Purpose of this post is 3-fold:

Firstly is to share with you my new tail lights - TYC black. Does anyone have them too?



Secondly, does anyone know why does Toyota downsize the backup light bulb size/wattage after 2000? Before 2000 model, they use the bigger 21W backup light. After 2000 model, they downsize to the smaller 18W. I have always found that I can appreciate more backup light power (must be getting old and the factory tinted tailgate window). The bigger 21W socket also allows you to fit the high output 27W but the 18W socket fits only 18W bulbs.

Lastly, since that I got new tail lights now, my 2002 OEM ones are up for sale: 2002 OEM Tail Lights @ eBay - if link doesn't work, item # is: 2438172659

Thank you all.

Edward

 

I am thinking about getting one just like yours but I want to see what they actually look like on a black rig, they actually look good. As for the wattage, can't you just change out the bulb for a higher wattage one, or the factory harness can't hancle the extra 3 watts?

 

'96 - '00 4Runner use T20 (7440) as back up bulbs. Stock ones are 21W but you can use those high-wattage 27W ones just by swapping. I have no idea if the stock harness can handle this extra 6W without overheating or not though.

'00 - up 4Runner use T16 (168) as back up bulbs. They are smaller and come in only 18W. I have yet to see higher than 18W T16. Even with a better reflector in the '00 - up tail light housing, I'd still choose 27W over 18W for backup bulbs any given time. This TYC backup reflector is very powerful too, further enhancing the output.

A close-up pic. of the TYC black tail lights:

 

Here's a pic of the latest chrome Altezza style. This one has an "amber" turn signal:


Altezza w/amber

 

Yours are quite neat & clean. Do you have pics. of them on your Runner? What brand are they? Are they for '96 - '00 4R?

So far I counted 3 different designs (not colors) of tail lights for 3rd gen. 4Runner: TYC (mine), yours, and the following:



Which I believe is the same as the design Jason sells.

Did I miss any thing?

 

hilux surf, i really like your tail lights, where there a plug and play ? i checked www.matrixracing.com and they have them on there web site,before i order them are these lights in stock and how long did they take to get them to you. thanks Edward. :pig: Eddie

 

Eddie, they are plug-n-play for '96 - '00 4R. But since that I once converted mine to the 2002 tail lights w/ 2002 wire harness, I actually had to get 1998 wire harness to complete the installation.

I bought mine from Matrix Racing with their special eBay deal ($135 instead of $149), they claimed to have these in stock at their local supplier's warehouse but it still took them a good 14 calender days to send to Boston.

You will love the intensified backup light output with these babies (even with stock 21W bulbs). But I will use 27W bulbs soon.

 

link did not work, let me try again matrixracing.com

 

thanks ed, i have a 1999 ltd so they should fit with no mods. thanks for the info. :pig: Eddie

 

Eddie, you're welcome.

Does any one need 2002 bumper turn signal lamps as spares? Please see eBay auction # 2437370960. Thanks.

 

one more question hilux surf, the back up light is the middle one ? in your pic the bottom light seems white in the middle lens, or is that just the red reflextor coming out white in the pic.

 

Yes, backup light is in the middle. The bottom one has red reflectors on 2 sides - probably as required by law.

 

Looks good, you have any more pics of your tailights?

 

Sorry, not very good pics. I may replace them with some more legible ones later.

 

hilux-nice rear bumper red reflectors.i was actually thinking of doing that.where'd u get them and was it hard to wire them into the harness?

 

A+, my friend sent those to me from Japan some time ago. But I may sell those on my upcoming Hilux Surf website. They are just reflectors, you don't wire them - you are looking at the reflection from my camera's flash. But you do need to drill into your bumper to mount them - they don't use tape.

I never understand why our US spec. 4Runner neither comes with these rear reflectors nor the very much needed sidemarkers......

 

tint them bad boys like i did





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[image]http://memimage.cardomain.com/member_images/6/web/486000-486999/486053_68.jpg[/image]

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[image]http://memimage.cardomain.com/member_images/6/web/486000-486999/486053_78.jpg[/image]

 

looks good i tinted my bumper lights and now im thinking about tinting the tail lights as well

 

i have those other ones and love them to death. im thinkin of havbing the black part painted to match my rigs color along with some weatherflectors and a jaos spolier

 

I had the TYC over a year and just got rid of them. The black looked cool with my d. Dune. I sold them, because I got bored of it. $100 was all I asked.