2025 OEM Projector Headlight dark spots

[Xman]

Spaced, thanks for the clarification. I see what you are talking about now. I would have to say I have not noticed any light reductions in the beam.

edited to provide correct content

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[Xman]

Spaced, I spent a lot of time driving at night in the snow and Wyoming darkness this last week. It was much easier to observe my headlight characteristics in these snow/dirt road conditions and focus on your comments. Before this, I had not noticed that my headlights moved left and right with the steering wheel. I am amazed how well my headlights performed. Definitely not what you are experiencing.

It makes me wonder how to improve your situation and if there are any changes with the new 2025 Lariat headlight configuration with the new fog lights. Has the headlamp steering been increased to compensate for the new fog lights? Might taping off each side to view each individual headlamp pattern to see if they match? How to get Ford to correct your situation as these LED lights are expensive? I hope you can improve your headlight performance and am interesting in knowing how this turns out.

 

[Spaced25]

Spaced, I spent a lot of time driving at night in the snow and Wyoming darkness this last week. It was much easier to observe my headlight characteristics in these snow/dirt road conditions and focus on your comments. Before this, I had not noticed that my headlights moved left and right with the steering wheel. I am amazed how well my headlights performed. Definitely not what you are experiencing.

It makes me wonder how to improve your situation and if there are any changes with the new 2025 Lariat headlight configuration with the new fog lights. Has the headlamp steering been increased to compensate for the new fog lights? Might taping off each side to view each individual headlamp pattern to see if they match? How to get Ford to correct your situation as these LED lights are expensive? I hope you can improve your headlight performance and am interesting in knowing how this turns out.

Appreciate hearing about your truck. If you get a chance, would you mind posting some pictures similar to the ones I did? I’d be interested to see the difference.

 

[Xman]

I'm headed out of town and will be at least a week plus before I can take any pictures. Tonight, I drove in dense fog. The '24 fog lights have a very wide pattern so they can illuminate around corners when you turn the wheel. Thus, there is insufficient light in front of the vehicle to pierce through the fog. I got to experience this first hand tonight. I could barely notice the fog lights were on with the low-beams on. Turn the headlights off with the fog lights on was like I had no lights on at all.

Looking back at your pictures, the picture in post #1 looks different than the one in post #6 (which almost looks normal). The upper part of the beam in Picture #1 doesn't appear as wide as the lower half. Not at all like my '24.

Other thoughts.
- have your tried turning on your fog lights to see if they help your situations? You may have better fog lights than the '24 and would help.
- have you gone to a dealership and driven another Lariat at night to see if it has the irregular pattern like your truck?
- Do you have a blackout package? I remember reading somewhere that there is some difference with the LED headlights on a non-blackout package.

 

[ThePhychoKid]

@Spaced25 The reason your headlights have that dip is likely a foreground limiter. The limiter reduces the light in the area closest to you so that your eyes don't get desensitized and you reduce distance vision at night.

Granted, I haven't taken these headlights apart to confirm, but I've built a few headlights with foreground limiters and I'm 99% sure that's what it is.

 

[Spaced25]

@Spaced25 The reason your headlights have that dip is likely a foreground limiter. The limiter reduces the light in the area closest to you so that your eyes don't get desensitized and you reduce distance vision at night.

Granted, I haven't taken these headlights apart to confirm, but I've built a few headlights with foreground limiters and I'm 99% sure that's what it is.

The lighting is poor in the center of the beam pattern, not closest to the truck, so I’m not sure that’s it. Or that is it and it’s just implemented so poorly. In post 15 I circled the trouble area. It shows where the beam pattern and light output is weakest, in the center of the beam, not directly in front of the vehicle where the light is closest to it.

 

[ThePhychoKid]

The lighting is poor in the center of the beam pattern, not closest to the truck, so I’m not sure that’s it. Or that is it and it’s just implemented so poorly. In post 15 I circled the trouble area. It shows where the beam pattern and light output is weakest, in the center of the beam, not directly in front of the vehicle where the light is closest to it.

Yep, I saw the pictures, and I'm pretty sure that's what it is. Lighting within ~75ft is considered "foreground". As far as the apparent break in the lighting, I bet that just comes down to a poor implementation... OE's tend to have pretty poor stock lighting (bad beam patterns, optics, poor minimum standards, etc.). There's a Facebook group called Headlight Junkies where this stuff is discussed in depth, and there are aftermarket options with proper optics and excellent lighting, if you're interested in learning more about lighting.

 

[Spaced25]

Yep, I saw the pictures, and I'm pretty sure that's what it is. Lighting within ~75ft is considered "foreground". As far as the apparent break in the lighting, I bet that just comes down to a poor implementation... OE's tend to have pretty poor stock lighting (bad beam patterns, optics, poor minimum standards, etc.). There's a Facebook group called Headlight Junkies where this stuff is discussed in depth, and there are aftermarket options with proper optics and excellent lighting, if you're interested in learning more about lighting.

Kinda crazy that someone could sign off on something like this. There’s barely any light across the center of the beam projected onto the road. I’m also finding that In addition to the break in lighting, the output from these lights is really lacking compared to other vehicles I’ve owned, including my last lariat with reflector LEDs.

The light that is projected onto the road, especially the part farther away from the truck, is overpowered by street lights and lights from other vehicles.

 

[Spaced25]

Post 12 has a video of the 21-23 lights. They appear to have a similar break across the beam pattern but it doesn’t look as significant. Also looks like there’s more saturation above and below the break. I’ve seen a few posts with people saying the 24+ don’t turn as much which I agree with after seeing that video. So ford appears to have changed more than just what the headlights look like in 24+. Wonder if they also changed the brightness/output and beam pattern. Seems like it.

https://www.f150gen14.com/forum/threads/led-projector-with-dynamic-bending-headlamps.18843/

I’ll try adjusting them again but so far I’ve adjusted up and down from what factory was set at and it hasn’t made much of a difference.

 

[Xman]

Spaced, got you a picture of my 2024 Lariat low-beams. I did it an a dirt road that was light in color. Best I could do without snow on the ground. I can now see a faint dim spot in the center of the beam. I have not noticed this before, especially on dark surfaces like pavement. Note that the dip is on the left edge of the road. Hope this is helpful.

 

[Spaced25]

Spaced, got you a picture of my 2024 Lariat low-beams. I did it an a dirt road that was light in color. Best I could do without snow on the ground. I can now see a faint dim spot in the center of the beam. I have not noticed this before, especially on dark surfaces like pavement. Note that the dip is on the left edge of the road. Hope this is helpful.

Thanks for the picture. The dim spot doesn’t appear to be as dark as mine. Mine are either defective or Ford changed the 25s to have less output making that spot worse. I still need to find a flat spot with a wall to try and adjust per factory directions.

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