Changing Out A Headlight

It's not terribly difficult, I converted to HID and the video from Luscious Garage helped the most, but I also unscrewed the top of the front bumper to get more wiggle room to remove the assemblies.

LG-AS695 ? 2

 

I just reached in after taking the covers off the back side of the headlight, flipped the wire "hold it" and swap em out. Can be a trick bending your joints the right way but not terribly hard. Check out the videos on you tube and what not, I looked at them prior to doing it. I didn't have to disassemble the car, bumper...none of that but some folks have too much meat on their arms to twist and reach. I had to remove the fuse box cover and a little air tube thing for room to manuever my hand (forgive my lapse of memory on what it's called...lol). Overall it's quite easy

 

There are several YouTube videos. The slickest method is if you can get your arm twisted to do it without removing the panels and all. I was able to do it, but the first time I had to have the dealer do it because I could not budge the socket as rec'd from Toyota. After the dealership did it once, I could then do it the next time...it seemed less tight and perhaps the video helped.

 

My non hid was a hard. The sockets were melted. If the sockets look brown on the end and misformed they should be replaced. One tip is the bulb has a seating flange that you can see if you look through the lens while seating it.
Its hard if you have big hands.
My 07 does not have the screw on the fender well edge that shows Carolyn unbolting to remove the bumper cover. I just did not feel like taking the wheels off and the inner fender liners. Your 06 may have that screw which allows you to pull the bumper cover down and get to the headlights and makes it very fast and easy. Watch the luscious garage youtube how she does it.

 

My advice is to remove the entire headlight assembly, some people can do it, but I've never been able to get my hands into that cramped area do change the bulb.

You do NOT need to take the plastic bumper cover all the way off. Back in the day before I converted to HID I was able to change both headlight bulbs in less than 30 minutes.

Hint: take off the fuse box cover, flip it upside down and use it to store the various clips and bolts while you are taking everything apart.

Also, do one side at a time, take one side out, change the bulb, then put it back together before moving on to the other side. That way you don't have to worry about losing the bolts and screws.

Also there are three bolts that hold the headlight assemblies to the car, two on top and one from the side. When I reinstalled my headlight assemblies I didn't install the third bolt from the side on purpose, It makes it much easier for future headlight bulb changes.

You can buy Philips X-treeme bulbs from Amazon.com
http://www.amazon.com/dp/product/B00480FIMI?tag=priuschatcom-20
$28+ Shipping for 2 bulbs.
or the Philips Crystal Vision Ultra bulbs


I only used Philips bulbs before I converted to HID. They were way more brighter than the stock OEM bulbs that came with my car. and not too expensive either, when you considered that from my Toyota dealership a single OEM bulb is $65.00!

 

I'm running that exact bulb. Really bright. I like it. But reports here it does not last long. Been 6 months so far so crossing my fingers.
Advance auto was that price too.

Next time going to pull the bumper cover down because it was really difficult doing it without the cover pulled down at least for me.

 

NAPA charges $85 for a pair of Philips X-treeme bulbs which is why I always bought them from Amazon. My local Advance auto didn't carry them, only silverstar bulbs.
Mine would last about 6 months or less, which is why I eventually converted to HID.
But I do a lot of early morning and late night driving.

I guess the bulb that burns the brightest, isn't going to last as long as the standard halogen. - That's the trade off.
dim light = long lasting = hard to see at night
bright light = shorter lasting = better view while driving at night