'05 Corrolla Low Beams suck... - Toyota Nation Forum : Toyota Car and Truck Forums

Joebklyn · 08-03-2011, 04:49 PM

I work nights, driving with the low beams does not provide enuff illumination of the road. The hi beams are great though. Anybody find this to be a problem too? How did you fix it? Thanks Joe

mikered30 · 08-03-2011, 05:03 PM

Clean the lenses with PlastX, align them, and install HIR (Not HID or LED) bulbs. That is the best you can do.

|Virus| · 08-03-2011, 05:11 PM

When you say low beam do you mean DRL, Night Lights?

ThetaMike888 · 08-04-2011, 10:33 AM

I replaced my headlights with projectors and installed HIDs in them. This does not blind oncoming drivers and i have never been flashed.

PhantomS · 08-05-2011, 09:12 AM

It's all relative .... our '05 Corolla's stock lights are WAY brighter than, say, the sealed beam headlights on my late, great '92 Celica..... the difference is like night and day. mikered's advice is sound....perhaps youneed an adjustment and a good cleaning - the PlastX stuff works freakin' GREAT!!!

mikered30 · 08-05-2011, 03:12 PM

Philips HIR:

Amazon

Trimming is required.

Current HIR2-Philips (9006 equivalent): 1875 lumens at 12.8 volts, life of 1400 hours. 3300K temp color.

last generation HIR2 (9006 equivalent) 1700 lumens at 12.8 volts, life of 1000 hours. 3600K temp color.

Philips X-Treme Power (9006) 1140 lumens at 13.2 volts, life of 350 hours. 3400K temp. color

Typical OEM high beam-9005 (halogen) 1700 lumens

After you use the PlastX you must seal/wax the lenses to help block UV rays.

winkzoot · 09-12-2011, 04:29 PM

I had a similar problem in my '05 XRS. I cleaned the lenses with little result. Changing the bulbs to Silvania Silver Star Ultras made a huge differeance. On my corralla the low beams are also the DRLs so they are illuminated all the time, guess they will need replacing more often than my other cars.

invader · 09-14-2011, 08:07 PM

I just burn off the two plastic rails in the 9005 bulb's plug-in with a soldering gun, and use them in my low beams as well. Affordable and highly effective.
Regular 9006 are 51W, and 9005 are 60W output.

gideon1331 · 09-16-2011, 08:23 PM

I used a headlight restore kit on my 05 a couple weeks ago, even though they didn't look that clouded (bought the kit for another car) and the difference is amazing. Just make sure the lenses are clear, and aligned if necessary, and you have a fresh pair of plain bulbs installed.

Avoid any lights that are 'extra white' or anything of the sort, especially the silverstars. The yellower the light output (to an extent) the better you will be able to see, especially when the road is wet. Whiter halogen lights may look nicer, and may make you think you see more, but it's not at all true (this does not include real HID/LED lights). Silverstars and their ilk have a blue-tinted coating on them that blocks out a significant amount of light.