Converting from SR/SR5 non-LED headlights to 2020 full LED headlights

BEFORE anyone says anything, YES I read the headlight mega thread in its entirety all 55 pages and post looking for an answer.

I recently bought a 2020 Tacoma SR5 and I sincerely don't like the factory lights, so I ended up buying a pair of 2020 full LED headlights. The problem is AFTER installing I noticed that I needed a fitting harness, and not only that looking everywhere I couldn't find a single soul that would already have made a harness for SR/SR5 Tacoma. For this reason I've taken upon myself to come up with a solution.

I already ordered the harness even though IT IS NOT for factory halogen DRL, and the reason for this its because the plugs are different, meaning this, that factory halogen DLR and turn signal are the same bulb, therefore, they use the same connector for this reason it has three cables. This is because in factory halogen DLR the same amber bulb is used for DLR and turn signal.

In difference, factory LED DRL ("L" shaped strip) use to different connections, this is because the LED DRL its on when the lights are off and only dims when the lights are on (this connection uses only two cables) and the turn signal is one single cable.

So in comparison, both setups use THREE cables, they are just separated due to location of each light in the headlight assembly.

Now, everyone must be like DUH! of course everybody knows that but I bought this truck three weeks ago and this was all new for me.

My only fear would be the voltage being to great for the new headlight and burning a fuse or worst the LED inside the new headlights.

Here are some pics I took from my Tacoma, colors differ from what the harness comes with and the truck's driver and passenger sides.


Driver Side: My guess is, black/white would be ground, pink would be DLR and thick light yellowish cable would be turn signal? (EDIT: CORRECTION, black/white ground, pink parking and thicker wire is DRL/Turn Signal)


Passenger side: My guess is, black/white would be ground, blue would be DLR and thick light blue cable would be turn signal? (EDIT: CORRECTION, black/white ground, blue parking and thicker light blue wire is DRL/Turn Signal)


This is the harness I bought, notice that the connector with the single GREEN cable would be the connection for the turn signal, and the connector with the BLUE and WHITE cables would be the DRL's. (the three cables I need to splice from this harness to connect directly to my factory halogen DRL cable)


This is my factory halogen DRL headlight


These are the ones I installed, they have one single connection which is the one from the harness shown above. (these are 2020 original Toyota headlights)

This is my plan, I will try this connection on a few days since I'll have to wait for the harness to arrive and then. If anyone has tips, comments or help they are very welcome and even better if someone already did this PLEASE enlighten me and others with your knowledge.

I will post after I do this to confirm or deny if this worked and show pictures of the process.

Until then, fingers crossed haha.

PD: Please forgive my grammar errors, english is not my native language.

Also, please try to stay on this topic.

Thanks ya'll.


UPDATE: IF NEW IN POST, A SOLUTION HAS BEEN FOUND, GO TO PAGE 5.

 

That is incorrect, the 3 wires you see on the turn signal connector are DLR & TURN, Parking, Ground...

 

Excellent, I really appreciate your input. If I get that diagram it would be like this:

- Thicker wires would be DRL & Turn Signal (light yellowish and light blue),
- Black/white would be ground
- Thinner wires would be parking (blue and pink)

Correct?

Again, thanks for the clarification.

 

IMO, it depends on what is communicated to the BCM and possibly ECU (if there is any communication going on there).
It's not like the good old days where it was basic wiring 101 - new vehicles have many different types of busses that communicate
lots of different info - You need to dive into the full wiring print to see whats going on there

 

Correct

 

There is no comms to the vehicle from the headlamps.

 

DRL's ??

 

OP, the main issue will be the DRL input to the headlamp. It would send power to the headlamp internal board keeping the turn signal Flashing

There are no communication wires that transfer data from the headlamps to any ECU in the vehicle.
DRL is a feature that maintains the Turn Signals ON instead of flashing. This feature turns OFF when headlights are selected (low beam). The Parking circuit maintains illumination to the turn signal bulb (dimmed ON)

 

Yes, I get it, but want to look at the full wiring schematic for the truck before I head down this rabbitt hole

 

So the issue to the DRL input would because of different voltage? or just because of the signal that transmits?

I briefly spoke with @MESO today and he told me that he would run the DRL to the ignition fuse so it would dim when I turn the light on. Which it might sound great but I'm not quite sure how to do that so I think I'm still stuck with your diagram.


But based on this comment, it seems that I wouldn't have to run anything to the ignition as the parking circuit will do that for me, right?

 

Thanks for your input, I've come to learn that Toyota's don't have nothing fancy when it comes to lighting control that is why is usually pretty straight forward to splice and connect as Meso Customs and Caribe Makaira had done in the Headlight Megathread. As long as you understand what cable does what you shouldn't need a full wiring schematic because that would make you go down a rabbit hole.

 

No, the turn signal/DRL IC inside the Combination Meter (Dash Head Unit) provides power as steady or intermittent to the front turn signals. The bulb itself has 2 filaments, one for parking circuit the other for turn/drl.

 

This thing gets complicated by the minute

@TRSAndrew has the harness for the Tundra in his website. I can't believe nobody has come up with a harness for the halogen DRL headlights.

I'm running out of options and I refuse to return these headlights I know something can be done so I'm going to keep researching.

 

In your vehicle you have most of the wires to the LED headlamp. You are only missing the DRL input which MESO has cleared "somewhat" with already.
Your issue is the dual "function" your vehicle has for the turn/drl.
On the LED headlamp, the DRL is a separate LED, so the need for the IGN fuse tap.
But the turn signal input from the vehicle to the headlamp makes the turn signal an additional DRL input.
On the LED headlamp the DRL is white and the turn signal is sequential.

 

Leave the headlamp in the LOW beam always, it'll turn off the DRL on the turn/drl circuit.
Oh, and add a tap MESO mentioned for the white DRL.

 

You may come up with some way to make it work.....but it's going to be AFU
IMO, it's not worth messing with.....some mods are not worth the hassle, if there is a
plug & play method, I'd do it but I dont want to start splicing wires on a brand new truck.
just my opinion.....others hack up brand new trucks big time, I trade mine in every few years
so it's not worth it - good luck OP

 

OHHHH ok I got it, I see what my problem would be. Basically if I make the connection as I was planning to the turn signal on the LED headlamp would be on all the time thinking it is a DRL.

So I would nee to run a single wire as turn signal and a single wire (IGN tap) for the DRL, right?

 

Yes & No.
The turn signal input will still have the DRL feature when headlamps are "off".
When you select illumination//low the DRL feature shuts off in the turn & drl circuit.

 

I'm not planning on doing something crazy, I'm trying to understand how it works and if I think its simple enough once I get it I'll go for it. Otherwise I would just not mess with it.

In fact, Mike Eggers told me he is planning on making this wire so if he does in the coming months I'll remove these LED and install the halogens until he has the harness for sale.

Which at this point I'll pay whatever he asks for it I mean it already has been done for the Tundra.

 

So everything would be fine until I turn on the lights which would turn off the turn/drl feature.

You have no idea how frustrated I am right now

I'm very close to giving up on this endeavor.