Toyota Tundra Headlights

You can have different kinds of problems on your Toyota Tundra headlight assembly. The most common are the malfunctioning and oxidized headlights. Because you're prone to experience these problems, here are tips to help you succeed in troubleshooting them:

Flickering lights

If you notice that your headlights flicker while you're driving at night, you should check them as soon as you get home to avoid driving blindly. This flickering can be caused by a loose bulb, so you need to remove the headlight assembly and make sure that the light bulb is properly secured in the socket. If doing this doesn't fix the problem, you have to check the wiring of your headlight for any loose or grounding wires as these may interrupt the flow of electricity. To be sure, you can have a mechanic check the wiring. Remember, driving at night without working headlights is highly dangerous and is a violation of the law.

Cloudy lenses

Your headlight assemblies can get heavily oxidized overtime, especially if left unmaintained. This is usually the case on plastic lenses. That's why it's very important to regularly clean your headlights inside and out to prevent them from becoming cloudy or foggy and from increasing your risk of getting into an accident. However, cleaning them isn't the only solution because you can also prevent oxidation by ensuring that the sides of the assemblies are sealed to prevent moisture from building up inside. This way, you can be sure that your headlight assemblies will be as clear as new.

Dim headlights

Although not exactly a problem that roots from the headlight assembly, the light from it may start to appear dim once your Tundra's electrical system begins to get strained by other electrical devices. You may consider checking the bulbs for any sign of wear should the lights become dim. But you can also look at a malfunctioning alternator or a weak battery as culprits of this problem. To know which of the two is at fault, you can check the power flow on the battery using a volt meter. If it reads positively, the alternator should be replaced. Otherwise, replacing the battery should keep your headlights bright.

Boasting the highest initial vehicle sales in Toyota history, the Toyota Tundra has rightfully earned its place among top full-size pickup trucks in the market. Awarded with Motor Trend’s “North American Truck of the Year” in 2000 and 2008, this truck has made a name for itself by focusing on one thing that other trucks have done poorly on—safety. An important safety feature that contributes to the Tundra’s reliability is its headlights.  

The headlights are a pair of front-facing lights that are essential to road safety. These lights can be found on the left and ride sides of your truck’s grille, right above the bumper. They allow you to see the road in the dark or in low visibility conditions.

The headlight assembly is comprised of the housing that looks similar to a metal bowl, a reflective component surrounding the light source, a lens cover, and the light bulb. Assemblies may also come with built-in turn signal lights.

Headlights are an important component of your truck’s automotive lighting system. These lights illuminate the road at night and during low light conditions. Low beams direct these lights down and towards the road to prevent blinding other drivers going in the opposite direction. On the other hand, high beams don’t limit the direction of light which is why it should only be used in low traffic situations where you need to clearly see roadside obstacles.

There are two types of Toyota Tundra headlights based on the light source: Halogen and LED headlights.

Halogen

Most Toyota Tundra headlights come with halogen light bulbs. This type of light source uses a tungsten filament mixed with halogen gas to produce light. Compared to other types of light bulbs, halogen is more affordable but it has a shorter life span.

LED

Light-emitting diode or LED is a light source that is becoming popular among modern vehicles. This type of headlight bulb uses a semiconductor to produce light. Unlike halogen, LED bulbs do not burn hot easily, allowing it to illuminate for longer periods of time without dimming. These also produce a brighter light and requires a shorter time to reach full illumination.

There have been two generations of the Toyota Tundra, each generation carrying parts of varying sizes. To ensure the right fit for your truck, narrow down your search using our website’s search feature. Simply input your truck’s year, make, and model to browse through relevant parts.

The cost of Toyota Tundra headlights may vary depending on your truck’s specific model year. OEM replacement parts will generally cost you between $25 to $600. Headlight assemblies are often sold individually, in sets of two, or as a part of a kit.

Headlights are an important safety feature of your truck. If you observe one or more of these signs, you may need to have these lights replaced.

Due to its location at the front of your truck, your headlights are prone to damage from collisions or parking accidents. You should consider replacing your headlights once the lens cover is cracked or if the housing appears cloudy.

Over time, your headlight bulbs may lose their brightness and get busted. Other times, flickering could happen due to wiring or connection issues. To check your headlights, you may ask a friend to stand in front of the vehicle while you switch it on. You may also shine the lights on a blank wall and observe the reflected light.

Your truck’s headlights and tail lights are controlled by a single switch that can be accessed by the driver from inside the cabin. The two lights should illuminate at the same time. If the tail lights work but the headlights don’t, there may be a problem with the assembly or the internal circuit. When this happens, it is best to have your truck checked by a licensed mechanic.

