HID bulb replacement

once you get it loose, it will be easier the next time. That was for both headlights.

It took the person that did mine a little time, but after that is came off easily the next (he had to switch the bulbs to check the bulb that had a problem).

 

I think you're trying to turn the cover the wrong way. It turns the same way as a lid on a jar -- counterclockwise to remove. If you're looking at the front of the headlight (the bottom of the jar), you should be turning it clockwise.

 

I couldn't get the dang bulb out. Too big a hand and too small a brain.

My 2 cents - pull the bumper, pull the headlamp, replace with decent quality bulb, pull the other headlamp and replace its bulb, make sure everything is working, replace the bumper.

Pulling and replacing the bumper is simple and then I can see what i am doing.

 

there is a wire/latch or something that holds the bulb in place. Once you remove or move that, the bulb can be pulled out.

 

How to Change a Lightbulb in a Prius | eHow.com

 

I drilled a hole in mine at an angle from the top. Then I was able to turn the cover by inserting a looong screw drive and pushing clockwise (towards the driver's side). Came right off. No bumper removal necessary.

 

With much experimentation I was able to replace both HID bulbs in my 2004 Prius (119,000 miles). I have a few observations. The first one is about that darned cover. If you take the headlight housing out like I did, you can see a nice arrow showing where it's in the locked and unlocked position. However, there is no way you can see that with the headlight housing installed. Someone described the direction you have to turn it as being like a jar. This is true and like a jar you have to apply pressure constantly while the cover slowly moves against the tight rubber gasket. It feels like it's stuck, and it doesn't pop off like a plastic to plastic connection. Also, like a jar, your grip is important. I'm not sure I could do it without wearing gloves of some kind.

I didn't expect to take off the front bumper, but I almost ended up doing that. I took off the plastic cover over the radiator and the strange air tube on the passengers side that looks like it's meant to warm the washer fluid reservoir. I took off the rubber pad the hood closes on and the clips holding the front bumper cover to the body and the one sheet metal screw under the wheel well cover (just below the seam between the bumper cover and the body). I could then pull the bumper cover off enough to get to the third headlight assembly bolt. I'd like to meet the designer who put that bolt behind the bumper cover (must have worked for GM before Toyota). Two other bolts, one up top out in the open and one up front just behind the edge of the bumper cover. These are both Phillips and 10mm hex bolts. I'd go with the socket. I tried a Phillips and got one but started to strip the other one, besides, you'll have to use a socket to get the one behind the bumper unless you take the bumper completely off. Don't be fooled like I was with the three silver Phillips/hex head screws behind the bumper cover. I thought the front one was the third headlight housing bolt, but it's not. A little ahead of it and slightly lower is a black Phillips/hex head bolt, that's the one you need to remove.

With the housing loose you can work it out and rest it with the HID cover pointing up. I'd recommend disconnecting the two connectors at the top as well as the one for the HID bulb. Open the cover like a jar and the rest is pretty straight forward. It took me about an hour on the first one, but once I saw how to do it, the second one took half that long. Anyone in the DC area that needs a hand, let me know.

 

Just found this, she gets the assembly out in 5 min.

 

The person who did my light bulbs did not have to remove that center top cover.

 

I had the same problem with the outter cap. I read online somewhere that liquid silicone helps so I bought a jar for $5 at the hardware store. If you take a q-tip and cover the crack between the cap as much as possible it makes it much easier.

 

ok so I got my bulb out on the passenger side but when I put the new bulb in it doesn't stay, I think something is wrong with the clip that is supposed to hold it. does anyone have a picture of what its supposed to look like. Its impossible to see it and can barely reach it!

 

I really struggled doing my 06 so today on my 08 I used spray silicone with the straw and dribbled enough to follow the seam of the housing.
It came apart very easily.
Try using a small mirror to look at things, it will give you a good idea on how it all works.

 

The clip locks in at the top, make sure you push it down all the way towards the bottom of the housing before you install the bulb.

 

As far as "it will be easier the second time" balderdash!

I'm at just over 180,000 miles and 6 years later and the driver's side light started having a problem. I went to replace the bulb and the cap is just as tight as it was before. Might actually be tighter because I haven't gotten it to budge yet. Looks like I'll be taking the assemblies out again. But first I'm going to try the silicone spray applied with the tube around the gap between the cap and the assembly. Sure would have been nice if cap designers had actually tried removing it, I'm sure it looked good on paper.