Rubbish dipped headlights - 04 Avensis

Dr. Kenneth Noisewater

As the thread title suggests, I own a 2004 Toyota Avensis 2.0 D4D and I have no complaints about it apart from I have found the dipped headlights to be absolutely terrible. When I drive in the darkness and especially on wet nights, I can't see more than 20 yards ahead of me without the beam, which isn't much use when I'm on a main road, and I find it quite dangerous when driving into the lights of oncoming traffic.

I've heard that other Avensis drivers have had the same problem. What I'm wondering is can I replace the bulbs to give a more powerful light? And would it be something I could do myself? I'm handy enough doing general stuff with the car but I wouldn't know exactly what way to go about it.

Cheers for any suggestions or advice.:)

PADRAIC.M

deccurley wrote: »

As the thread title suggests, I own a 2004 Toyota Avensis 2.0 D4D and I have no complaints about it apart from I have found the dipped headlights to be absolutely terrible. When I drive in the darkness and especially on wet nights, I can't see more than 20 yards ahead of me without the beam, which isn't much use when I'm on a main road, and I find it quite dangerous when driving into the lights of oncoming traffic.

I've heard that other Avensis drivers have had the same problem. What I'm wondering is can I replace the bulbs to give a more powerful light? And would it be something I could do myself? I'm handy enough doing general stuff with the car but I wouldn't know exactly what way to go about it.

Cheers for any suggestions or advice.:)

First off get your focus checked
They have had some problems with these head lamps melting...

pudzey101

Get some Xenons in!!:) got mine in about 3 weeks ago and best thing i ever done to the car) gives it a nicer look also:P

But ya Bulb focus could be out also:) get it checked out asap coming upto dangerous winter months:)

pudz

Dr. Kenneth Noisewater

Thanks lads.

Assuming that the focus is alright, roughly how much would the Xenons cost to get in??

zenno

pudzey101 wrote: »

Get some Xenons in!!:) got mine in about 3 weeks ago and best thing i ever done to the car) gives it a nicer look also:P

But ya Bulb focus could be out also:) get it checked out asap coming upto dangerous winter months:)

pudz

those Xenon lights should be banned, you get blinded by those things and can't see the bloody road because they are so bright. i'm sure a law will come in soon to ban those. they are a serious danger to other drivers.

_Conrad_

zenno wrote: »

those Xenon lights should be banned, you get blinded by those things and can't see the bloody road because they are so bright. i'm sure a law will come in soon to ban those. they are a serious danger to other drivers.

Not if they're focused correctly and in the projector headlights they were designed for. When put in a standard headlight the intense bright light bounces around the bowl and does dazzle anyone who looks at it but as I said already, in the correct type of light unit you won't get dazzled by it in any worse way than a normal light. Your eyes may be drawn to it quicker, as people aren't used to the different colour and different intensity of light but that's because we're used to everyone driving around with the cheapest, dullest, lowest spec ordinary light bulbs that can be got, and it seems if you can have only one light working than that's even better.

zenno

_Conrad_ wrote: »

Not if they're focused correctly and in the projector headlights they were designed for. When put in a standard headlight the intense bright light bounces around the bowl and does dazzle anyone who looks at it but as I said already, in the correct type of light unit you won't get dazzled by it in any worse way than a normal light. Your eyes may be drawn to it quicker, as people aren't used to the different colour and different intensity of light but that's because we're used to everyone driving around with the cheapest, dullest, lowest spec ordinary light bulbs that can be got, and it seems if you can have only one light working than that's even better.

well driving on the backroads is a nightmare as I had to slow down and stop as I could not see the road and also it took a while for my eyes to see properly again.

well if thats the case that people are getting these lights installed wrong then they should fix it before someone crashes or dies on the roads. they look nice but they are too bright especially on back roads.

pudzey101

i got my xenons for 50euro and followed instructions and had them in abouit 10-20mins:) iv the 6000k in its the highest alowwed by NCT and iv yet to be flashed by another driver as there projected and focused properly:)

MarkR

I have the same year avensis, and the lights were terrible all right. I've installed HID's last year, big improvement. The avensis has projector headlamps, rather then the reflective ones which tend to scatter the lights into oncoming cars.

I've had a couple of sets over the years, they both burned out eventually. Cheap chinese jobs though, but once they last the winter I don't worry to much.

