Head light adjustment 4th Gen Highlander
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 25 ม.ค. 2025
- Since we have owned our 21 Highlander, when driving at night, on coming traffic has flashed us to lower our high beams and they are on the low beam setting. I finally got around to adjusting them a few degrees lower. These lights are LED projectors, XSE trim level, I'm not 100% sure what they have on other trim levels, I think they are all very similar. I hope this is helpful if you are having this issue.
This is what happened to me with my 22 highlander. I went to dealership after this it and they said they lowered it a bit. We will wait and see. NY police didn’t even do anything about this incident although I had the license plates. On Thursday, December 28th an incident happened on I-95 Southbound in the Bronx-Mount Hope neighborhood (a few miles before entering George Washington Bridge). The exact location can be obtained from the data file in the pictures. Me, my wife and our two kids were traveling to Baltimore. It was a rainy day and I turned the headlights on low beams and left them at the auto setting. There was heavy traffic and we were traveling at a very low speed for a while.
Around 5:18pm, a car pulled right in front of us and started to slow down. As I was trying to make a meaning out of this my wife saw the driver making some hand gestures but we thought it was towards another car driving on the other lane. A few minutes later he lowered the speed even more and eventually stopped in the middle of the highway (we were traveling in the left lane). The driver of the car got out and started walking towards my car. I heard him yelling "are you going to shut those lights off". I paused for a second and did not process what was going on. He kept walking towards me and came to my door's window (the window was closed) and yelled the same thing "are you going to shut those lights off". I was still not processing what was going on because my lights were on low beams. I was about to lower the window and tell him these are not my high beams but the guy did not even give me a chance to do that and punched my window very hard yelling the same thing.
We were in some sort of a shock because I wasn’t expecting such a reaction. I asked my wife to start recording this and take pictures of the license plate. At that moment, I didn’t know what to do because the lights were already on low beams. I remembered to turn the lights into DRL (Daytime Running Lamps) which lowered the brightness. The guy realized the change in the brightness, walked back into his car and kept driving. We took more pictures to get the license plate number.
I had my wife and kids in the car who were terrified with what had happened. They could have punched me or physically attacked me if my window was open. We thought about calling the police but we were not in a good spot to pull over due to heavy traffic and the cars behind me already started honking at me. I was also concerned about my family's safety at that point. With the shock of this event, we kept driving for another four nights until we arrived at our destination.
Small world. We traveled to visit NYC in that time frame. We took a cruise out of New York after 2 days visiting the city. Anyway, I knew something like this could and would happen. People are crazy nowadays. I’ve had lots of folks argue with me (other owners) that they were how they were designed and were perfectly ok. I assure you they aren’t. I haven’t reached out to Toyota, but I should. On top of the brilliance of these beams, they are aimed right into the eyes of traffic, especially non SUV DRIVERS. Sounds like you had a very scary experience.
You are my hero!!! We have a 2022 Highlander and almost every oncoming vehicle flashes us or worse puts the high beams on us as they approached. We live in a very rural area so this was a problem. The Toyota garage (1 and 1/2 hours away) told us “it’s because the bulbs are new”, “we checked it and it’s fine”, “you don’t have an appointment for that”. So I found your video and had my husband watch it and in less than ten minutes he had them lowered!!! Absolutely amazing!!! Thank you SO much!
Glad this was helpful for you. I got tired of people flashing me. I feared worse, the way crazy folks are now with road rage. Thanks for watching. I’m a mechanic by trade and try to produce useful content for the DIY community. ✌️
So to lower the beam say 2 inches, how many full turns were required? Thanks….
@@JR-xj2vr About 4 clicks on each side while we watched on the garage door.
@@Beth-qs5mu thanks…..
Nice video - like many others, opposing traffic was getting blinded by my headlights and people were flashing their lights at me.
I adjusted mine down 30 clicks or teeth. The important part is to make sure you can see far enough down the road after adjustment to drive safely.
Thanks again!!
Yes. And if you go to far it’s just as easy to move them back up a few clicks. Thanks for watching and commenting!!
Thanks, your video helped me get my headlight adjusted downward, just a tad, on my 2023 Highlander Hybrid. Knowing that counter clockwise lowered them was a big help. To answer the other viewer's question, it took several turns. You really just have to watch the headlight beam moving, you can't count on the number of turns getting it exactly where you want it.
