new TYC headlight (H4), cannot adjust

[fenixus]

ehhh ... have I mentioned that my luck with wifey's 5s-fe ride is of epic proportions?

well yeah, yesterday I mounted new TYC headlight on passenger side in place of a broken OEM (bad seal, bad lens, broken off plastic arm for grille)... so it's installed. I only broken the corner lamp in process (TYC replacement ordered), it was old OEM and plastic arm (with the only mounting screw) got broken off LOL

but anyways, problem is that I cannot adjust the new TYC headlight! I've got same one on driver side (maybe a little older TYC model) and it adjusts fine, but new one doesn't WTF?

when standing 10ft/3m from a wall I can only get the lighbeam up to about 1ft above ground (half way up) and despite the adjustment knob turns it doesn't move up anymore (it moves up and down properly below that level) ... my bad luck continues ... bad headlight? or I screwed up something, like installed bulb upside down LOL (is it even possible ehh?) ...

any ideas what went wrong?

[JohnGD]

You should be able to turn the adjuster screw and have it point in all kinds of directions. Well almost . Maybe check the adjuster assembly or interference from mounting?

[fenixus]

Originally Posted by JohnGD

You should be able to turn the adjuster screw and have it point in all kinds of directions. Well almost . Maybe check the adjuster assembly or interference from mounting?

thanks man. but i can turn the adjuster screw and it moves the beam down correctly. then i turn it the other direction and it moves the beam up, but only to a certain point (half way where it's supposed to be) and no more (screw keeps turning though as usual)...

... not sure what up with that, will play again maybe tomorrow. if i can't get it to work will have to contact Rockauto after Holidays about replacement.

just to make sure, the thing that moves (mechanism) is inside the lamp housing and nothing on the outside except for the screw, correct?

[JohnGD]

Maybe there is a "flat spot" on the vertical adjuster if the beam doesn't move up sufficiently. I don't know the internals of the lamp housing, but both sides should behave similarly. How's the horizontal adjustment? Ok?

Maybe remove it and try adjusting it off the car and see how it moves. This might save some shipping delays.

Originally Posted by fenixus

thanks man. but i can turn the adjuster screw and it moves the beam down correctly. then i turn it the other direction and it moves the beam up, but only to a certain point (half way where it's supposed to be) and no more (screw keeps turning though as usual)...

... not sure what up with that, will play again maybe tomorrow. if i can't get it to work will have to contact Rockauto after Holidays about replacement.

just to make sure, the thing that moves (mechanism) is inside the lamp housing and nothing on the outside except for the screw, correct?

[Mister_Perkins]

If your trying to go up a little higher, try to adjust it up and when it keeps spinning... keep spinning it for a minute. Then push in on the top of the headlamp and it should push back and lock back onto the adjuster.

If all fails, Get a small piece of wood or plastic and lift the light up where you want and put the piece of wood or plastic under the light to hold it in place

[fenixus]

Originally Posted by JohnGD

Maybe there is a "flat spot" on the vertical adjuster if the beam doesn't move up sufficiently. I don't know the internals of the lamp housing, but both sides should behave similarly. How's the horizontal adjustment? Ok?

Maybe remove it and try adjusting it off the car and see how it moves. This might save some shipping delays.

I am not sure, but I don't think that is a flat spot on vertical adjuster. I was turning the screw for a minute and it didn't move the beam up anymore, but once I turned the opposite direction it immediately started moving down...

I don't know where the horizontal adjuster is on those head lamps (neither I found them on 9005/9006 lamps), do they even have them?

Originally Posted by Mister_Perkins

If your trying to go up a little higher, try to adjust it up and when it keeps spinning... keep spinning it for a minute. Then push in on the top of the headlamp and it should push back and lock back onto the adjuster.

If all fails, Get a small piece of wood or plastic and lift the light up where you want and put the piece of wood or plastic under the light to hold it in place

hmmm ... what do you mean with keep spinning the screw and then push it on top of lamp? lamp is mounted securely as rock LOL, it doesn't move in either direction ... but saying so, I have to admit I needed to a little forcefully align the reinforcement extension arm together with lower lamp bracket to get the aligned with each other (OEM lamp didn't need that, it's a TYC thing) ... now I'm thinking, maybe I should have bent a little the metal reinforcement extension with a hammer, just like I did on driver side? not sure if it makes any difference, but maybe that is what blocks the lamp from adjusting higher?

here is a few pics for you to picture the way solara lamps mount on car:





as you can see the headlamp bolts in several spots (5 total):
a) on the outer side via 2 studs and nuts to fender
b) on top it bolts to metal bar above radiator (1 bolt)
c) on inner side they bolt on bottom to front bumper reinforcement extension 52125B (1 bolt on inner edge unmarked in pic) and also to the grille (also 1 bolt on top)

anyways, we have cloudy cold windy and snowing weather here today and stronger blizzard is coming, so I won't be touching it until after it passes (Tuesday).

[JohnGD]

Originally Posted by fenixus

I am not sure, but I don't think that is a flat spot on vertical adjuster. I was turning the screw for a minute and it didn't move the beam up anymore, but once I turned the opposite direction it immediately started moving down...

I don't know where the horizontal adjuster is on those head lamps (neither I found them on 9005/9006 lamps), do they even have them?

