DRL Heads up....

Recently I noticed some damage to the turn signal lenses on my '07 PreRunner. I installed OEM DRL's on my truck a couple of weeks after I bought it new in late 2007. It appears that the lights generate quite a bit of heat and actually start to melt the plastic. Has anyone else experienced this in Tacomas with DRL's?

 

wow thats crazy. i have never seen that.

 

Dang, I've never seen that either. I didn't realize the bulbs could get hot enough to melt the housing!

 

Now I'm scared...my baby has DRLs...

 

so the "urine" colored lens inside the lights are melted also??

 

I also have an 07' Prerunner & did the same when new & have no sign of anything like that.They have frequently been on for hrs.at a time also.I think you have another problem.

 

I installed my OEM DTRL's about 4 months ago and with aftermarket yellow bulbs. I know they get really hot but not enough to melt the plastic!!! I do have some burn marks on the bulb holder though.

 

Well if this potential issue scares anyone enough to rip out their DTRL relay let me know. I'm buying.

 

Were these stock DRL's or aftermarket install?

 

If the aftermarket bulbs have a different watt rating, then that might cause your melting issue. I learned that the hard way along time ago, putting 100w bulbs in a foglight rated for 55w... just my .02 Sucks about your lens housing though. Now you have a good excuse to get some nice aftermarket ones

 

Sorry, the picture was a little close up. The burning is only on the inner lens. I added DRL's using original Toyota components and all of the bulbs are original. The truck didn't come with them (It's a regular cab). Do you think the bulbs could be different on the trucks that come with DRL's? Maybe lower wattage or something?

 

No the bulbs should be the same. I just don't know why its melting your plastic? Like I said before, I know they get hot but not that hot!

 

I'll check with a meter... maybe overcharging or something.

 

Well you know what I know for a fact they aren't different bulbs because I didn't have DTRL when I bought the truck brand new. I installed the OEM DTRL's after words and used the same bulbs for a while.

 

My mom's '04 Highlander has DTRL and she has a burnt spot like that, too.

 

Thanks WW Firefighter for the bulb info. I tested the voltage and got 13.3 at the bulb. Seems normal to me. Maybe it just happens over time. Not enough of an issue for me to remove the DRL's though. I have 30K on her with no other problems.... awesome truck.

 

Maybe you can call Toyota and get some new headlights. Not sure how that works under warranty but you can always give it a shot I guess.

 

+1 If you are still under the 3yrs, 36K they will replace your lights.

 

This is the same issue I have. What ever happened?