5th & 6th Generation (2002-2006 & 2007-2011)Toyota Camry Discussion for years: 2002-2006 & 2007-2011
Topics of discussion range from fuel economy, safety, modifications, performance all involving America's favorite family car, the Toyota Camry.
truck-driver-spotter headlight problem of Gen 6 headlights (halogen and HID)
The night I bought my '07 Camry, I noticed the factory halogen headlights lights up the tractor-trailer truck drivers faces as I pass them on the left or right. I call this the truck-driver-spotter headlight... I sometimes get dirty looks from big truck drivers as I pass them, so I tried to pass them as quickly as I can.
After I put in HID kit(4300k), the problem got worse, because of the increased brightness. Sometimes truck drivers will turn and look at me when I'm right next to the at a stoplight... (one even stuck his middle finger out to show his displeasure.... I don't blame him...)
The problem is caused by the bright chrome material just in front of the projector lens.
Does anyone know what I can do to eliminate this problem?
I took both headlights out and fixed the "problem" of not seeing street signs.
All I did was take a sewing needle and punched one single hole in the lower center of where
the squirrle hole used to be.
It allowed a tiny bit of light to come through. Dark rural highway signs are now more
visible. Glare not a factor, after several head-on driving test at night with my friend in
the opposite direction.
The factory reflector HID headlight assemblies on my old Lexus(RX) and Mercedes(W202)
both have a LOT more glare now.... but that's probably because they are the old reflector
HID design...
the problem is also present in the original halogen headlights....
Like I said, I noticed the problem, the same night I bought my
07 Camry. I went back to the dealership a few days later and
drove another 07 Camry on the lot... same problem....
the problem has nothing to do with the squirrle-spotter. it's
the chrome part inside the housing...
Last edited by ToyotaLexus; 08-16-2007 at 02:59 AM.
Take your lights apart...spray paint them with a black matt paint...
But seriously...I think you're way to obsessed with your lights...than again, if I lived in a state where fog lights are illegal I might as concerned as you are
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2009 Toyota Camry SE-(BLK LEATHER,NAVI,Debaged,Blue LED shifter mod,20% Tint)
2004 Toyota Camry LE(SOLD)
1989 Ford Tempo AWD(SOLD)
no, it has nothing to do with the squirrle spotter hole.
This is what I'm talking about. The chrome part of the headlight housing that causes
this is highlighted in blue. The red arrow show the direction of the light being reflected.
If the front bumper of my Camry is lined up with the tractor-trailer truck's front door,
the light shines directly into the driver's face.
this problem is present even in the original unmodified headlight.
If the reflection causing trouble is identified as a specific reflector surface, either make the surface non-reflection, or address the probably root cause which is alignment of the projector housing output. If it wasn't incorrect, why doesn't every Gen.6 have this problem?
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no, it has nothing to do with the squirrle spotter hole.
This is what I'm talking about. The chrome part of the headlight housing that causes
this is highlighted in blue. The red arrow show the direction of the light being reflected.
If the front bumper of my Camry is lined up with the tractor-trailer truck's front door,
the light shines directly into the driver's face.
this problem is present even in the original unmodified headlight.
What is the problem? Maybe now they will move out of the way and quit hogging the lanes.
__________________ "We can't solve problems by using the same kind of thinking we used when we created them."Albert Einstein
Well maybe it is the cynic in me, but truck drivers don't seem to worry about their headlight blinding me as the hit my rearview mirror. Pardon me if am totally apatheic if they git a flash of light as I pass them.
However, I have not even noticed the truck driver spotter that you mention.
If the reflection causing trouble is identified as a specific reflector surface, either make the surface non-reflection, or address the probably root cause which is alignment of the projector housing output. If it wasn't incorrect, why doesn't every Gen.6 have this problem?
all the Gen 6 Camrys that I drove had this exact thing...
however, it may also have something to do with the fact that I do drive 40 miles at night
(on my daily commute home) on totaly unlit rural internstate, where 80% of the traffic
are those big trucks...
same on gen 5.5 chrome housings I drive on a sunny day o nthe highway and the signs get lit up like 100-200 ft away some areas really bright where the edges of the housing are I guess but since I don't really liek the SE lights I guess people will just have to deal with it :-D
it's a little anonoying at night sometimes seems like there's something moving on the side of the road cause the shades change but maybe thats just cause I drive a lot at night too dunno haha
good luck if you find a solution, maybe spray it with matte seethrough white or something but ruins the look of the headlight heh
i have the same problem on the gen 5 headlights too. i have the all-chrome ones and i have this v-patterned stray light not caused by poor cutoff, but rather that chrome housing itself. it's pointing the light in extreme angles that would blind suv/truck/semi drivers driving on my right side as i pass.
same on gen 5.5 chrome housings I drive on a sunny day o nthe highway and the signs get lit up like 100-200 ft away some areas really bright where the edges of the housing are I guess but since I don't really liek the SE lights I guess people will just have to deal with it :-D
it's a little anonoying at night sometimes seems like there's something moving on the side of the road cause the shades change but maybe thats just cause I drive a lot at night too dunno haha
good luck if you find a solution, maybe spray it with matte seethrough white or something but ruins the look of the headlight heh
That's exactly what I was describing...
I wonder if the SE's headlight housing is any different.... it is darkened, not chromed....
see green arrow area
Last edited by ToyotaLexus; 08-16-2007 at 01:14 PM.
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