how to change headlight bulbs?

[PETERPOOP]

is there a DIY on this?

[sportin83]

i just squeezed my hands behind the lights and pull the ruber boot off the unplug, then there are 2 metal prongs on the sides you squeeze together and that releases the light bulb. then pop clip back in plug harness back up and pop seal back on. hard to see, i think passenger had more room and easier to see how it works. drivers is pain cause of fusebox and airbox if i remember.

[sportin83]

my hands had little scratches and cuts all over them after i was done. not a fun project, but i guess you could always pull the front bumper off and unbolt light assembly. that seemed like alota work so i made my hand fit where is didnt wana and i changed em. took me like 10 mins.

[PETERPOOP]

thanks, did what you guys told me. i think i put the rubber boot back on correctly. hands did have little scratches with blood. definately not something i'd want to do for a hobby. had to take out my heat shield box for the AFE intake to get the one in by the fusebox. the fusebox made it not fun at all...

i put in the 4100k silverstar ultras in.

[Yarice]

small hands

[uncleyaris]

go to dealership, get an oil change and ask them!!! My hands are way to big, ha ha!!!

[PETERPOOP]

i change my own oil.

[Yarice]

I had a lot or cuts and bruised knuckes but I managed to changed out my bulbs.

[bzinn 1]

aha.......thanks for the diy.......been staring at mine for a while trying to figure them out.cut my self bloody trying to get them out.now to look for the clips.

[TEHxFALLEN V1.2]

thanks, did what you guys told me. i think i put the rubber boot back on correctly. hands did have little scratches with blood. definately not something i'd want to do for a hobby. had to take out my heat shield box for the AFE intake to get the one in by the fusebox. the fusebox made it not fun at all...

i put in the 4100k silverstar ultras in.

Same. Nice.

[TEHxFALLEN V1.2]

thanks, did what you guys told me. i think i put the rubber boot back on correctly. hands did have little scratches with blood. definately not something i'd want to do for a hobby. had to take out my heat shield box for the AFE intake to get the one in by the fusebox. the fusebox made it not fun at all...

i put in the 4100k silverstar ultras in.

Had that too. Nice.

[sportin83]

I had a lot or cuts and bruised knuckes but I managed to changed out my bulbs.

now ya need to upgrade for lights to match.

[Chupacabra]

Took me over an hour to do them....bruised hands...

[Stargate YARlantIS]

How many existentialists does it take to change a headlight on a yaris?


None; they all just sit in the dark, smoking, and bemoaning the futility of changing it.

[Stargate YARlantIS]

Unless an outside source is called in that light bulb will never be changed no matter how many sit around and will it to happen.

[Jem_hadar]

Was gonna do this this wkend, just bought the GE nighthawk bulbs, but after reading abt the PITA factor, i may just tell the guys at the dealership to put them in instead since im taking my car in to have the breaks looked at anyways tomorrow.

[BluYrs]

I've had my bulbs changed at the dealer's after changing a pair by myself. The resulting cuts and bruises on my hands did not justify the $10 savings.

Just hoping I won't have to change a lightbulb in the cold dark wintertime on a freeway.

[Kaotic Lazagna]

Yeah, it's pretty crazy how much more space the sedan has over the LB. I got to compare the space with JR's.

[1NZYaris1]

Yeah, it's pretty crazy how much more space the sedan has over the LB. I got to compare the space with JR's.

Ah finally something that is going for the Sedan :tongue: :thumbup:

[Jem_hadar]

I've had my bulbs changed at the dealer's after changing a pair by myself. The resulting cuts and bruises on my hands did not justify the $10 savings.

Just hoping I won't have to change a lightbulb in the cold dark wintertime on a freeway.

True. I guess if its only a 5-10 min job, the labour to change the bulbs ends up being pennies eh?

[Jem_hadar]

True. I guess if its only a 5-10 min job, the labour to change the bulbs ends up being pennies eh?

LOL. Not expensive, but not pennies either.

Asked the service guy abt the charge for putting in the lights... i told me it'd be about $32 + tax.

Told him id just do it myself; besides, I think itll be good for me to do it myself, esp something thats not that complicated, like changing a headlamp. (It'll be the very first DIY thing ill have done to my car.)



Sidenote: LOL at Rob's (the service guy) expression of concern when he warmed me against using aftermarket bulbs, bc if they were ones that run hotter (as he implied they'd likely be, w/o really saying so specifically), they could overheat and cause something (forget the expect piece/part he mentioned) to melt... yada yada...

