Fixing beam pattern

[OceanRescue01]

Needed to replace my drivers side headlight assembly. Picked up a TYC replacement. Put my HIDs back in and I’ve got a funky beam pattern. Any suggestions on what it is and how I might fix it or at least make it better? PS I do need to adjust the vertical position for sure.


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[RoadRamblerNJ]

Needed to replace my drivers side headlight assembly. Picked up a TYC replacement. Put my HIDs back in and I’ve got a funky beam pattern. Any suggestions on what it is and how I might fix it or at least make it better? PS I do need to adjust the vertical position for sure.


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Different reflector shape more than likely. PS: I think your neighbor in the white house down by the bend has a rifle he's gonna use to "adjust" those HIDs! LOL.

 

[RoadRamblerNJ]

Bulb depth could be slightly different also.

 

[blackbetty14]

Hotspot looks low, gotta adjust the bulb.

Side note... the TYC and OEM have different projectors (also a clear lens) so the cut toff will be cleaner and more defined compared to the stocker on the pass side. Also the TYC and the OEM have slightly different Amber colored LEDs (from the pics Ive seen). It would drive me nuts so I think your better off getting another TYC to match or just get a new stocker replacement (better option).

 

[OceanRescue01]

Hotspot looks low, gotta adjust the bulb.

Side note... the TYC and OEM have different projectors (also a clear lens) so the cut toff will be cleaner and more defined compared to the stocker on the pass side. Also the TYC and the OEM have slightly different Amber colored LEDs (from the pics Ive seen). It would drive me nuts so I think your better off getting another TYC to match or just get a new stocker replacement (better option).

Thanks buddy


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[bigred90gt]

Hotspot looks low, gotta adjust the bulb.

Side note... the TYC and OEM have different projectors (also a clear lens) so the cut toff will be cleaner and more defined compared to the stocker on the pass side. Also the TYC and the OEM have slightly different Amber colored LEDs (from the pics Ive seen). It would drive me nuts so I think your better off getting another TYC to match or just get a new stocker replacement (better option).

How does one go about adjusting the hotspot up in the TYC projectors? I think that is part of my problem, but have no clue how to fix it.


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[WilliamS]

Sometimes you can shim the bulb to move or spread the hotspot, but this is usually on higher end projectors. Not sure if it would work, understanding the quality of the TYC projector

 

[blackbetty14]

Shim the bulb. It might be harder with the 9012/9006 bulb as it uses a twist lock motion to hold the bulb in (at least in the OE headlight). Its easier on the D2S/H1 style as they use a metal clip to lock the bulb down.

1.)Remove the headlight from the truck
2.) Remove the rear cover for bulb access and release the bulb clip or untwist the bulb.
3.) remove the HID ballast power plug to jumper to portable battery or use another ballast If you have extras (I have lots lol)
4.) Use a 12v battery source to power the HIDs, turn them on and play with the up and down position of the bulb looking at the output against a wall prob 30-60ft away.
5.) Not which way you have the bulb angled, unpower the ballast and remove the bulb. Use thin material you have laying around (plastic from packaging or something thin in sheet form). Cut a piece to fit the bulb base that lays against the projector mounting area. Insert bulb with spacer and either hold down or reset clip or twist bulb back into holder. Retest the beam output until its right. Your hotspot is low and it wont take much to bring it back up. You want the hotspot dead even (center of the hotspot "blob") in the midde of the cutoff so its like the cutoff cuts the hotspot in 2. you can adjust the hotspot upward more if you want a lower output low beam and a better high beam but I don't. Once the beam is where you want it, reasemble the headlight back after connecting the ballast internally for normal function. Then install back in the truck.
6.) verify it works after being back in the truck.

Should be it.

When your testing the hotspot alightment I would verify bulb depth as well. Pulling the bulb outward will affect the beam pattern as well as its angle. You might need to shim it up and outward. If the beam gets worse and doesn't get rid of the pattern on the ground after aligning it to the cutoff and pulling it out doesn't help you might have to push the bulb in more (this requires shaving the bulb base to push it inward more). This is more involved than just shimming the bulbs angle.