec 17, 2018 at 1:35 AM
    #33
    crankpin

    crankpin Well-Known Member

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    Rock Auto. Got them in one day, shipped from GA. Not NOS but close. Well packaged. First time using RA, you can navigate their site, find anything you need, and
    customer service is A+. Looks like they are the Amazon of car parts. You also get a choice on quality.
    Crank
     
  14. Dec 17, 2018 at 6:18 AM
    #34
    se7enine

    se7enine MCMLXXIX

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    The CAPA certified cost more which is why the right is cheaper.
     
  15. Dec 17, 2018 at 8:49 AM
    #35
    jbrandt

    jbrandt Made you look

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    Yeah, the left one is CAPA certified, which basically means it has a higher standard for construction/quality.

    At least for the 2001-2004, the CAPA's aren't that much more expensive, though. For mine, they were like $45 for CAPA. But different year I suppose...
     
  16. Dec 17, 2018 at 3:39 PM
    #36
    Old n' slow

    Old n' slow Well-Known Member

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    I was ready to buy no name cheap headlights for my 2000 then I read your information posts......I just upped my game to the mid level TYC brand.
    Tacoma forum is terrific !
     
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  17. Dec 17, 2018 at 5:03 PM
    #37
    kgw

    kgw Well-Known Member

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    Wierd that they only show the left CAPA...Sold all the right ones, I guess!! :rofl:

     
  18. Dec 18, 2018 at 10:52 PM
    #38
    Fstrnyou

    Fstrnyou Well-Known Member

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    The light pattern with my eBay headlights sold by GTRacers in the pics below.

    And again, what i dont like about this kit, the lower valence turn signal housings and side marker housings are not smoked lenses like I thought they would be. The lense is clear and the reflector is flat black. When the bulb illuminates, you don't get the the whole lens lighting up. Looks rather silly. But the headlights look/work great...IMO.

    Low Beam from about 15'
    20181218_191600.jpg

    Low beam from about 30'
    20181218_191612.jpg

    And high beam from about 30'
    20181218_191618.jpg

    Old eBay listing screenshot.
    Screenshot_2018-12-19-02-02-21.jpg
     
    Last edited: Dec 18, 2018
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    #38
  19. Dec 19, 2018 at 11:49 AM
    #39
    jammer

    jammer 2003 Toyota PreRunner 3.4L

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    Man, that transforms the entire look of the truck. Looks sharp.
     
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  20. Dec 20, 2018 at 10:16 AM
    #40
    Old n' slow

    Old n' slow Well-Known Member

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    My TYC headlights arrived today......this is probably not news to most of you but I couldn’t believe the difference in clarity.
    I always kept my 18 y.o. headlights polished with Maguires plastic cleaner but apparently the yellowing is clear through the plastic lens and the only solution to dull headlights is occasional replacement.
     
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