2023 sr5 low beams

Just upgraded from 2019 to 2023 SR5. The low beam head lights are driving me nuts. There is a very distinct line when I look straight out and I feel like they are pointed straight at the ground. this resolves completely when I turn on the high beams

can anyone else sympathize or offer suggestions ?

 

Mine does the same. ENJOY!

 

So after you adjusted them what happened?

 

hahah as in there is no way to fix it ? And basically I am stuck with it ??
It is horrible.

 

I did not adjust them. Can I ? How ?

 

Everyone was whining about the pre-20’+ headlights so that was Toyota’s solution.

 

I want them back. Lol. I despise them

 

Exactly.

 

It tells you how in the manual.

What you are seeing is the cut off line. That is the design so everyone isn't blinded from oncoming traffic. Maybe you were unaware.

 

If it is the cutoff line — fantastic. But the cutoff line then is not high enough so I can see far enough out in front of me to determine where I am going.
it is literally like there is a window blind pulled down to the middle of my eyes — I don’t consider that normal.

 

There is a cut off but it should allow you see far enough ahead on the road to see where you are going without blinding oncoming drivers.

There are auto shops that have beam adjustment machines that can verify if yours was somehow not set right from the factory.

If after that you still think it doesn't illuminate the road right, maybe take it to a dealer to see if the drive circuit is not supplying enough current on lowbeam.

if all that fails, may be time for new night time driving glasses.

 

So the top of the headlight beam when viewed on a wall 25’ from the vehicle on a flat surface, needs to be 2” lower (measured from the ground) than the center of the headlamp (on the vehicle) when measured from the ground. If it’s that currently, it is correct. If not, adjust accordingly.

 

I appreciate the info. This is certainly not related to my individual vision. I just purchased this 4Runner today — I drove my 2019 last night and this wasn’t a problem. Now this brand new 4Runner leads to this.

 

Thank you for this info. I will check and see where mine is. I hope that it is darn close as it is brand new. Just driven off the lot today


Do you know what I mean — when I am describing the lights and feeling like they’re a blind half way down ?? When I turn on the high beams this goes completely away and appears just like I think it should.

 

Adjusting them could help.
Park on a flat surface close to a wall and turn the low beam on.
Put a + with tape on the wall at the middle of the light, the brightest point.
Back up exactly 25 feet.
Switch the lower beam on .
The top of your cutoff line should be between 2 -2.5 inches below the middle of the tape mark.

Also, what you experiencing is a cut off line. You probably finding it more prominent because you comparing it to your old 4runner.
Your eyes should adjust to it within a few days.

 

Performed the procedure on my 2022 in the rear of my local grocery store wall one night after locating the adjusters to change the field of view on my headlights.

 

And this helped this garage line from seemingly being too low ?

 

I consider my lights fine and my cutoff is around but usually just below the rear window of most cars in traffic if it helps ballpark whether your lights are normal or not.

If you're used to how the high beams perform, perhaps the previous vehicle's lights were aligned too high originally? (an of course, lifts, squat, etc affects aiming)

 

I was happy with the results I obtained from doing this, Yes.

 

Funny. my 2019 had poor low beams so i was able to upgrade the bulb. Now they improve the lights but hinder its ability and they need to be adjusted.

Why cant Toyota just go HID's like any normal good manufacturer.

 

https://www.autozone.com/diy/lighting/how-to-adjust-your-headlights

Not sure the exact adjustment method for the Runner but this is for pretty much all headlights.

 

I don’t know of any manufacturer still using HIDs. LEDs are just better.

 

I don’t think that the LED low beams are worse, I think it’s just that having a distinct cutoff is a dramatic change in how you see at night, and we know how great we humans are at adapting to changes…. You are seeing much more, whiter light from the LEDs with dark above the cutoff and that contrast is what you’re focusing on, not on the fact that what is lit up, is farther and brighter than it was with halogens. That warmer colored light from a halogen reflector housing gradually faded with no cutoff. You are actually getting more usable light down the road where you need it instead of a gradually fading dimmer light closer to you that had no cutoff so you it just gradually faded away. On the road, the LEDs light up overhead signs way farther down the road. It’s only when you focus on the very bright to much dimmer cutoff line that it seems like there is no light up higher, but there is.

It’s new and distinct so a lot of people’s eyes get drawn to and focus on that sharp line rather than viewing the whole area ahead of them. It’s like new drivers focused on the car in front of them versus looking down the road to see all that’s happening up ahead.

The IIHS does extensive headlight testing. Unfortunately they haven’t tested the current LED version yet but the previous Halogen reflectors were rated as Poor so I wouldn’t think they were as good as they’re being made out to be here.

 

I sympathize, the cutoff is stupidly sharp, and theres is zero spill over above it. On dark roads, it feels like you are constantly about to drive off a cliff. It’s made worse by the fact they are extremely bright,, which cause your pupils to constrict, making the blackness even blacker.

The good news is you can fix it with a properly sized normal philips screwdriver. The adjustment holes are right by the headlights under the hood. Make sure to look in the hole to verify the philips head is engaging well with the adjustment gears.

Dont bother with fancy targets, measurements, etc. Just find yourself a garage door or any other flat wall with some reference features on it, and adjust your beams up to taste. I’d suggest doing 4 whole turns upward on each, then drive it. If it’s not enough, add 4 more, etc. If you get flashed by oncoming traffic, then bring them down until you don’t get flashed lol. They are quite painful to look at, so people will let you know if they are too high.

Properly adjusted, the cutoff is less harsh because it diffuses a bit when it hits the ground at a shallower angle.

 

There's a fine line between being able to see decent with the low beams and having on coming traffic flashing you all the time. At least that's how my 2021 is.
Mine needs adjusting again the Dobinson front springs have sagged a little over 45,000 mi.

 

When I used this method it scratched the plastic.


Now I remove the plastic cover and use a 8mm to adjust that nut.

https://youtu.be/1gluV0sa5bw

 

@Valawee3


No answer............ measure and inform!