To me it just came off as a speach to worry me abt my not using the Toyota OEM ones which they sell (at a crazy price too!), and using better non-OEM ones, such at the GE Nighthawks I purchased at cdn tire.

I looked up the MSRP of the stock (inferior) bulbs.... $41 US! Jesus!!!

The night hawks were only $25 CDN. Wow... that means you'd pay almost double to get crappier bulbs!

[Jem_hadar]

get bulbs from Garm, 18.99$ for a pair of nice Nokyas

A pair eh!? Jesus, thats a sweet deal.

And they're better still than the OEM ones I'm assuming (besides being like 5 times cheaper, too? lol)

[mrbangus]

I just got done changing the passenger headlamp... After 2 hours in 36 degree weather, cut up hands, cussing under my breath... I did it! I'm not even going to attempt to change the drivers side light when it goes out... I think it's insane how complicated they made it to change the lights on the Yaris. I've changed lights in all of my cars and never had it take over 5-10 minutes (if that) and have never cut my hands changing them.

I was proud of my Yaris until this... I always thought Toyota was more of a simpler car than say a GM or Ford as far as DIY maintenance, thats one of the reasons why I bought it. Forget that! I think Toyota is taking lessons from GM on making maintenance so complicated, they want you to bring it in to a dealer for what used to be simple little tasks. My dealer wanted $45 to change out the one light. Call me old fashioned, but I think thats taking advantage of your customers. I paid $11 for the light and did it myself. But, like many other folks on this thread, the drivers side light just looks too tight of a squeeze for my hands. If Toyota listens to it's customer at all, please listen to this... Simplify this procedure! Not many people have the money to blow these days at a dealership to do petty little diy maintenance. This reminds me of the time I tried to change the spark plugs on my 1998 Olds Bravada... 4 hours, bloody hands (sounds familiar) and I only got 1 plug changed. GM raped me for $400 to change the plugs... They didn't even change the plug wires. I honestly couldn't even tell you if they actually changed the plugs because the Bravada didn't really run any better than before I took it there. I asked why they didn't change the plug wires and they said that isn't part of a tune-up. Unless things have changed in the past several years, that has always been a part of a tune-up. But I guess thats why GM is bankrupt, because they honestly do not care about customers. I want to apologize for my rant, and I want to thank you all for the tips on changing the light and for listening to me babbling like an idiot, lol.

[PHXDEMON]

it takes like 5 minutes to pop the top of the bumper off and unscrew the headlights. Just do that and make life easier.

[hatchbackkid82]

+1 would rather take the mins to do that than cut my hands up. Thats what i did when i changed mine

it takes like 5 minutes to pop the top of the bumper off and unscrew the headlights. Just do that and make life easier.

[thebarber]

x3, remove the bumper clips and take off the headlight....you also run less risk of touching the halogen or hid bulb with something dirty that will kill the life of it

[Doc Zaius]

I bought replacement bulbs 2 years ago and they're still waiting to be put in. After all I've read about changing them in the hatch, I will *definitely* pop the bumper off... good time to change the horn too (which has been waiting for 2 years as well..!) :tongue:

[RedRide]

I believe part of the problem is understanding exactly how the bulb retaining clips are secured.

If don't, you are blindly tying to secure the clips without a clear undestanding exactly how they are configured.

So, I would strongly suggest that you remove the the drivers side healight assembly to familiarize yourself with the clips. The drivers side appears to have the least room to get you fingers in there without removing it.


When I changed mine, I did the passenger side first and it went quickly. Perhaps is was beginners luck?
However, I could not get the drivers side clips fastened and finally resorted to removing the headlight assembly.
It was only then that I truly uderstood exactly how the clips were fastened.

[yaris2010RS]

if ure gonna change the bulbs (in the LB at least) DONT DO IT!! trust me man. after about 2 hours i had a bumperless car and 2 headlights hanging everywhere. looked like crashy, lol.

to save an extra what, 7 bucks its not worth it, go to the dealer.... jsut my 2 cents

and i had some random blue lights to see if they would work, all that work and they dont fit, what a waste.....

[2009BBPliftback]

I just spent the last 20 mins pissing around with this.. im waiting for the weekend and I'll just pop the bumper off and take out the lights..

[bzinn 1]

God yes.......takes 5 min tops to pull the bumper,you really just have to pull the pins at the top and the one in each wheel well,pop out the sides of bumper at wheel well......philips screw driver to remove the three screws holding in each light and easy access to the bulbs......