Broken or busted headlights are not only a safety risk, but it can also cost you a ticket. Functioning headlights are crucial for driving at night or during extreme weather conditions. Aside from illuminating the road, these lights also help make drivers in front of your truck aware of your presence. Therefore, it’s important to regularly check your headlights and consult a certified mechanic to diagnose any issues regarding it.

To browse through our vast collection of headlights and other parts for your Toyota Tundra; simply input your vehicle’s year, make, and model into our website’s search engine.

Wash with soap and water.

You can wash your headlight assemblies the way you would clean the rest of your car. Mixing mild dishwashing soap with warm water and using a sponge should get rid of any dirt or grime on your assemblies.

Use regular white toothpaste.

If you're using toothpaste to clean the lenses on your assemblies, make sure that it is regular white toothpaste. Using gel, flavored, or whitening toothpaste won't give you the best results, and they may even damage your headlights.

Polish the lenses.

You can use an aluminum polishing compound to achieve the shine you want on your headlights. Keep in mind that you need to use a dry soft cloth to spread the polishing compound on the lenses in circular motion. Buffing the surface off with a clean cloth should make your headlights shiny.

Sand the assemblies.

When you're sanding your headlights, you can start with 400-grit sandpaper and followed by 1200-grit and 1500-grit sandpapers. Just make sure that before you scrub, you soak your sandpapers in water for a few minutes. Also, you have to fill a bottle spray with water to continuously wet the sandpaper. And most importantly, don't forget to sand in a side-to-side motion only.

Buy the kit.

You can buy commercial cleaning kits that include sandpaper pads, lubricant, cleaning polish, and sealant from any auto supply store. At least, when you get this kit, you can be sure that all these items will get the job done.

Get the UV-safe deoxidizer.

Scrubbing and applying different kinds of chemicals actually strip away the UV layer on your assemblies. And as more layers are removed, your headlights will gradually become yellowish. To avoid this, you can buy a UV-safe deoxidizer in auto supply stores. This product won't harm the UV layers and will keep your lenses clean.

Try baking soda.

You can also clean your headlights with baking soda. Just mix it with water until you make a paste. Scrubbing the baking soda paste on your assemblies in circular motion using a soft cloth should remove dirt and grime.

With a truck as big and powerful as the Toyota Tundra, you will have to be able to clear your path as quickly and effectively as possible. Since things move around your surroundings faster than the blink of an eye, you need to move and react as swiftly as well. And when night sets in, things even get trickier. For this, you will need good illumination for you to see the road clearly. Good thing that the Japanese automaker designed the Toyota Tundra headlight the way it is. It allows you to spot oncoming traffic and road bogeys way ahead of time to make the necessary corrections on the way you drive your truck. Since we want your headlight to last you for a good period of time, here are some maintenance tips that you should consider.

• Rinse your Toyota Tundra headlight using a steady stream of water.

The Toyota Tundra headlight will inevitably collect dust and other particles as you drive to different destinations. When these things accumulate on the lens, it can make the quality of your light cloudy. You don't want that when you are driving in the dark. So it would be wise to rinse your Toyota Tundra headlight with a steady stream of water. This can help eliminate and loosen the dirt build-up on your headlight. Using this by itself will work only for constantly removing light layers of dirt. If it is a stubborn build-up, you should consider putting on extra elbow grease.

• For heavier dirt build-ups, scrub your headlight for a clearer lens.

Scrubbing your headlight with a sponge or wash mitt can help improve the clarity of your headlight lens. This procedure can eliminate heavier build-ups of dirt and particles that have dried up on your lens. Your aim here is to make your headlights capable of illuminating light effectively with crystal clear lens.

• Buff up your hazy Toyota Tundra headlight lens.

Over time, dirt and other abrasive particles scratch your Toyota Tundra headlight lens. These scratches can make your lens cloudy. To remedy this, you can buff your lens to bring back its clarity again.

Park your Toyota Tundra in a clear space away from any moving traffic.

When you want to test out your Toyota Tundra headlight, it is best to park your truck in a clear space where there is no moving traffic. This will allow you to go around and do your thing without exposing yourself or becoming the road hazard yourself. This will also allow you to test your headlight on a clear path without any obstructions.

While your headlight is switched on, check if there is any haze on the lens.

Dust and particles will definitely affect the clarity of your headlight lens in due time. Their abrasive properties scratch the surface rendering your headlight lens hazy. You can check this by switching on your lights then moving over the front to see how much light passes through the lens. Your lights should reach a considerable amount of distance if the lens is clear.

Check if the bulbs for your low and high beams are working by switching them on.

If you want to travel safely during the night, you should always check if the low beam and high beam bulbs are not busted. You can check by switching them on via the lever on your steering column. Good bulbs should be able to reach the required range. If not, it's time for you to replace them.