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Changing Toyota Prius 2006 Headlight Bulbs!

Discussion in 'Gen 2 Prius Care, Maintenance and Troubleshooting' started by Friendlyx, Jan 20, 2017.

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  1. Friendlyx

    Friendlyx Member

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    My drivers side headlight went out, and i bought myself a new bulb thinking i could easily do it. However, when i go and try to remove the headlight socket cover it's IMPOSSIBLE. I cannot seem to get that thing out. When standing in front of the car i am trying to turn it right. I've tried turning it endlessly, is there a tip on how to get this out? Am i turning it wrong? Any tips would help, thank you!
     
    #1 Friendlyx, Jan 20, 2017
  2. ericbecky

    ericbecky Hybrid Battery Hero

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    It doesn't do a full turn. it only moves a very small arc. Try to open it to to double check that you haven't already turned it far enough.
     
    #2 ericbecky, Jan 20, 2017
  3. Friendlyx

    Friendlyx Member

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    I went out to try it and no i don't think it's out already since i tried to pull it out and nothing.
     
    #3 Friendlyx, Jan 20, 2017
  4. wjtracy

    wjtracy Senior Member

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    There are some helpful YouTube videos. But its a pain.
    Two methods: take some of the trim off, or be quite a contortion artist and reach up in there.
    I can reach up and get in there, but the first time I had to have the dealer do it for $200 because I could not budge the rubber boots.
    I am assuming you have the conventional bulbs, like I do (not HID).
     
    #4 wjtracy, Jan 20, 2017
  5. Augustus88

    Augustus88 Junior Member

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    I have replaced my HID bulbs in my 2008 recently.

    For the HIDs, its a real pain. There are videos on Youtube that show people doing it without removing the headlight assembly - Yeah, good luck. The round seal/plate thing on the back that you have to turn is extremely tight, especially with age. Be careful to not break the delicate tabs.

    I ended up loosening my front bumper and removing the headlight assembly from the car.

    You may find these tutorials helpful : PriusDIY.com: Lighting Tutorials
     
    #5 Augustus88, Jan 20, 2017
  6. Tideland Prius

    Tideland Prius Moderator of the North
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    Halogens?

    The Gen 2 has a headlight... "cover", for the lack of a better word, that you have to remove before you twist the bulb socket/base off. It's a ring so grab the outside of the back of the headlights and rotate it anti-clockwise (lefty-loosey, righty-tighty). IOW, looking at the top of the cover, it should be rotated towards the outside of the car. It only rotates part of a turn.

    Once you remove that ring/cover, then you can twist & release the headlight socket (It might be easier to unplug the headlight first before rotating the socket)
     
    #6 Tideland Prius, Jan 20, 2017
    Merkey likes this.
  7. Friendlyx

    Friendlyx Member

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    I'm starting to think i'm going to have to do that too, since i've tried for multiple days to untighten it. Thank you!
     
    #7 Friendlyx, Jan 20, 2017
  8. Augustus88

    Augustus88 Junior Member

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    It looks a lot harder than it is - All you have to do is remove the black plastic front engine cover, remove a few more push pins, pull back the inner fender well plastic, remove one bolt, pop the bumper cover loose, and you now have access to the three bolts securing the headlight assembly.. I have done it a few times now, and it takes me 10 minutes to get it out.
     
    #8 Augustus88, Jan 20, 2017
  9. Jmack111

    Jmack111 Member

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    Remove top of bumper way easyer there a side bolt under bumper cover on side

    Posted via the PriusChat mobile app.
     
    #9 Jmack111, Jan 20, 2017
  10. edthefox5

    edthefox5 Senior Member

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    I've replaced the bulbs twice so far and found the Oem bulb is the way to go. Lasts for years. But without popping the bumper off It kicked my nice person twice.
    August
    How exactly do you pop the bumper loose I just cannot get the hang of that
    Please?
    I've seen the luscious garage version vide of Carolyn doing it fast but my 07 does not have that inner fender bolt she addresses. It's not there.
     
    #10 edthefox5, Jan 20, 2017
  11. Friendlyx

    Friendlyx Member

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    I went ahead and followed your tip, and i stopped halfway because after getting the black thing off, there are 3 more pop up things and 2 screws, the screws seem to be stuck since i'm guessing the previous owner messed up the screw part. Any tips to get this thing off? I can't seem to get any screwdriver to turn it. Thank you again!
     
    #11 Friendlyx, Jan 20, 2017
  12. Augustus88

    Augustus88 Junior Member

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    I assume you mean the two screws that have the hard rubber around them? Use a large phillips head, use a lot of force. Once you break those free they will be fine. If the phillips head part is stripped, you may need to drill them out or use an easy out or something. You probably can't get the bumper loose enough with those two screws in, unfortunately.
     
    #12 Augustus88, Jan 20, 2017
  13. Augustus88

    Augustus88 Junior Member

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    I followed these instructions exactly : Toyota Prius: How to Remove the Headlight Assembly (HID & Halogen) without Removing the Front Bumper - PriusDIY.com
    If the bolt that holds the far end of the bumper on is simply not there, that means it has fallen out, and you should just be able to grab the bumper where it meets the fender and wheel well and gently pop the clips out by just pulling it away from the car.
     
    #13 Augustus88, Jan 20, 2017
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  14. ericbecky

    ericbecky Hybrid Battery Hero

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    It's totally worth the small amount of extra time to take the trim off and partially drop the bumper. Access is so much better.
     
    #14 ericbecky, Jan 20, 2017
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  15. Bitterbuffaloh

    Bitterbuffaloh Junior Member

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    Where can I pickup a OEM headlight bull for my 2008 prius basic trim with regular lights.
     
    #15 Bitterbuffaloh, Jan 21, 2017
  16. Augustus88

    Augustus88 Junior Member

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    I followed these instructions exactly : Toyota Prius: How to Remove the Headlight Assembly (HID & Halogen) without Removing the Front Bumper - PriusDIY.com
    If the bolt that holds the far end of the bumper on is simply not there, that means it has fallen out, and you should just be able to grab the bumper where it meets the fender and wheel well and gently pop the clips out by just pulling it away from the car.
    Autozone.
     
    #16 Augustus88, Jan 21, 2017
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  17. Jmack111

    Jmack111 Member

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    I use a oil filter wrench large round and spray wd40 around with the red hose. Lightly

    Posted via the PriusChat mobile app.
     
    #17 Jmack111, Jan 21, 2017
  18. Jmack111

    Jmack111 Member

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    I use the $20 eBay one because if you don't touch bulb to the side light housing they last year's but if it touches 2mo. Oil and dirt shorten the life of the bulb

    Posted via the PriusChat mobile app.
     
    #18 Jmack111, Jan 21, 2017
  19. Jmack111

    Jmack111 Member

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    Use vice grips to grab the head of the bolt the rubber will come off and then twist head of bolt grabbing the head of the bolt will let you remove it stripped and us penetrating oil then reinstall the bolt the same way with the vice grips and push over the rubber may have to use a razor blade to make a small split so it was over easier in the center of the rubber piece

    Posted via the PriusChat mobile app.
     
    #19 Jmack111, Jan 21, 2017
  20. 05PreeUs

    05PreeUs Senior Member

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    Your bulbs *may not* be removable with a "twist" of the assembly. On our '05, the bulbs are held in place by metal bails that clip OVER the lamp base to hold them into the reflector. If you were to twist the lamp, you would break either the lamp base or the reflector tabs and maybe both with this style of retainer.
     
    #20 05PreeUs, Jan 21, 2017
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