[Pwr_Dori]

I'm so happy that my hands are very small and i have a sedan im not a midget im just a thirteen yr old so i probebly wont cut my hands off BUt i might blow the bulbs up i dont want 80.00 aud just to shatter into lil pieces of glass and have them crapy yuk
non yellow-non white-non blue

[Y.A.R.I.S.]

I usually like to repair my car myself if I can.
But the annual revision is always done by a pro, it's easier to sell the car afterwards if interested buyers see you've brought it to the garage every year.
I changed a headlight bulb last year on my car (Daewoo/Chevrolet Kalos you probably don't know about ;-)) in 20 minutes (First bulb change ever!)

I went to the parts dealer and bought a headlight bulb (H4) $9 for my Yaris.
Then I saw that fusebox... There was only 10 cm (3 inches) of room behind it. It looked impossible to change it myself, so I decided to have it replaced by a professional.
I was there all the time when the two guys did it. They were not official Toyota retailers but I saw they had a lot of pain and it took 30 minutes.

Seriously, Toyota just want us to go to them for any small problem. I'm really disappointed... but they told me it's quite the same or worse on other makes today. The man told me it was easier in the 70-90s because they had a lot of room, and it just took 1 minutes to remove/replace.
It cost me $17 (that's without light bulb which I bought somewhere else).
That's a very good deal, and they checked headlights alignment and oil level!

So I advice you to go to a small garage rather than do it yourself as it really cost nothing and you don't get a headache afterwards and you're won't be frustrated or panic after you've removed your whole bumper...
It really doesn't worth it.

[thebarber]

i changed the bulbs in our aveo (aka kalos) similarly to the yaris....just take out the headlight. then i installed HID's....just as easily

[MUSKOKA800]

Check the how-to for changing over to projector lights to see how to remove the front fasia and headlight housings from the chassis. If I recall correctly some masking tape and a 10mm socket with driver is all it takes to save your skin and temper.

[nsmitchell]

God yes.......takes 5 min tops to pull the bumper,you really just have to pull the pins at the top and the one in each wheel well,pop out the sides of bumper at wheel well......philips screw driver to remove the three screws holding in each light and easy access to the bulbs......

This is the correct way. Not hard at all and no bloody knuckles! :thumbup:

[TRDblueyaris]

i took the front bumper off and the headlight cluster out. too much work for a light bulb. does anyone know what that peanut bulb under the main headlight bulb is for?

[KittenRD]

Thank you everyone. I just replaced my bulb! The only reason I could do it was because I have child sized hands!

[yarisugi]

Like the one in your profile pic?

[NSP]

I was able to change the driver side bulb on an 07 Sedan with a needle-nose plyers. Rubber boot came right off by pulling on the rubber tabs that protrude out. From there I just unclipped the metal arm that holds the bulb and it came right out. Took about five minutes.

[403RS]

If you go the bumper removal route, then it's a perfect time to throw on a DIY lip.

[bobolinko]

i took the front bumper off and the headlight cluster out. too much work for a light bulb. does anyone know what that peanut bulb under the main headlight bulb is for?

That is the Parking light bulb

#168 lamp

[sickaroll]

My wife's 2001 Yaris had an odd problem; offside sidelight and nearside dips were dead, but the beams were both fine.
On my Puma the enclosures are very similar, 3 screws, a good tug and they're off (no need to remove the bumper mind).

I was surprised to find only one large bulb in the headlights. I replaced both sidelights, and the two main bulbs (h4) with some extra-bright, while still road-legal ones. Now are 3 positions (side, dips, beams) work fine.

If the bulb was faulty, surely the beams shouldn't have worked?

[Kazimodo]

I just did this bulb change , first I'd like to say thanks
to the ones who suggested to move the bumper cover ,
I did not remove it completely ,as some members suggested,
just remove the 5 push pins on top ,and one on each side in the
wheel well , pull the cover , a tug for the side to unclip
the 3 clippings on each side between fender and bumper cover.
once it is moved forward you can see the 3 10mm bolts that hold
the cluster ,one at top , one at the front ,it is revealed when
pulling the bumper cover , the 3rd on the side where fender meets
the bumper cover , all 3 of those have a nipple in the middle and
you have to lift the cluster a little before pulling , some for install
clip cluster around the nipples , it will click , then screw .
.
Once you have the cluster pulled and turned upside down ,
it is very easy to undo the bulb , for the rubber boot over
the bulb , just pull hard , and to put back , twist it on the new
bulb , use a small screwdriver to push the pins back down
around the new bulb if you have big hands .
.
If you go to canadian Tire , disregard the book that hangs
in the isle , because it says to use the #9005 bulb ..
it is the wrong bulb , you need the # 9003 ,
the terminal plugs in straight in back of bulb , the 9005 is
a 90 degree angle terminal , (( it is wrong for my 2007 anyways ))
.
since I had the front hanging , I changed both sides
$8.73 each for the bulbs , I don't want to redo this
in 3 weeks on other side . 2 new lights and the one that
was still working is now a spare in the toolbox.

