Sealed Headlights for 1981 Sunrader

[Peggy DeBell]

The high beam on one of my headlights in my 1981 Toyota Sunrader is not working. The low beams work on both headlights. About 2 years ago I replaced both headlights in Canada while on a trip. They were about 100.00 as I was told the entire light had to be replaced, not just the bulb. And I I believe that is true, but I am wondering if they can be replaced with something else, so that just the bulb can be replaced.

Thanks, Peggy DeBell

[Lakota Wolf]

$100 for sealed beam hi/lo headlights? WOW. I have had sealed beam headlights last as little as 3 months and others over 30 yrs.. Auto parts stores sell the sealed beams fairly reasonable still. Its still concidered an Automotive application. If your headlight is All glass then its a sealed beam.

[Peggy DeBell]

Yep, I was in Canada. In BC, near Victoria. You seem to think I paid too much. Yes, the light is all glass. And thanks for letting me know I can get them at a local automotive place. I will check a couple of them out. I suppose the head lamps would be pretty standard and the same as a for a regular 1981 Toyota truck...??

And do you know when they stopped using the sealed beam type?

Blessings, Peggy

[Lakota Wolf]

They initially stopped using Glass sealed beams around 1990 (not sure of exact year) and went with the 9004-9007 halogen insert bulb into a plastic tub type headlight assembly).

The glass type comes in single headlight, high and low beam combo and seperate high and seperate low beam. 2 and 4 headlight design. The Sunrader is a standard Toyota pick up body and uses the standard glass headlights. I looked at auto parts store here (Oriellys) and the combo high/low glass headlight was $8.89 each.

[Peggy DeBell]

Thanks so much for your response. So I wonder why they charged 100.00 in Canada? Maybe it took a lot of labor to install?? I bought, The Turtle, my Sunrader, in 2011 and I am still learning so much about cars that I never really needed to know before! Even simple things like changing a light bulb. How many novice vintage RV owners does it take to change a light bulb? Well it depends on the experience they have had with self-automotive repair. Being a woman, this was never expected of me. But I find it very interesting! Blessings, Peggy

PS.   I will look at The Turtle's repair sheet for this job in Canada and see if I am right about the price. But I am pretty sure, it was 100.00 because I was pretty dismayed at the time.

[Lakota Wolf]

I do know a couple quick change oil change places here that charged $5 plus cost of the headlight to install it. 

Usually the hardest part is getting the 4 screws loose to take the headlight ring off to change the bulb. I would look at the reciept and they may have charged you for new headlight rings along with new headlamps and possibly a flat rate on labor.

Note**  On older rigs and such, you will come across stubborn rusty screws and bolts.   Toyota's are fairly easy to work on,, Just on a smaller compact size.

You have a nice looking Sunrader,, I always did like driving those.

[Peggy DeBell]

I bought the sealed headbeam for about 15.00. And now I am thinking about trying to replace it myself. Since the headbeams were removed less than three years ago, I am hoping things will not be rusty. I only saw one screw at the top left of the beam that I could get to. And then I saw 2 more to the left in the middle side of the beam, but I can't get to those unless I remove the top glass portion. Do you or anyone else know where online I could find instructions? I looked and didn't see anything. Thanks, Peggy

[Lakota Wolf]

You will have 4 small screws, 2 on the top edge and 2 on the bottom edge of the headlight ring. You will see 2 larger philips type screws, one on top and one to the side, THOSE are for headlight adjustment. You can usually get away with taking the 2 top screws out and tilt the retaining  ring down enough to get the headlight out, But it is always better to remove all 4 screws. They are small, about a 1/4 inch, philips head (cross cut), not straight slot.

The 2 large philip screws, for the headlight adjustment is to adjust height and side to side adjustment.

[Peggy DeBell]

Well I went down to my motorhome and noticed that the light was a 2D1 Halogen and the replacement they gave me was a Sylvania H6024 ...Halogen type like the one in there now, but not the same number. So I didn't do anything. The box showed how to do it and I had a Toyota Handbook for a 1981 pick-up and it also has illustrations. Thanks for your detailed reply and I will print that out too. And I may get some backup help before I start. However, I want to make sure the new one is the correct one. The auto parts place said they would take it back if I had the receipt, which I do.

[Peggy DeBell]

Well as luck or something would have it, I just went on line and did a search for the Sylvania H6024 and there was a place to put in your vehicle and it was an exact match. Also without opening the box, I could see 2D1 at the top of the new one on a close-up on their site! So now I can start the project by opening the box! I will let you know how it goes. It might snow tomorrow and so it might be a few days. Thanks so much again for your help!

[Lakota Wolf]

Depending on the manufacture of the headlight, some have different numbers.  But yes, the H (for hologen) 6024 is the correct headlight.

It will be a piece of cake installing it.. F.Y.I.  if you have some grease or even vasaline will work,, put a lil dab on the connections on the headlight.

It will detour corrosion on the electrical contacts. Good luck.

[Peggy DeBell]

Maybe when I get in there I can see if there is corrosion and try to remove it...maybe that is all it needs...and I won't have to open the box!