I’m glad this was able to help you.
Thank you for doing this. I took it to Toyota and they said its within parameters. Also said that people will have to get used to it that all cars will become brighter in the future!! That’s a quote!! Thanks again!
They’re full of crap. I’m glad it was able to help you. ✌️
I’ve been dealing with this issue for 3.5 years, and the employees at the dealership told me they couldn’t fix it. Thanks to your video, I was able to adjust my low beams in just moments. Thank you! By the way, I didn’t even need the #2 screwdriver-just my finger!
They should’ve told you it’s an easy fix that they’re not allowed to do at a minimum. They could’ve shown you how to do it and just not pass you off as there was nothing to be done. They were just aimed to high from the factory 🤷♂️. Glad this video helped you. ✌️
Thanks, i have used my wife “new” Highlander and from day one saw the beam pattern way high. I never had it back for service and was going to ask them to lower them but realized they will probably say in spec and can’t tough them. I have always been aware of all my car lights and pick the cars I buy on good to great road lighting. These lights are definitely off and glad others have agreed.
Thanks for watching and commenting
Same issue with my 2023 Highlander Hybrid. Thank you for this instruction. This is gonna make a lot of other drivers happy!
@@DavidHale-sc1lc glad it helped!!! ✌️
This is so amazing . After complaining to the Toyota service department on two separate occasions and them telling me it can't be adjusted any more, I finally was able to fix the issue myself because of your video!! Fantastic!!! Thanks! 😍😍😍
I’m sorry I’m just seeing this, I appreciate the super thanks. The way YT gets me my notifications, sometimes things get past me. I do appreciate it!!!
Thank you, I have been trying to figure out how to adjust them dang lights since we got the Highlander. Saw the wheel but was afraid to touch it.
Going home today to adjust.
Awesome man!! Glad it helped you!!! I try to release videos on our 4th Gen Highlander as I have done work or had issues. I’m a mechanic by trade, just not specifically a Toyota tech. I work on everything.
I had the 21 highlander and got the brights every morning, and yes, it was always the smaller cars. I just bought a 23 highlander and I have had a few people in front of my pull over, get behind me and flash their lights at me. I have not been flashed from oncoming traffic yet. I bought it a week and a half ago.
It’s easy to lower them down. I was just afraid some jacka$$ was going to go into road rage and I have them set on automatic mode so it dims them and I don’t to remember it.
Thank you for making this video. I have been having the same issue when driving at night. I was able to turn the adjusters on my '22 by hand. Hopefully this will resolve the issue!
@@royhandy8365 I know it did for us. I haven’t been flashed since making this adjustment.
@@RealWorldGarage Drove home in the dark tonight and wasn't "flashed" once. Thanks again!
Our 2014 Highlander adjusts the same way. Also there is a “R/L” adjustment on our projector lens as well. Pretty much good reference. 25 feet is the standard distance for anyone that wants to use that distance. But as stated in the end. Good point for people
Thanks
Thank you so much sir🙏🏻
This is my big problem at night time thank you thank you 🙏🏻
You’re very welcome.
Thank you. So many people NEED to see this. I wonder if there are good aftermarket warm lights. They're so bright, and almost a blue level of cool white. Warm white would help so much.
I like the color of light these provide, just not the aim. I haven’t been flashed since I aimed them lower.
Nice video. Sort of how I do mine I just adjust from a baseline and then take it out driving seeing how it looks. Usually what I find is I take a measurement directly at where the beam comes out of the headlights then I go out say 40 ft or so and see where it hits. It should be downward slightly otherwise it's going to go up into people's eyes. For instance if the headlights were 4 ft high then the beam should be slightly less than 4 ft high at distance. I think another issue is a lot of people tend to load up the back of their vehicle with extra inflators spare tires just general stuff in the back lowering the back of the vehicle is always going to make the headlights raise up. That's probably just some of the issue. I tow a bit so I put some extra lift spacers in between my rear shocks on the coils and that will raise up the back and lower the front a little bit too. Also helps to make it look less squatty when you're towing.
Thanks for watching and commenting. These highlanders are particularly bad about blinding on coming traffic. Just my wife and myself going to dinner, no load, no towing.
