Dreadful Lights!!

[bondy]

Hey there!! Nice forum!

Just got a 2004 Rav 4 Standard. I love it. It's awesome and only 70kms.

However, I was out night driving and couldn't see anything. The high-beams added nothing either!

In short, I gotta fix this situation desperately before Friday 'cause I'll be driving at night again then with my kids.

The headlights currently have some kind of geometrical shape in front them like an octagon. Not sure if that is the light or some cosmetic thing. Here's a picture of something similar I found on the net.

http://www.carsteering.com/data/all_...Y678-B101L.jpg

Any help would greatly appreciated. There's not enough info. I heard HIR lights are good but difficult to come by up here in Kelowna, BC, Canada.

Thanks RAV4 buddies!

[Blogson]

Are you certain that you moved the switch all the way to the headlight position? I had the same problem since I don't normally drive at night. Switched on the lights and couldn't see much, and it wasn't until I had driven halfway home that I realised that I had the switch in the parking lights position!

[bondy]

I am pretty sure they were on fully. I was able to see barely adequately before a few cars came behind me. Then I was pretty lost. I got more information from oncoming traffic illuminating the road curves!

I can say my dash board was fully lit, so that should indicate lights were on.

[Blogson]

Not certain about what is meant when the "dash board was fully lit" -The dash lights dim when the parking lights or headlights are switched on.

[bondy]

Ok, I wasn't aware of that. I will give a try and I sincerely hope that I get more light. But I don't think I will.

[bondy]

I think what I'll do is, go for a little night-drive tonight just to test that theory. I hope I'm pleasantly surprised.

I'd still like to upgrade these headlights, however, regardless. Anybody have info on this or brands that are better? I'm not sure what the guy stuck in there before I bought it, but I would imagine it wasn't nothing fancy.

[Dr. Dyno]

Figuring the dash lights are an indication the headlights are on must be a common mistake from the number of cars you see driving with just their parking lights on.
Even worse, since many cars now illuminate the dash every time the ignition is on, I see cars with no exterior lights at all on, completely dark!

[Phrede]

Originally Posted by bondy

Hey there!! Nice forum!

Just got a 2004 Rav 4 Standard. I love it. It's awesome and only 70kms.

However, I was out night driving and couldn't see anything. The high-beams added nothing either!

In short, I gotta fix this situation desperately before Friday 'cause I'll be driving at night again then with my kids.

The headlights currently have some kind of geometrical shape in front them like an octagon. Not sure if that is the light or some cosmetic thing. Here's a picture of something similar I found on the net.

http://www.carsteering.com/data/all_...Y678-B101L.jpg

Any help would greatly appreciated. There's not enough info. I heard HIR lights are good but difficult to come by up here in Kelowna, BC, Canada.

Thanks RAV4 buddies!

What you describe and include a picture of is part of the normal headlight reflector system.

It sounds to me that either your lights were not fully on or their is a problem some where. Before you drive again at night get out and look at the lights to make sure they are on fully. There should be a very noticeable change when going from low to high beams. Did the blue high beam indicator in the dash come on when you went to high beam?

I assume you meant HID lights. For that to be done correctly the entire headlight should be replaced with ones designed for the HID bulbs. This can get expensive.

The headlights on your RAV4 when working correctly should not be much different than any other car with halogen headlights.

HTH

[Dr. Dyno]

Originally Posted by Phrede

Did the blue high beam indicator in the dash come on when you went to high beam?

Yes, that's good check I forgot to mention. If the headlights aren't on the blue light will only be lit until you release the lever since it'll be in daytime "flash" mode.

[bondy]

Thanks for the info and yes the the Blue Highbeam indicator was coming on, however, there was no increase in light power. In fact, lowbeam actually seemed better or equal. I recall the fellow who sold the car to me was just changing the headlights apparently the day I bought it from him. Maybe that's a clue.

Once again. I really appreciate the info. This is the first I car I bought in Canada in about 15 years. I was on the other side of the globe for a long time!