Get 4300k ones. Most like manufacturer spec, best light dispersal. Make sure to focus them properly, I had to adjust my lights after doing mine. This might help.

http://www.autolumination.com/hid_adjust.htm
http://www.dealextreme.com/p/compact-h7-4300k-3200-lumen-super-vision-xenon-hid-vehicle-warm-white-light-headlamp-kit-pair-45175

zenno

pudzey101 wrote: »

i got my xenons for 50euro and followed instructions and had them in abouit 10-20mins:) iv the 6000k in its the highest alowwed by NCT and iv yet to be flashed by another driver as there projected and focused properly:)

ok, well it seems that the problem lies with people not having them done correctly so.

sparx001

I bet you if you take the back of as if you were going to replace the bulbs youll find the plastic holder for the bulbs has melted and the bulbs are loose.

blindsider

Have you tried Osram Nightbreakers or similar?

http://www.ebay.ie/sch/i.html?_from=R40&_trksid=m570&_nkw=night+breakers

(No connection to Osram or the ebay shop!)

Dr. Kenneth Noisewater

After much procrastination and pri*king about the place I tackled the headlights on Saturday and right enough, the poxy bulb holder was melted :mad:

colm_mcm

If replacing, gt the post 2006 type or non genuine lights. Fom memory they never actually changed the design of the old type headlight.

keppler

deccurley wrote: »

After much procrastination and pri*king about the place I tackled the headlights on Saturday and right enough, the poxy bulb holder was melted :mad:

My mate's 04 avensis had the exact same problem recently. When he priced the headlamps with Toyota they quoted him €190 each! Traynors sold him two headlamps for less than Toyota's quote for one headlamp . Their price included delivery and fully loaded with bulbs too.
If you're handy then id give installing them a go. It's not too difficult and no special tools are required, the trickiest part is partially disconnecting the bumper underneath each headlight to allow room to manouver.

MarkR

keppler wrote: »

My mate's 04 avensis had the exact same problem recently. When he priced the headlamps with Toyota they quoted him €190 each! Traynors sold him two headlamps for less than Toyota's quote for one headlamp . Their price included delivery and fully loaded with bulbs too.
If you're handy then id give installing them a go. It's not too difficult and no special tools are required, the trickiest part is partially disconnecting the bumper underneath each headlight to allow room to manouver.

I've been thinking about doing this, but the bumper was putting me off. Did your mate go for the 2006-> lamps?

Mine have dead daddy long legs and a brown goo in them right now..

Dr. Kenneth Noisewater

A local Toyota dealer in a town that shall remain nameless quoted me €450 for parts and labour :eek:

Got a new set of generics from my local motor factors, fitted, new bulbs, all in for €200. Happy enough with that, like you MarkR, the bumper was putting me off too (In hindsight I probably could have done it myself, but, whatever). Dropped her off this morning on my way to work and picked her back up at lunchtime. Your man who fitted them for me showed me the old ones, badly badly melted at the back.

keppler

MarkR wrote: »

I've been thinking about doing this, but the bumper was putting me off. Did your mate go for the 2006-> lamps?

Mine have dead daddy long legs and a brown goo in them right now..

I honestly dont know what year they were. He just quoted the year (04) and they gave him the lights. For both lights, exchange rate, vat and delivery it came to €145. He also says the bumper is not that difficult as theres only a handfull of bolts holding it on.

Wetbench4

+1 for the osram nightbreakers. Super bright even during the day

colm_mcm

the motor factor ones don't give the same trouble as the genuine ones so no harm done.

Paul Gailey

I've had the same problem with an avensis 2006 T180 and there is a brilliant fix for this that the dealers will not tell you.

Changing the xenon bulbs is a red herring and there is no need to install a new kit of HID light either.

The fault lies within the lamp holder unit of the xenon reflector which toyota made of lesser lasting plastic chrome coated instead of a metal piece. The effect is that the reflector become dull black over time and useless regardless of the bulb you put in them.

Solution? a couple of quids worth of aluminium tape which you cut into slices and line the inside of the reflector holder with. It works an absolute charm and people have done it for months without any adverse effect.

It will take you a few hours to do by carefully moving the bumper forward (dont remove it - it's a sod to put back on) and disassembling the lamp unit by - wait for it - baking it at 70ºC for 15 minutes in an oven to soften the glue that holds the whole damn thing together. Then you can get to the innards and take the wretched thing apart and get to the culprit piece.

Here's a thread from the spanish avensis forum with picture and video tutorials of all the steps needed and here's proof how well my own hatchet job worked out with a before and after photo.

Toyota wanted an effing fortune to replace both lamp units with labour. Seriously, do the thing yourself and save yourself the headache.

