Time to change headlights

The evenings are getting darker and driving home in light rain tonight I thought I really can’t see much at all. So I left the car in idle after getting home and took a look for myself from the front. The lenses look fine in the daylight and nothing was ever mentioned during the annual state inspection, but this looks pretty bad!

 

After reading some comments here on the forum I think I will go with OEM. Is there any particular online parts dealer which generally gets the nod on this forum over others? Toyota of Nashua came up in my search and would be physically close to me in VT but it may not matter if they all drop ship from the same warehouse anyway?
Thanks.

 

Some dealer websites will give bigger discounts than others and they change how much discount all the time. I usually visit like 6 sites and copy and paste the part number. I like to choose the dealer closest in case I need to exchange it ....but I also like to find the one that'll give me 28% off and free shipping too. Good luck!

https://autoparts.toyota.com/find-dealer

 

My local dealer gives (normally) a bit over 30% discount for online ordering, and I can pick up at the counter for never any shipping (which is kinda on and off via web ordering). It’s a good deal and the only way I buy from them now.

I just got new standard headlamps for my 2015 and they’re going in now. Seemed odd, but on my dealer's site the smoke-chrome TRD Pro lights were $30-40 or so each cheaper than the bright-chrome non-Pro standard lights.

 

All the micro scratches and dirt are far more apparent at night with the lights on, if they look fine during the day they may not be as bad as you think. Replacing the headlights with new OEM units is certainly the best route to go by far. But also, halogen bulbs dim over time, if you are still running old stock bulbs the output will be poor due to the bulb, not necessarily the assembly. You might consider trying a set of Philips Racing Vision +200 performance stock wattage bulbs first and then if unsatisfied get the new assemblies. Of course both together would be even better.

Lots of info in the 2nd Gen headlight thread:
https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/the-ultimate-headlight-upgrade-h4-not-led-or-hid.398066/

 

Interesting. Thanks. This would be an easy fix. I vaguely remember changing one of them at some point years ago. The other one has been doing its job since 2010 when I bought the truck new.

 

Definitely change out the bulbs before you do anything else. 13 years is a long time on a halogen bulb…

 

I had never considered this - thank you for tip

 

You may be able to restore those lenses by wet sanding. If your goal is to order new housings anyway, you might as well give it a try. As others have stated, replace the bulbs too.


Here's an idea on how to accomplish it.

-J

 

wet sanding and a 2k clear rated for headlights can do wonders

 

I did this with 1k rusto clear - does not last and makes a bigger problem than before. Get a rattle can of 2k clear at minimum or take them to get sprayed at a good auto paint shop - otherwise you’ll be doing all of that for not much benefit, maybe 3-5 months or thereabouts.

 

Boy, this was good timing for me. I have been needing to get bulbs for my 07 and wasn't sure what I should get. Not quite ready for the harness upgrade, figured stock was fine. I just found these:

$30 Philips RacingVision GT200 H7 Headlight Bulb + 200% Set

https://www.amazon.com/Philips-RacingVision-Headlight-12972RGTS2-Upgrade/dp/B08KHJHZVQ?th=1

Any ideas on a fog light setup on an 07 without the harness or brackets?

 

Are you talking about this harness upgrade? As for the fogs, do you have a cutout or space for them? You might want to look into some aftermarket fog lights like these.

-J

 

My 07 has the lower valance cut outs but are blocked off and I assume (I'll check this morning) no light harness. So wondering what others have done in this case. I wonder if I can salvage a harness?

 

A Cerakote headlight kit and a little patient work will likely make a big improvement in the lens.

It did on mine. Inexpensive and they have you tube application instructions

 

You can polish those lenses and get a few more years out of them. The sun here in GA is a lot harder on stuff like that. I polished the lenses on my 07 three times before they became too yellow. I replaced them with OEM housings about a year ago. Cost me $550, but the difference is amazing plus it almost looks like a new truck now.

 

Sometimes the factory will pre-install the wire harness but based on the build schematics, they wont install the actual lights/switch. You might be lucky and have the wire harness for fogs already ran through your truck. If not, then the Rigid kit I linked in my previous post will come with everything you need to run it yourself. Wires with fuse, terminal ends, lights & bracket, and switch. You'll wire directly to the battery, run the wires through the firewall grommet to the red rocker switch included and bolt the lights up in the spot you want them. Connect the water-resistant metro plugs and bingo bango, Bobs your uncle. Your out a bunch of money but you have fogs. You don't need to run the Rigid lights if you don't want but you want to search specifically DoT or SAE rated lights for 'on road' use. If you just throw on floods, your light will blind oncoming traffic.

-J

 

Good advice, thank you.

 

Depends on usage! Someone who never drives at night or in the rain could have basically brand new bulbs on a very old vehicle.

So BMW and Dodge drivers basically never have their turn signal bulbs get diminished.

 

+1 - this is what i do. Fortunately, one of my local dealers typically has the best online price i can find, plus i save on shipping by picking up the parts myself.

I just replaced my Tacoma headlights with OEM units for like $450.