Headlight weirdness

[JExpedition07]

Mine is the previous generation not an 18’. Was just posting a reference of a stock headlight setup, halogens don’t usually seem to have that close cutoff described. I had mistakenly assumed you had LED lights. I’m wondering now if yours are aimed down too much.

 

[Markg2]

It's just hard to believe that a month old vehicle has headlights aimed that poorly. Anything's possible and that's another reason for tomorrow's service appointment.

If the problem persists, I'm wondering if a different type of lamp(s) are compatible with the housing. Would the '18 Platinum LED setup be 'plug and play' with the XLT housing?

 

[Dscustoms]

The led housings are not a direct swap. You’ll need both expensive headlight housings, ballasts, and some engine bay wiring harness. If you get them to change it please get the part numbers for the new wiring harness, I can’t figure it out in the part guide.

The factory halogen headlights are unsafe and nowhere near the quality of the rest of the truck. Getting one of these without factory leds was a huge mistake for me, I hope to remedy it sometime. The first thing I did was change my bulbs for leds, which helped somewhat. The cutoff is still very low, but at least the light output is reasonable. I don’t think this is just a mountain road problem. I live in an area with dark flat roads, and curves. Absolutely can’t see a thing without high beams on at night. The auto high beams work pretty well, but as the truck was delivered I felt like you did, that this was dangerous.

 

[Markg2]

Is the cutoff achieved by a physical reflector that sits in front of the bulb and is fixed to the housing?

The dealer is providing a loaner this morning. They say that to adjust the headlights they have to remove the bumper ++ to get at the adjusting screw! Did you have to go through all that to switch out the halogen for an LED?

 

[John Christopher]

I just don't understand how Ford could redesign the Expedition and screw up something like headlights. Then to have to take the bumper and other things off to get to the adjustments is ridiculous. Makes you wonder what else they screwed up on a beautiful new truck.

 

[Randy Schmidt]

I don't get it. Even if our's are aimed wrong, where's your 'sharp, horizontal cutoff line? Yours look perfectly fine. Is your Expedition a 2018?

Looks like this person has a 2007 Expedition.

 

[Markg2]

i shot these images going downhill last night after the headlights were 'adjusted' at the dealer that morning.

 

[John Christopher]

That's somewhat better but nothing to write home about. Did they actually have to take the bumper and other parts off to adjust the lights?

 

[Markg2]

Not only the bumper but... the consecutive, dedicated time that the mechanic spent on this was an hour and forty-five minutes (I was at the dealer for ~2 1/2).

FYI, this is the text of the email I sent to the service manager (dealer) this am:

First, I want to thank you and the service department for taking Connie’s Expedition out of sequence so a loaner and trip back to the shop was avoided.

Second, the mechanic did increase the low beam field of view. I drove the vehicle for short test run around Horseshoe Drive last night.

The attached images represent the view out the windshield ‘going downhill’. A decline represents the most restricted of the restricted visions. Approximately ½ the driving time in Evergreen is downhill—the drive to Denver on I-70 is all downhill. Although the low beam field of view is better than previous to yesterday’s headlight adjustment, I think any reasonable person would agree the field of vision is restricted, unsafe, dangerous and unacceptable.

As before, I maintain that the XLT low beam projector design is a seriously flawed and dangerous design defect. Ford clearly did not consider mountain roads in their design considerations.

The 2018 Expedition is an excellent vehicle throughout with this one glaring exception.

There is at least one fix for this condition. Install the Platinum, LED housing in place of the halogen projector housing. I’ve seen through the windshield images of the LED low beams and they do not exhibit the restricted view of the XLT.

Pending an adequate response, I’m withholding notification of this problem to the NHTSA.

Cordially,

 

[John Christopher]

Not only the bumper but... the consecutive, dedicated time that the mechanic spent on this was an hour and forty-five minutes (I was at the dealer for ~2 1/2).

FYI, this is the text of the email I sent to the service manager (dealer) this am:

First, I want to thank you and the service department for taking Connie’s Expedition out of sequence so a loaner and trip back to the shop was avoided.

Second, the mechanic did increase the low beam field of view. I drove the vehicle for short test run around Horseshoe Drive last night.

The attached images represent the view out the windshield ‘going downhill’. A decline represents the most restricted of the restricted visions. Approximately ½ the driving time in Evergreen is downhill—the drive to Denver on I-70 is all downhill. Although the low beam field of view is better than previous to yesterday’s headlight adjustment, I think any reasonable person would agree the field of vision is restricted, unsafe, dangerous and unacceptable.

As before, I maintain that the XLT low beam projector design is a seriously flawed and dangerous design defect. Ford clearly did not consider mountain roads in their design considerations.

The 2018 Expedition is an excellent vehicle throughout with this one glaring exception.

