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Replace stock backup incandescent bulb

Discussion in 'Prime Main Forum (2017-2022)' started by JudgeDroid, Jul 7, 2018.

  1. JudgeDroid

    JudgeDroid New Member

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    Hi

    Can anyone help me with instructions on how to replace backup light? I want to change it to LEDs. Thanks

    Posted via the PriusChat mobile app.
     
  2. Tideland Prius

    Tideland Prius Moderator of the North
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    Page 636 of the owner's manual. Do not replace the passenger side one after you've driven in HV mode. The exhaust pipe is near there and you don't want to burn yourself.
     
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  3. Roy2001

    Roy2001 Active Member

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    The chance is, he only drives in EV mode:)
     
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  4. Tideland Prius

    Tideland Prius Moderator of the North
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    Yes but there’s the possibility that he doesn’t and miss the warning paragraph.
     
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  5. JudgeDroid

    JudgeDroid New Member

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    :)

    Thank you. So far I have been driving in EV mode..but sometimes force it to HV to run engine for sometime.

    Posted via the PriusChat mobile app.
     
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  6. bresna

    bresna Active Member

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    The owner's manual doesn't say that if you're not very careful pulling the bulb out of the socket, the bulb will fall out of the socket and down into the light housing and it's not easy to get back out. The dealer once gave me my car with 2 bulbs rolling around down in the bottom of my housing.
     
  7. Salamander_King

    Salamander_King Senior Member

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    Any guess as to why Toyota put incandescent bulbs only in the backup lights? Aren't everything else in Prime LED, or are there more non-LED bulbs???o_O
     
  8. Mark57

    Mark57 2021 Tesla Model 3 LR AWD

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    Absolutely. There's a LED bulb swap thread to show all of them to you.
     
  9. Salamander_King

    Salamander_King Senior Member

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    I knew interior lights are not LED. But for exterior light, the manual shows only the backup lights to be DIY replaceable, no other lights.

    from page 640 of manual
    ■ Replacing the following bulbs
    If any of the lights listed below has burnt out, have it replaced by your Toyota dealer.
    ● Headlights and daytime running lights
    ● Front side marker lights
    ● Parking lights
    ● Fog lights (if equipped)
    ● LED accent lights (if equipped)
    ● Front turn signal lights
    ● Rear turn signal lights
    ● Rear side marker lights
    ● Tail lights
    ● Stop lights
    ● High mounted stoplight
    ● License plate lights
    Then there is this note in the manual.
    ■LED lights The lights other than the back-up lights each consist of a number of LEDs. If any of the LEDs burn out, take your vehicle to your Toyota dealer to have the light replaced.

    I assumed they are all LED, aren't they?
     
  10. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

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    When I see this my brain has to do gymnastics to sort it. You mean run the engine right? :p
     
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  11. bb4srv

    bb4srv Active Member

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    Where can i get LED blub for the back-up light and what model is it?
     
  12. Tideland Prius

    Tideland Prius Moderator of the North
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    Yes.

    It's in the owner's manual. 921 type bulb

    http://www.superbrightleds.com is one place. My LED lights are from there (map, dome, cargo, door courtesy, licence plate and parking lights)
     
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  13. Pdog808

    Pdog808 Active Member

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    I replaced all my interior bulbs with LED. They were ALL incandescent for some unknown reason.

    BTW, replacing the two bulbs above the rear view mirror was a pain in the a__. Getting the U-shaped cover off without damaging the plastic areas or the headliner looked almost impossible (after an hour of trying). All other bulbs took a total of about 10 minutes.

    I asked my dealer to swap out the two bulbs at my 10k oil change and they did it for free. Very cool of them. They had a special tool that allowed them to pry up the plastic cover without damaging it or the surrounding areas. (And no - using a screwdriver will not do the job - I tried 3 different size flat head screwdrivers.- all of them would have nicked up the frame the bulbs are mounted in - if you don't care about nicking up the plastic frame above the rear view mirror then go for it).

    Also, got a set of bulbs for the entire interior (2x map lights above rear view mirror, 2x sun shade vanity mirror lights, 2x front door lights, 1x rear seat ceiling, 1x trunk and 2x rear backup) for about $10 total on E-bay. They were the 8x LEDs which are plenty bright - although I may go to 12x maybe later.
     
    #13 Pdog808, Jul 12, 2018
    Last edited: Jul 12, 2018
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  14. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

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    Geesh, we've had our car for 8 years or so, and I've replace 3 or 4 little bulbs, both license plate lights and front corner parking light bulb or two. With the same incandescent bulbs that were in there. Doesn't keep me awake at night, lol.
     
  15. Umana

    Umana New Member

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    Link for thread?
     
  16. Tideland Prius

    Tideland Prius Moderator of the North
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    Whoops. Didn’t see this question. It’s cause it’s not used often so from a practical standpoint, it doesn’t save as much. But of course from a fashion standpoint, it looks weird having all LEDs except the reverse light.
     
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  17. ricomtl

    ricomtl Member

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    I see 921 bulbs on Amazon (error free wedges) and some with pins... they are both called 921... can we safely assume they will all fit for the back-up lights?
    Thanks!
     
  18. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

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    Dealerships are the safest bet.
     
  19. Tideland Prius

    Tideland Prius Moderator of the North
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    This is purely a guess from my part but I think “error free” means non-polarized (so it doesn’t matter which way you insert the bulb). Polarized just means it’ll only work one way so, just flip it around if it doesn’t work when you insert it the first time.

    I haven’t taken out the reverse lights myself but the LED interior lights that I’ve used in the previous Prius has the same u-shaped pins as the original incandescent bulb.