Headlight mount bracket

My 2002 Tundra headlights won't adjust. I stick the screw driver in and turn the adjuster, and I can see the little hear turning on the bolt, but it is stripped or something. The headlight doesn't move.

Does anyone know if I can buy just the bracket without buying the assembly? If so, what us it called? I've searched and can't find it. The part I'm talking about is circled in the attached picture.

 

Not aware of what you're saying being a possible thing. What I'll tell you is, both the OEM and many aftermarket housings support adjustment in two ways:

1. Use the slot - which requires a stupidly long screwdriver and angling it just right (esp. w/aftermarket units!) to get it to engage
2. Popping off the blinker and using - IIRC - a 9mm ratchet on the fastener head

If you gimme a sec, I'll show you a picture.

 

I don't see the retainer / adjuster available separately. You could just buy a cheap assembly and use that part. $40 on rock auto, ect....

 

Here you go. OEM on right. Aftermarket on left. The long tube is where screwdriver goes in (blue line). But you can also use the adjuster nub on the rear (red circle). It's either 7,8,9mm IIRC

I found all four of my OEM mechanisms to be buttery smooth with no finagling. The aftermarket adjusters are fidgety bullshit that require too much finagling and only engage half the turns I try, from any angle.

It just so happens that head is totally accessible by just unscrewing and slapping the blinker forward.

​

 

@shifty` OP has an 02. 00-04 is a different style

 

Weird, I swore it was Noah who showed me that and both of his trucks are '00-'02 I beleive.

 

I remember a post where a guy with an 05 or something AC bought 00-04 headlamps and they wouldn't fit.

 

I mean, I know there's some visual differences, but ... like, I'm looking at this video from a 2002, with that same rear, and I clearly see the adjuster on the back can be used with a box-end wrench. I assume the screwdriver engages it from the front all the same. Surely there must be two adjustments on OP's housing also?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vDi-fIp0jkw#t=5m29s​

 

I only have the one adjustment, that I'm aware of . (I've been wrong many times before) No screwdriver needed.

 

That looks different than mine. Mine doesn't have the nut on the back. It's similar, but without the nut, and it spins when I turn the screw driver anyway. I think the plastic piece that spins on the adjuster bolt is stripped. The plastic piece spins, but doesn't move along the bolt as it spins.

I'll see if I can get a pic without removing the assembly.

Thanks!

 

Ok, mine does have a plastic nut on the back, but that spins too when I turn the screwdriver. The distance from the top of the screwdriver hole to the nut is maybe 2 inches ...3 at the most. Mine may be an aftermarket of some kind. I've only had the truck for a month, so I'm not sure if previous owners changed them out.

 

But wait ... IIRC, the entire housing moves up/down with that crank thingy, not anything inside the housing. That's the other way they're different from the '05-'06, the later years move internally. Someone on here has a pic of how far out their headlights are pointed when adjusting.

You may just want to consider getting new CAPA-certified housings. I think I paid $70/ea or something inconsequential for my later-year housings from DEPO off RockAuto.

 

There’s only one way to find that out. Pull them out and take a look at the name on the back. Replacement assemblies are pretty cheap to come by on rock auto.

 

That’s correct. There is no internal adjustment for this style

 

Now that tilted headlight that we saw on the other thread makes sense. Our headlights adjust the reflector bowl internally, these adjust the whole assembly externally.

 

Yep, @KNABORES shows that really clearly in this post: https://www.tundras.com/threads/colight-mini-projector-lifespan.132133/page-3#post-3364614

Basically, the whole light fixture tilts forward/backward which is why I was wondering ... maybe OP is expecting the bowl to move when he adjusts, and it's not, so ... he assumes the adjuster isn't working? But in reality, it's actually just moving the whole fixture? I mean, both adjusters aren't liable to be broken, right? It'd hafta be some real shit fixtures.

 

I was thinking the same thing...all I know is that the headlight beams don't move when I crank the screwdriver adjuster on both left and right lights. I turned them both many times and no change on the beam location. And the little plastic piece with the nut spins, but doesn't actually have any linear movement along the bolt as it spins...on both assemblies.

 

I'm a little confused when you say turn the screwdriver, are you sticking a screwdriver in the hole you circled in your first picture? I didn't think that would do anything, and you'd have to use a 10mm (i think) on that plastic nut you've got circled in your second picture. I have the same style and just adjusted them in this manner recently.

 

Screwdriver can be used to turn the gear inside that hole. As seen on TV. Well, YouTube in this case. LOL

https://youtu.be/DVHKr_Ou6BM

https://youtu.be/Fg819aEQBK8

 

Well I'll be damned! Learn something new every day

 

Yes sir. Yes sir. We all learn sumpin new every day around here.

 

Idk if the bracket is the same on a DC/Sequoia vs other models, but I have a set of OEM headlights I just took off that are crazy dirty you can have. They aren't sellable so I'd be happy to give them away, again assuming they're compatibility.

 

I believe that they will not be interchangeable with OP's AC. But hey, a few bucks for shipping is worth a try. FOR SCIENCE!

 

I really appreciate it, but mamba's right, those won't work on an AC.

 

Damn...I just tossed my old foggy headlamp assy's in the recycling bin just last week, or I would have offered to send them to you. But acceptable after market parts are plentiful and cheap!

https://www.rockauto.com/en/moreinfo.php?pk=1377159&cc=1389001&pt=10762&jsn=523&optionchoice=0-0-0-1

 

Thanks, yeah I think that's what I'm going to have to do.

 

I appreciate the thought though!