HID Headlight Troubles (Alignment and Retaining Clip)

So, one of my HID bulbs burnt out and I purchased a pair of D4R replacement bulbs on EBay.

After wrestling with the cover on the back of the headlight assembly (and crushing my hand to get between the relay box and the headlight -- I want to slap whoever made that design decision), and removing the bulbs, the bulb retaining clip on the passenger headlight came out. I didn't pull it out... it just fell out as I let it down off the clips. I managed to wrestle it back in, but I'm not 100% sure it's in securely. Anyone have any advice/thoughts?

The second -- and more important issue -- is that since I changed the lights, the same lamp (passenger side) seems unacceptably low. It's pretty much shining on the ground and definitely cuts off much closer to the vehicle than the driver's side. I complained before that the cut off was significantly lower than other HID-equipped vehicles I've driven, but now it's just out of control. Any thoughts or advice?


PS - Anyone who drives around with their lights on all the time to have fake DRLs... I'd stop doing it. These bulbs burnt out around 37k.

TIA,
Steve

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(SteveS @ Jul 19 2007, 11:59 PM) [snapback]482010[/snapback]</div>

C'mon... one of the Toyota Techs on the board has to have some clue. You can even PM it to me. Don't worry, I won't sue you. I just want my headlight releveled.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(galaxee @ Jul 20 2007, 12:06 PM) [snapback]482243[/snapback]</div>

12 hours not enuf?

I was confident I'd at least get a "shut up" reply if I prodded the techs

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(prius62 @ Jul 20 2007, 04:35 PM) [snapback]482421[/snapback]</div>

Bingo!

The sockets have two protrusions at the top that seat into two indentations on the bulb to make sure it's oriented correctly. Unfortunately, there's no protrusion into the socket that ensures it's seated properly.

I mucked around with it for a while and got it to seat right... unfortunately now I think I bent the retaining clip a bit. Hopefully it will stay.

Thanks, y'all.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Charles Suitt @ Jul 20 2007, 12:34 PM) [snapback]482268[/snapback]</div>

Definitely true.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(9G-man @ Jul 22 2007, 01:09 AM) [snapback]483066[/snapback]</div>

Really? Hm...

I decided to just replace it myself after reading about people on here having to jump through all kinds of nonsense replacing ECUs or whatnot over a burnt out xenon bulb before they just got the bulb replaced... I figured i'd spend the $100 and just do it myself... if the problem didn't resolve itself, then i'd go waste my life sitting in the service department

Anyway, where are all screws? I could only find one screw to remove the headlight assembly... i just assumed the others were under the bumper or something. I was actually surprised there were mechanical adjustment screws for the HID lights...

The bulbs or assembly really need a nipple or something on the bottom of the bulb or a protrusion around the bulb to make sure it's seated correctly.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Malarkey @ Jul 24 2007, 01:59 PM) [snapback]484213[/snapback]</div>

Yeah... I travel for work and I'm on the road now, so I don't have time to screw around with the dealer's typical "we'll just replace this part and see if it works now" nonsense.