Changing license place light

[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)

[darelldd]

It is a real b*tch!
Here's my page on it:
Prius License LED

[sdtundra]

Originally Posted by darelldd

It is a real b*tch!
Here's my page on it:
Prius License LED

looks good, can you buy LED bulbs for that or do u have to make them?

[Steve G]

Originally Posted by darelldd

It is a real b*tch!
Here's my page on it:
Prius License LED

Darelldd, can you give a little more of a physical description of the motion used to unsnap the darned thing? do you go around the edge popping out snaps? vertical? lateral?

from your page I just get "it's really hard and you will get mad but it's better than paying the dealer" which is SOP for a prius

But I didn't get a sense of: did you pry it with a screwdriver? etc...

thanks

-s

[Patrick Wong]

Hi Steve,

10 or 11 blue plastic pins hold the cover to the hatch. I have found that it works to just tug on one corner at a time, pulling the cover away from the hatch. No tools needed, just your hands & some persistence.

[Tideland Prius]

Originally Posted by sdtundra

looks good, can you buy LED bulbs for that or do u have to make them?

Yep you can have LED bulbs. Darell and I (among others) have LED licence plate lights. Darell made his and I bought mine on ebay.

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)

As Darell said, it's a pain in the.....

Just use a flatblade or similar and try to force it out. It comes straight out so pulling in that direction would help. Also, an extra person to cover one side while you work on the other side helps.

[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

[Patrick Wong]

Originally Posted by Steve G

...I'm scared to twist 'em too hard

what do I do?

try a monkey wrench????

Hi Steve,

I suggest that you do not use any tools. You might have better grip if you wear latex gloves.

[Tideland Prius]

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

ohh? and I thought I was the only one with superglued bulb bases lol. I asked my dad to twist it out for me. It took us quite a bit of time I assure you to twist those damn things off. I put WD-40 afterwards before twisting them back. Hopefully that'll help if I need to change bulbs (hope not!)

[robstrash]

OK, I need some serious help. I think they used industrial strength super glue on mine. I got the cover off (only took 5 minutes) and the bulb bases will not move. I tried the latex gloves, asked my neighbor to come help and they will not budget (I'm even left handed and neighbor right handed).

Let me make sure that I am trying to turn it the right way. I am standing at the back of the car and the hatch is all the way up in the air. Should I be trying to turn clockwise or counter-clockwise? I can't get it to budge either way.

I'm almost at the point of giving up and paying the dealer $40 (or whatever they charge) to do it as I simply cannot get the bulb out.

Any and all help is appreciated.