Dipped Headlights, Again.

October 28, 2009

Winter approaches, dark evenings so the headlamp issue is back.

I have an '04 Avensis, nice car in just about every respect, except..... for the dipped headlights! !

I have changed the bulbs for Philips X-treme power type which are better but the output still leaves a lot to be desired. OK on an empty road but lights from approaching traffic makes it difficult to see ahead.

Such a situation must be considered a safety issue.

I've just had the lights checked for an MOT & they are correctly aligned, just not producing the power output. This suggests the lamp assembly has a design error.

The Nissan Almera dipped headlights have been replaced under a manufactures recall to make them more efficient, suggesting that they suffered from the same problem.

Anyone know if Toyota are considering a similar course of action?

October 28, 2009

i'd had same problem with my auris due to the fact that we have projector type low beam with lens;

i've solved the problem installing hids(in my case h11, in yours h7)

October 28, 2009

Winter approaches, dark evenings so the headlamp issue is back.
I have an '04 Avensis, nice car in just about every respect, except..... for the dipped headlights! !
I have changed the bulbs for Philips X-treme power type which are better but the output still leaves a lot to be desired. OK on an empty road but lights from approaching traffic makes it difficult to see ahead.
Such a situation must be considered a safety issue.
I've just had the lights checked for an MOT & they are correctly aligned, just not producing the power output. This suggests the lamp assembly has a design error.
The Nissan Almera dipped headlights have been replaced under a manufactures recall to make them more efficient, suggesting that they suffered from the same problem.
Anyone know if Toyota are considering a similar course of action?

i had the same problem with mine, it happens because the blub melts the holder "cheap plastic" I rang my local toyota dealer, they replaced both headlights free of charge because i had not got the car 1 year. they told me it would usuly cost 450 euro per light.

October 30, 2009

To davemh,

Dipped beams on early MK11 Avensis are pure crap. Sorry, no other word for it ( later models may be be better?) next to useless. Remember if you go for HID conversion the lower the number ie:5000k a brighter white light is produced which does not project any further than standard bulbs, it just makes what's in front of you stand out more & also blinds oncoming traffic. 6000k is a better option, gives of a slight blueish tinge, which should not blind all & sundry.

This is an on going topic on forum, wait for more views before making your purchase. Also note with HID, the ballast units that control bulbs may be CE stamped, but in a lot of cases bulbs are not, making them illegal for road use. All depends on what part of the world you live in as to the local plods attitude towards this.

Regards, Beagh.

October 31, 2009

Thanks for your replies and advice.

There is no sign of melting of the lamp assembly & fitting the Phillips H7s has increased the illumination but not the area illuminated. This leads me to question the design of the lamp assembly, it's just very poor & not fit for purpose.