There is at least one fix for this condition. Install the Platinum, LED housing in place of the halogen projector housing. I’ve seen through the windshield images of the LED low beams and they do not exhibit the restricted view of the XLT.

Pending an adequate response, I’m withholding notification of this problem to the NHTSA.

Cordially,

EXCELLENT RESPONSE !!

Keep the site informed of your progress.

 

[Dscustoms]

I might join in starting the complaints with my dealer. I’d have to take out my led bulbs when I bring it in but that’s no problem. Even with the leds it’s terrible on dark roads.

 

[Markg2]

2 trips to the dealer. First time they adjusted the low beams--didn't help. Second time they reset the housings, installed Sylvania bulbs and adjusted--didn't help. Service department acknowledged that the low beam projector is a design defect for the specific condition driving on dark, mountain roads--specifically downgrade.

While I consider alternatives, we set the lights on automatic. The lights did go hi-beam on the secondary, paved road but dropped to low-beam on the dirt road for the final ~2000' to our house (and she almost hit a deer). I checked the manual. One of the criteria for the hi-beam to actuate is speed. The vehicle must be traveling at least 32 MPH. The speed limit on paved road is 30 and on the dirt road 20. So much for 'automatic' lights!

 

[Uturn]

The Ford Explorer with the projector headlights w/o HID is even worse. Uses a 9005 bulb (single filament) and a shutter for both low and high beam. With the stock bulb either low or high is abysmal. The Expedition at least has a separate high beam and keeps the low beam on with the high beam. My recommendation is to use the regular Sylvania Silverstar 9005 bulbs for the low beams. There is a significant improvement in the low beams and the regular Silverstars (not the Ultras) have a decent life span as long as you do not touch the bulb with your fingers or other body parts. Unfortunately the only Silverstars that fit the high beams are H11's which are 55w. The called for H9's are 65w. I have a set of Silverstar H11's, have not had a chance to compare them yet. I also have a pair of LED's on order to try out for the high beams. Will report back on my findings.

 

[Markg2]

I suggested switching out the entire XLT housings for the Platinum housings since same uses LED's for the low beam and doesn't have the hard cutoff. The dealer needed technical direction from ford since there are more parts required than just the housing for the LED + such a change would likely require a software change/update.

The dealer was shutdown by Ford.

 

[Markg2]

And another important point. It sounds like you're able to replace bulbs fairly easily. The Expedition requires the removal of the entire front bumper and some parts under the hood. It took the mechanic ~2 hours to replace the bulbs!

Even if I could do the work I wouldn't since the vehicle is only 2 months old.

 

[Uturn]

The factory LED's are integral to the housings. My understanding is that the Platinum housings w/LED's require a wiring harness change. The only question that I have not found the answer for (AllData Pro does not have the schematics yet) is just how much of the harness needs to be changed. The two BMW's I have both use automatic leveling for the projector housings. That is the only real solution for projector headlights with their sharp cutoff. I have been extremely happy with the Silverstars as far as light output as a replacement for the low beams to the point that when someone that lives here is hesitant I will put in a spare set I keep to let them try them. Everyone that has tried them here ends up keeping them. It is not the perfect solution, just a big improvement. Unfortunately it still means dealing with the cutoff.

 

[Markg2]

The service department knew that a different harness would be required just not the specifics + another module of sorts that would sit in back of the housing + the questionable software alteration. The service department 'assumed' the software would require work but was relying upon Ford to direct--which was not forthcoming.

No matter how bright the bulb it will only increase the light below the cutoff. When the vehicle goes downslope the horizontal line (depending upon the slope) can get cut in 1/2. I believe the Audi's had automatic levelers when they had projector type lamps. I believe they moved away from the design.

FYI, I had posted images previously in the thread of the diminished light on a downslope.

 

[Uturn]

As far as bulb replacement on the Expedition, the bumper does not need to be pulled. I have a 2018 Expedition and can change either side headlight bulb, high or low beam, in fifteen minutes. A lot of mechanics have not figured that out yet. There is a seam in the wheel liner with a fold area on the upper liner right in front of the wheel. Remove the single screw on top of the fold line and fold the upper liner out to the the tire. The headlight bulb assemblies are right there.

 

[Uturn]

I saw your pictures and agree wholeheartedly. The only plus is that the Expedition uses a reflector high beam which is way better than the Explorer. The Expy is not here right now. When it arrives I will try to post a picture of the bulb access area of the liner.

 

[Uturn]

Use a 7/32nds or 5.5mm socket to remove this screw to gain access to the back of the headlight assemblies and change bulbs.

Pull the liner up, remove rubber covers and untwist bulbs. Unclip wire harness from bulb(may require two hands) and remove bulb. Installation is the opposite. Be careful not to touch glass portion of bulbs.