Same issue. High beams are pointing up into the trees. The low beam cutoff line is above most vehicle cabs.
@@kmalerich yes sir. Easy to lower. After I did mine I have never had anyone bright light me again.
Thanks!
I appreciate that!! Thank you!!
We have the 2018, we upgraded to LED bulbs. I feel too many people ask for the brights off. I need to lower them. Hopefully they are similar to adjust.
I would think so, good luck!!
My 22 xse is high as well. Get bright lighted all
The time. Gonna be adjusting!
Thanks, great info. Will do mine tomorrow!!
Go a little at a time and if you go to far just turn it back the other way. Thanks for watching and commenting!!✌️
Happy Thanksgiving to you and the crew.
Sometimes its sufficient to just lower the drivers side. This keeps the low beams out of the eyes of opposing traffic and the low beam's bright spot is shing a little further down the road without blinding anyone in the other lane.
Thank you, it's a common problem with 2021+ Highlanders, and Toyota doesn't want to admit it... It's worst when you're towing a trailer.
I’m sure it really bad then! Thanks for watching and commenting
good video. How much "downroad light distance" did you lose after adjusting the headlights?
Don’t have a specific distance, but some. They’re so bright though, compared to traditional lights, I haven’t found it to be an issue. You can play with it until you have a happy medium, they come up as easy as they go down. Thanks for watching and commenting
So to lower the beam say…2 inches, how many full turns are required….more or less?
Not really sure, but any amount you lower it you can bring it back by simply turning it the other way. Just get a good reference point on a wall with the vehicle level side to side.
Just tried this fix tonight. Hopefully it works on my 2021 Highlander XSE. Got flashed 3 times on a 10 minute drive last night. I also have a 2019 camry XLE with led headlights and occasionally get flashed in that too.
I haven’t been flashed since I did mine. I would imagine that the Camry is a similar adjustment. Thanks for watching and commenting, let me know how it goes.
Thank you! Very helpful! 🫡
What I dont like about my headlights is that shadow that is after the beam cutoff. Its annoying
You're amazing, this the video I need , thank you so much !
Glad it was helpful, I was also tired of being flashed even though I was on low beam. I have a few other maintenance videos on this Highlander. ✌️
Thanks. I got the same issue with my 22 sxe.
Hope it helps
Thank you so much, this helped me so much
Glad to hear that!!! Thanks for watching and commenting!!
On our 2021 base model the owners manual shows two separate adjustment wheels (A & B) for vertical adjustment on each headlight and states that both should be turned the same direction and same number of turns. Can anyone tell me specifically what each adjuster does? Thanks.
On mine I didn’t see but the one on the very back. I know it did show one on the sides. The one on the back is for up and down. If yours has the one on the side it would be for left and right.
@@RealWorldGarage my owner's manual section on headlight adjustment doesn't say anything about left and right, only vertical adjustment. It specifically states to turn both "screws" equally the same direction. Just wondering if any other person who might see my comment knows exactly what each adjuster does. I know you mentioned that there might be different types of lights depending on model. Mine must be different. Thanks.
@williamjstayton the one on the rear will adjust the light up and down, park it in front of a wall where you can see it and turn the screw. You’ll be able to see it. I show it in the video. Anything you do can be undone going the other direction.
I just did it, thanks! Easy job.
Indeed. Thanks for watching and commenting. I haven’t done anything on the highlander in a while, because it hasn’t needed anything. 😂 It’s due a transmission service and spark plugs. I will be doing that and filming soon. Thanks again ✌️
Do you remember how many turns it took you to achieve 1in lower
No sir I don’t, if you have a fixed place to shine the lights it’s fairly straightforward.
@@RealWorldGarage ok thanks, by the way great video. I get flashed all the time on my 2022 highlander
Let me know if you see anything different on the adjuster, I’m pretty sure it’s the same.
I been getting flashed too. Just moved mine 3 clicks lower.
I’m having that problem right now on my 2022
I haven’t had anyone flash their lights at me since. 👍
Well explained thank you!
