Lighting Problems With The 2008 Highland Headlight Bulb: Track, Correct, And Forget The Fussy Behavior
Imagine you: One evening you find the front end of your Toyota Highlander looks off-balance; one headlight beams like a lighthouse while the other just glows. Alternatively either side may be as dark as the Christmas lights from last year. If you have a 2008, you are not alone; driveway chats, stores, and forums all around abound with questions about 2008 highlander headlight bulb. Once again, let your SUV see clearly right beneath our hands.
Typical Headlight Issues for Highland Basic Burned Out Bulb
Usually the offender is an old fashioned burned out bulb. Halogens only survive on average around 1,000 hours; the 2008 Highlander does not provide any advance notice. Just blackness, when there ought to be light no drama, no strange noises.
Find the headlight assembly; pop the hood; twist out the socket; then change the bulb. Low beams run an H11 bulb; high beams call for 9005. Hold the bulb not like you are holding a French fry. The lifetime of the new bulb may be significantly reduced by oil from your skin. Don fresh cloth or latex gloves if you have bacon fingers.
Headights Out both here and elsewhere. See Beyond the Bulb
One thing is blowing a bulb; yet, you negotiate different territory if both sides are dead. Usually suspect people:
Blown fuse: check panels under the hood.
Bad relay: the clicking little square buried in the fuse box.
Creating wire gremlins: Particularly if your Highlander lives in a wet environment, chewed wire or rusted connectors should be given some care.
Start with the most simple test that of the fuses. The route map to both fuse boxes comes from your owner’s handbook. Pull out the one specifically assigned “HEAD (LH, RH)” or “HEAD (MAIN).” Change a blown fuse to match one of the same amperage. Usually, more complex electrical problems or a fading headlight relay follow from repeated infractions.
Flashing Or Subdued Sources Of Light
This one is underhanded. Your light might run just sometimes rather than always. Alternatively it might flutter like a confused light show. First seat the bulb in its socket; vibrations will eventually cause it to wiggle free.
Still another sign of Tacoma headache is headlight plug corrosion. If you find greenish or white powder after sprinkling on a little electrical contact cleaning, gently brush with a little wire tool or old toothbrush. Don’t overdo it; forceful treatment cures less than what breaks.
One Side Out After Bulb Exchange
Here’s a scenario that pushes people to the brink: you replace a dead bulb, but the replacement still won’t turn on. Twice go over the foundations.
In which proper seat is the bulb? Are both prongs fully turned in? Try substituting a seemingly dubious working bulb. Is the blink? weak wire or socket. Grab another bulb if the “bad” bulb won’t light in the functional socket. New bulbs can occasionally be fresh from the box, duds.
Less evident areas of conflict. Relay Issues regarding Headlight Lighting.
As you turn on the lights, that little click you could hear coming from the fuse box. That is the currently in use relay. Should it go bad, usually only one of the headlights would go out. Relays have finite lifetime; the 2008 Highlander isn’t immune either. Sometimes switching a damaged headlight relay with another type of relay such as the fog or horn relay helps you to see whether the problem follows the defective headlight relay. Go get a new relay if it fixes the lights.
Using or damaged headlight assembly.
Plastic around the headlight will easily crack or deform over time from heat, vibration, and sunlight. Water especially finds its way in reaction to strong storms or power washes. Eventually, home moisture results in electrical shorts sometimes blowing bulbs or dimming both high and low beams.
Look for lens apparent damage, condensation, or fogginess. Polish them if the air seems murky. Should they break, replacements from internet or scrapyards are quite reasonably priced.
Either An Alternator or a Battery Is the Primary Power Source
Check the alternator and battery if you chase bulbs, cables, and fuses and your Highlander’s electrical system still appears moody. A malfunctioning alternator produces either dim, irregular, or both depending on voltage reduction for headlights. Should dashboard lights flutter as well, this could be it.
In five minutes local auto parts stores can check your alternator and battery. If the electrical gremlins won go, do not ignore this phase.
LED Swaps and HID: New Problems, Modern Fixers
For the elegant, clean appearance and extended life, many Highland owners choose LED headlight bulbs. Some use full HID for exceptional night driving clarity. Both are only good additions if put correctly.
Install HIDs or LEDs and find strobing, flitting, or warning lights?
Verify that the bulbs are Toyota designed and really plug and play. Certain designs ask for additional resistors or “decoders” to keep the system happy. Online auction sites’ inexpensive lighting are commonly known to cause fits. Keep with respected companies suggested to fit the Highlander.
Headlight Aiming: The Ignored Last Scene
Unless you aim them, no headlight correction is done. Twisted or sky high beams make you disliked and could even obscure the road. Change the screws; tape the beam centers; park 25 feet from a wall. A little lower the beams to get the brightest spot immediately under the hood line.
List of Quick Problems Solvable Exchanges.
Look at the bulb; replace with a tested good one. Check relays and fuses; replace should damage found. Clean thoroughly; examine wires and sockets for rust or filth. Get test voltage at the socket. searching for 12V when the switch is on using an inexpensive voltmeter. In case something breaks, replace, or repairs assembly. melted homes or broken links.
If you are moving to LEDs or HIDs, update prudently; choose respectable kits and, if necessary, look for CAN bus adapters.
Here Are A Few Last Thoughts: Save Time and Pain
Just in case, have a spare bulb in your glove box. If you know the arrangement, Highland headlamps modifications go quickly. Remember: wash your hands; check connections; use light hand pressure; clean bulbs.
Although a little knowledge goes a lot, handling a 2008 Highlander headlight bulb headache is not rocket science. Stop running from those dark evenings and spend more time really driving headslights blazing, road clear, peace of mind restored.
Verify that the bulbs are Toyota designed and really plug and play. Certain designs ask for additional resistors or “decoders” to keep the system happy.
Halogens only survive on average around 1,000 hours; the 2008 Highlander does not provide any advance notice.