Changing license place light

[dwreed3rd]

Originally Posted by Steve G

the manual says to open the hatchback take off the black panel and just change the bulb.

well, how do you take off that big black panel?

the manual makes it look like it just comes off.

it doesn't seem to want to.....

HELP!

(p.s. I got a fix-it ticket for it)

Hi Steve G; I almost didn't reply having read some of the earlier posts and not having our Prius yet. However, I had the very same problem with our Avalon. I had noticed that one of the two license plate bulbs was out. So while waiting for my wife to go shopping, instead of looking up the bulb in the owners manual, I decided to remove to bulb to determine the type. I know, I know, hind sight is 20/20. I could have looked it up in the owners manual or at the parts store x-ref, but I didn't. After a similar experience to yours I actually ended up braking the bulb off in the socket. By now my wife was ready, so, frustrated off we go. I stopped at NAPA, used the x-ref, and selected the bulb, a #168. Sorry, I'm telling the story because our Avalon uses the same bulbs. That's when I did the palm-of-my-hand-to-my-forehead bit. Embarassed, I bought the pair of bulbs, they comes in pairs, I alway replace both bulbs if a pair, and left. When I got home, I removef the broken bulb stub, which came right out. Put in the new bulb. Replaced the other one in a matter of minites, easy as pie. They PULL out and PUSH in, there is no twisting. The #168 bulb is a wedge base.
I hope this helps. And, if it does, I wanted to let you know you that aren't the only one. If not, then I'm sorry I couldn't help. I remember my frustration.
Good Luck, and let us know how you make out.

[9G-man]

Originally Posted by Steve G

okay, so, dudes, I got the black panel off, and didn't break any little blue clips

now.... I can't get the license plate lights to come off

the manual says you twist 'em

mine won't budge

I'm scared to twist 'em too hard

what do I do?

try a monkey wrench????

-s

The socket twists counterclockwise to remove. You can use a pair of pliers, gently, on the socket if necessary. The bulb is just pushed in, and pulled out of the socket.

[robstrash]

Well, the LED's I ordered came in but I still can't get the *^%& sockets out. Keep asking wife to tell co-workers whoever pulls out gets a free lunch but she hasn't yet. I'm sure a $10 lunch will be cheaper than the dealer.

[Tideland Prius]

yeah it's a pain....

[robstrash]

Yeah, they finally got changed. Wife asked 1 more guy at work and he was able to somehow get the license plate lights out. We put the LED's in and are all good now. Man, what a pain and ordeal. Thanks for all the help.

[Tideland Prius]

hope you lubricated it before you re-inserted the plug.

[fiblet]

Originally Posted by Tideland Prius

hope you lubricated it before you re-inserted the plug.

Don't even think about trying to use your fingers to remove the light sockets! Get some needle nose pliers in at there at angle, grip tight and twist counter clockwise. They will come out in 2 seconds. I tried the whole fingers in there trying to twist them out. Forget about it. It really makes no sense why Toyota wouldn't at least make a nice little access panel there for the light bulbs. Removing that panel out with those blue clips is just crazy each time. I'm switching to LED. No more fuss for me.

[darelldd]

Wow. How did I miss this for so long?

The answer is that you look in the manual and see that the twisty arrow demonstrates clearly that you simply twist these clockwise to remove. Then you take your pliers and ignore the manual, twisting counter-clockwise instead. Should come right out. I learned this the hard way. I actually twisted mine clockwise as the manual suggested, until I cranked them BEYOND the stop tabs. Still, they go back in and are none the worse for wear. And yes, they now have a light coating of waterproof grease on them... as does everything that comes out and gets replaced!

Stupid manual.

[Tideland Prius]

Originally Posted by fiblet

Don't even think about trying to use your fingers to remove the light sockets! Get some needle nose pliers in at there at angle, grip tight and twist counter clockwise. They will come out in 2 seconds. I tried the whole fingers in there trying to twist them out. Forget about it. It really makes no sense why Toyota wouldn't at least make a nice little access panel there for the light bulbs. Removing that panel out with those blue clips is just crazy each time. I'm switching to LED. No more fuss for me.

Oh well, too late lol. but I did lubricate them and now they're super easy to remove. Also, the access panels have been added to the 2010 model. Toyota is listening =)

[Glor]

Thanks for all the answers. I've been trying to get the back thing off for 2 weeks now - going to toyota tomorrow. They said they have a special tool for removing the back (guess that's a secret!). Will see what they do differently that we mere humans cannot do!