Autozone's guide doesn't offer Solara specific instructions. But on the Camry it's on the outer corner of the housing assembly. On the outer side of the radiator mounting bar.

The housing retainer bolts shouldn't affect the ability to adjust. In some states these (vert/horiz) need to be adjusted to pass inspection. So both should be there to be found.

[swagger_wagon468]

remove the images man. no FSM images allowed as per forum rules.

[fenixus]

Originally Posted by JohnGD

Autozone's guide doesn't offer Solara specific instructions. But on the Camry it's on the outer corner of the housing assembly. On the outer side of the radiator mounting bar.

The housing retainer bolts shouldn't affect the ability to adjust. In some states these (vert/horiz) need to be adjusted to pass inspection. So both should be there to be found.

if that horizontal adjuster looks like a white cylinder that spins freely (on all solara lamps I touched) then I don't know how to make it adjust. anyways, horizontal adjustment is fine, problem is the vertical one on this specific lamp.

[fenixus]

I went the easy route (mostly because of post-blizzard conditions around here) and contacted rockauto for a in-warranty replacement. ordered a new lamp already and this one will be going back to them for a full refund.

If second one experiences the same problem then I will start looking for a problem elsewhere (not sure what could cause it to be honest unless damage is internal to the lamp assembly somewhat per design LOL).

new corner light will be here by Thursday .. will finally remove the zipties and masking tape from under the hood LOL

[JohnGD]

Cool.

Be interested in the amount of adjustment travel comparison.

Originally Posted by fenixus

I went the easy route (mostly because of post-blizzard conditions around here) and contacted rockauto for a in-warranty replacement. ordered a new lamp already and this one will be going back to them for a full refund.

If second one experiences the same problem then I will start looking for a problem elsewhere (not sure what could cause it to be honest unless damage is internal to the lamp assembly somewhat per design LOL).

new corner light will be here by Thursday .. will finally remove the zipties and masking tape from under the hood LOL

[fenixus]

fuck my life.

Today installed the replacement headlight (and new corner light and new bolt on corner of fender) and all went smooth ... until I started adjusting the light beam!

light beam on a new replacement (again TYC) headlamp traveled up to about 3/4 of desired height (higher than on a former one) ... and then something popped and now the adjuster screw is turning freely and won't adjust neither down or up .... grrrrrr I'm freaking pissed off... should I try a third TYC lamp or go with OEM (at double price) and forget all that crap...

I simply can't believe what's happening to me ... I have a TYC (older model from like 4 years ago) on driver side and zero trouble with it, can adjust it much higher and nothing breaks in it!

new TYC headlamps must be of a Chinese toy quality ...

10yr old OEM adjuster was working flawless despite that adjuster knob/screw was all rusted red, it was working on Toyota lamp. ... it works fine on a 3-4 yr old TYC lamp ... why it cannot simply ..work on a NEW TYC lamp ? that's ridiculous

[JohnGD]

I originally thought maybe the adjusting screw got chewed up. But looks like something broke in the process. I normally would use aftermarket for many things, but given the trouble, I'd go OEM this time.

Also, you may want to swap light bulbs with the other side and make sure the bulb itself is "within spec". If the bulb is still low when moved and pop the adjuster screw on the OEM lamp, that should be telling too.

Originally Posted by fenixus

light beam on a new replacement (again TYC) headlamp traveled up to about 3/4 of desired height (higher than on a former one) ... and then something popped and now the adjuster screw is turning freely and won't adjust neither down or up .... grrrrrr I'm freaking pissed off... should I try a third TYC lamp or go with OEM (at double price) and forget all that crap...

I simply can't believe what's happening to me ... I have a TYC (older model from like 4 years ago) on driver side and zero trouble with it, can adjust it much higher and nothing breaks in it!

new TYC headlamps must be of a Chinese toy quality ...

10yr old OEM adjuster was working flawless despite that adjuster knob/screw was all rusted red, it was working on Toyota lamp. ... it works fine on a 3-4 yr old TYC lamp ... why it cannot simply ..work on a NEW TYC lamp ? that's ridiculous

[fenixus]

Originally Posted by JohnGD

I originally thought maybe the adjusting screw got chewed up. But looks like something broke in the process. I normally would use aftermarket for many things, but given the trouble, I'd go OEM this time.

Also, you may want to swap light bulbs with the other side and make sure the bulb itself is "within spec". If the bulb is still low when moved and pop the adjuster screw on the OEM lamp, that should be telling too.

that bulb comes from OEM lamp and there was no problem. in fact I could adjust way higher both RH OEM (factory old) lamp or LH TYC lamp (a few yrs old).

it's not the bulb, it's the new TYC lamp design. they changed something in adjustment mechanism and those lamps come pointing to minimal low level from factory and break down on adjustment. what else could it be? 2 new TYC lamps, two broken adjusters ... I was really gentle with the second one.

i contacted Rockauto, sent them info from lamp sticker and car's VIN. they will contact manufacturer (TYC?) to see... not sure what they are planning to do.

I am thinking about ordering an OEM lamp at $200 from online dealer... not sure yet, haven't reached a decision yet... waiting for Rockauto's move.

[JohnGD]

Yeah, that really sucks. I hope everything works out.