(you may have to register to see some of the realyl old threads explaining how to take apart the bumper)

http://mmkt.in/VDaqkd

http://mmkt.in/XYB5vM

If you prefer to have metal versions of the reflector, there is apparently a fella in germany who sells them: see this thread and search for "Lampart opticas" on the page http://www.avensisclub.com/modules/newbb/viewtopic.php?topic_id=22148&forum=2

cheers!

Chris_Heilong

Paul Gailey wrote: »

I've had the same problem with an avensis 2006 T180 and there is a brilliant fix for this that the dealers will not tell you.

Changing the xenon bulbs is a red herring and there is no need to install a new kit of HID light either.

The fault lies within the lamp holder unit of the xenon reflector which toyota made of lesser lasting plastic chrome coated instead of a metal piece. The effect is that the reflector become dull black over time and useless regardless of the bulb you put in them.

Solution? a couple of quids worth of aluminium tape which you cut into slices and line the inside of the reflector holder with. It works an absolute charm and people have done it for months without any adverse effect.

It will take you a few hours to do by carefully moving the bumper forward (dont remove it - it's a sod to put back on) and disassembling the lamp unit by - wait for it - baking it at 70ºC for 15 minutes in an oven to soften the glue that holds the whole damn thing together. Then you can get to the innards and take the wretched thing apart and get to the culprit piece.

Here's a thread from the spanish avensis forum with picture and video tutorials of all the steps needed and here's proof how well my own hatchet job worked out with a before and after photo.

Toyota wanted an effing fortune to replace both lamp units with labour. Seriously, do the thing yourself and save yourself the headache.

(you may have to register to see some of the realyl old threads explaining how to take apart the bumper)

http://mmkt.in/VDaqkd

http://mmkt.in/XYB5vM

If you prefer to have metal versions of the reflector, there is apparently a fella in germany who sells them: see this thread and search for "Lampart opticas" on the page http://www.avensisclub.com/modules/newbb/viewtopic.php?topic_id=22148&forum=2

cheers!

very useful first post for once, thanks

colm_mcm

Paul Gailey wrote: »

I've had the same problem with an avensis 2006 T180 and there is a brilliant fix for this that the dealers will not tell you.

Changing the xenon bulbs is a red herring and there is no need to install a new kit of HID light either.

The fault lies within the lamp holder unit of the xenon reflector which toyota made of lesser lasting plastic chrome coated instead of a metal piece. The effect is that the reflector become dull black over time and useless regardless of the bulb you put in them.

Solution? a couple of quids worth of aluminium tape which you cut into slices and line the inside of the reflector holder with. It works an absolute charm and people have done it for months without any adverse effect.

It will take you a few hours to do by carefully moving the bumper forward (dont remove it - it's a sod to put back on) and disassembling the lamp unit by - wait for it - baking it at 70ºC for 15 minutes in an oven to soften the glue that holds the whole damn thing together. Then you can get to the innards and take the wretched thing apart and get to the culprit piece.

Here's a thread from the spanish avensis forum with picture and video tutorials of all the steps needed and here's proof how well my own hatchet job worked out with a before and after photo.

Toyota wanted an effing fortune to replace both lamp units with labour. Seriously, do the thing yourself and save yourself the headache.

(you may have to register to see some of the realyl old threads explaining how to take apart the bumper)

http://mmkt.in/VDaqkd

http://mmkt.in/XYB5vM

If you prefer to have metal versions of the reflector, there is apparently a fella in germany who sells them: see this thread and search for "Lampart opticas" on the page http://www.avensisclub.com/modules/newbb/viewtopic.php?topic_id=22148&forum=2

cheers!

Problem is that the issue most people have is the bulb holder deforming or breaking off.

corkgsxr

i find the blue coated bulbs give a much better quality of light too.

Paul Gailey

Yes if they try to remove the bulbs in situ but not if they do it when the whole lamp unit is taken out of the bodywork!

colm_mcm wrote: »

Problem is that the issue most people have is the bulb holder deforming or breaking off.

colm_mcm

Paul Gailey wrote: »

Yes if they try to remove the bulbs in situ but not if they do it when the whole lamp unit is taken out of the bodywork!

I worked in a Toyota dealer and the majority of people noticed the fault when they'd failed their first nct for headlight alignment. At that stage (4 years of melting) it wasn't possible to repair them.

Mc Love

Have a similar problem as the OP with my focus (Ford Focus)...the dipped light leveller is at 0 but when I purchased the car first the lights were perfect. Any idea's on how to fix it? Tried manually but doesnt seem to have made any difference!