Thanks you for watching and commenting
you know how to change the headlight bulb
As best as I can tell the bulb isn’t a serviceable part. It appears that starting in 2020 it’s a modular unit and is currently $1200us ea side. If I find that they are serviceable I will produce a video on it. They are around 700$ us for aftermarket lights in the XSE trim and $500 for other trims. Thanks for watching and commenting
I used an 8 mm wrench to make the adjustment
@@stevepeteani3373 whatever works!!! It designed for a #2 Philips. But if you made that work that’s great!!
On your driveway, is it level or does yours angle a little ? our driveway is sloped a little bit.
The main thing is to put it in the same place if you have to adjust it more than once. You just need to have a fixed reference point. I have mine adjusted so they are just below the belt line of a smaller car, I used my daughter’s Toyota Camry for reference. Use your best judgment when lowering them. ✌️
Oh but to answer your question, my driveway is a slight incline, but I used the garage door for a fixed reference point and you just need to make sure you mark how far away from the door you are so if you have to raise or lower them you have the same reference point.
@@RealWorldGarage ok cool, yeah my parents house has a slight incline most likely like yours then too. thanks will keep all that in mind for reference points.
Driving from California to NM tonight. I believe i pissed of the whole of the I40 drivers 😂
I used to piss them off before I lowered mine. When they would flash me to lower them, I would SHOW them I was already on low beam. 😂, after I lowered them I didn’t have any more of them flashing me.
@RealWorldGarage lol ya I had to switch my brights on a more than a few times just to show them I was low beaming it 😂😂
Thank you so much sir...😊
No problem
Very helpful, thank you!
You’re very welcome!!
В салоне этих авто есть же колёсико регулировки фар, так называемый корректор фар. И у него очень большой диапазон. Зачем регулировать саму фару?
У меня Highlander 2021 года, и я считаю, что вообще у этой модели слабый свет фар. Думаю заменить линзы в фарах, чтобы улучшить яркость освещения
I’m going to say I think yours is an over seas model?? They don’t have the pan feature on ours. Mine are the LED beams and are very bright. Yours very likely could be halogen bulbs which aren’t as bright. Thanks for watching.
@@RealWorldGarage у меня модель американской сборки, и фары не галогеновые. Мой автомобиль Toyota Highlander hybrid, в комплектации Limited
@@RealWorldGarage при эксплуатации автомобиля в городе света фар достаточно, но при езде по неосвещенным загородным трассам, света фар явно недостаточно. К тому же на последних моделях Toyota с такими фарами практически не чувствуется разница между ближним и дальним светом фар. Видать Тойота сэкономила на фарах, вроде бы сделали современные фары, но эффективность этих фар слабая.
Thank you for your help
Glad it was helpful!! Thanks for watching and commenting!!
I have the same issue.
Easy fix. Thanks for commenting
Thanks .Best Regards
Thank you!
Hope it was helpful for you!! Thanks for watching and commenting!!
You could leave the right one higher. 99% of the time it's just the driver side light that hits them.
I like them level. But you are correct, the one closer to the on coming traffic is the largest offender. Thanks for watching and commenting!!✌️
👍
Thank you this is so annoying!
Yes it is. I haven’t had anymore problems since.
@@RealWorldGarage I just finished the adjustment and drove around. All good!
Good deal, it’s about as easy it gets on the adjustment. If you go to far you can always go back the other way. ✌️
I love Toyotas but their engines are incredibly loud.
The 4th Gen in particular has the high pressure pump for the direct injection and it is pretty noisy. I don’t really notice it inside. They did a pretty good job with sound deadening. I know some had a problem with wind noise (whistle) that turned out to be the radiator core support, I know they were changing them. I also have a 97 Corolla, the entire car is noisy. But hey it’s an economy car. It’s still running like a top and gets 30mpg. I keep it in tip top shape.
@@RealWorldGarage I have a 15 camry hybird and my engine is loud. I'm trading it in next month for a 2022 highlander XLE hopefully a hybird trim. Those things are very hard to find. But I was hoping the engines on the highlander were a bit quieter while idoling.
Hope this works on my wife’s 2016 Highlander… Peeps are always flashing us… Thanks…
@@Whiteyholmes08 it should. It’s very annoying when you know you’re on low beam but folks want to flash at you.
Thanks so much this was very helpful!!!
@@fazeiiproductions4378 you’re very welcome