Regarding New Headlight Lenses

2008 Taco DC 4x4. Looking to replace the factory headlights with the blacked out type. I wanted to ask the people who've done this here if it's just a simple plug and play type installation or will there be some adjustments required to the lenses?

 

They should all be adjusted.... Even from 1 exact same body/configuration truck to another (if buying used)

OEM from 2009, sport should be fine after the adjustment. These are more like a black chrome tho.

The aftermarket BLACK bezel headlights SHOULD be sealed where the lense meets the back half of the housing. Use GE silicone II.

These are known to leak quite regularly straight out of the box if u do not seal them yourself. This doesn't mean take them apart.... Just PUSH the clear silicone into that small gap all the way around the housings where they meet. U will SEE the silicone work its way into the gap.

I have a plastic grocery bag handy when I do this. Tear off a medium small piece and wrap that piece around my index and middle finger and make sure to double it over on itself at the pad of the fingers.

This allows u to stay fairly clean and not track it all over the headlight housing when u move/rotate the housing around.

More importantly, this plastic bag seems too slick of a surface to accumulate a lot of silicone, so it kind of provides a no stick applicator. If u ever tried to use silicone by hand and seal a gap, u would prolly agree the silicone likes to come up with ur finger/hand when u try to spread it around.


Do this with all bulbs and rubber boots off of the lights. Let sit 24hrs if possible to offgas, bulbs and boots/covers should remain out.

Then install and......... Aim

 

And handle the bulbs by the base only. Headlight and foglight bulbs can get very hot and the natural oils from our hands is supposed to effect the longevity of them.

At least that's why I have heard for many yrs and I have always minded this.... The cost of some bulbs is insane and I've never tested this out but if u wanna try it, Google first.

 

mine were a pain in the ass to adjust... and both leaked, but i resealed and they are ok now, headlight alignment is still a bit off, but i just ordered fogs to help this situation..

 

Hope this helps





"B" is horizontal adjustment which you "shouldn't" have to mess with.


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It's plug and play, and not hard to adjust at all. The only thing you're adjusting is the beam of the headlight. With the diagram above, it's real easy with the twist of a screwdriver

 

Honestly I didn't even need to use a screwdriver when I re-installed them after the BHLM. The adjustment wheel is big enough to use your fingers.

 

Ya I tried using my fingers but I guess since they're new headlights, the adjustment screws were still new and virgin... Very tight

Btw. I didn't do bhlm, bought brand new headlights

 

Gotcha.. Yeah the new ones might be harder.

 

If OEM replacements you should be close to aimed right. Aftermarkets, check after installation. I had some aftermarkets and they were aimed everywhere but the road in front.

 

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