[jonshaw7]

Not sure how the rest of you do it; changing the headlights is impossible without removing the bumper. I only took it partway off so that It would give me enough space to pop the headlights out. I took one of the old lights out before I removed the bumper...at least I took the base out. The glass shards remained inside the light (broke when I tried to get it out), I had to dump the glass out later (not ever doing this again without removing bumper). Anyway, found a vid on youtube about removing the bumper, did that, and then it finally got easy.

With the rubber boots, rather than cutting a larger opening like some suggested, I just put a flathead screwdriver inside between the light and rubber and pried it up all the way around. That worked well.

Hats off to anyone who can do this without taking the bumper off...no idea how you do that.

[chasd60]

Just to bring the old thread back from the dead........ I found this You Tube Video that is pretty clear as to how to remove/loosen the bumper cover.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PlN6wC8hon4

[trunkout]

um.... I've replaced mine on the side of the road... in under a minute. I dunno what the problem is!

[Killchain]

I can get the bulb with some torn skin, nothing serious yet I see it as my blood and my car have become blood brothers.

[Yaristeve]

Arrrrgghhhh!! :mad: My driver's side bulb just burned out...

I was wondering: instead of loosening the bumper and light housing, can you just loosen the fuse box?

TIA

Also, that little parking light bulb burned out as well...

[Yaristeve]

Arrrrgghhhh!! :mad: My driver's side bulb just burned out...

I was wondering: instead of loosening the bumper and light housing, can you just loosen the fuse box?

TIA

Also, that little parking light bulb burned out as well...

I can get the bulb with some torn skin, nothing serious yet I see it as my blood and my car have become blood brothers.

Well, I too have become blood brothers with my Yaris. Changed the bulb this morning before work. Took me 40 minutes without removing the bumper cover or headlight housing. However, that includes about 10~15 minutes trying to replace the rubber boot backwards. It only took a couple minutes after I figured out what I was doing wrong (with the boot); :mad::mad:.

[ebaut]

Thanks to this thread, I was also able to replace my dimming headlights. It was fairly easy. I don't think I would have been able to do it, without loosening up the bumper.

I didn't have to completely remove it though. I just undid all the clips, and pulled the bumper out enough to have enough room to get the socket wrench in. I watched the video posted on the thread to give me an idea how to get the clips out and the bumper unfastened.

With the headlight assembly out it's easy to see how everything works. The lightbulbs can only sit one way. So, doing it without seeing how it goes in, might have been the the culprit of mine pointing to the side when a reputable Toyota dealership in Canada gave me my Yaris.

So anybody with a burned headlight, give it a go and save yourself a few bucks, keep the DIY spirit alive. :thumbsup:

[Exiwolfman]

That is the Parking light bulb

#168 lamp

194 bulb i use led 6000k and they look and work awesome .

[nookandcrannycar]

Changing the bulb without touching the bumper is all about hand size. The bulb has been replaced twice on each side on my 2007. Re the first replacement, I tore some skin trying to change the first one, until I realized my hand was too big. I took it to a local Toyota dealer, and I believe they charged me $16.00 to put the bulb in. I've also taken the car there for the last three bulb changes (all four times, I bought the bulb elsewhere) and they either didn't charge me for any of those three...or may have charged me $16.00 for one of the the three. Someone has always been available who has a small enough hand.

[07liftback]

Just got done changing my 07 Liftback's lights and I must say, it was taking forever as I initially gave up after the first 5 minutes. After a bit of research, I'm surprised no one posted any service manual pics on here of how the retaining clips worked. There was no need to pull the bumper cover and remove the headlights. My hands are relatively large and I too initially had an issue pulling the retaining clips together to release the headlight.

The bigger issue that wasn't mentioned here was the fact that the boot seal was seized onto the headlight bulb with the devil's grip. People on other forums said to use a screw driver to pry it off but I couldn't even get the screw driver angled correctly to pry the boot off.

What I did was I reached behind the boot cover and pulled one side of the retaining clip to release that side but had trouble releasing the opposite side. So I grabbed my house key and jammed it between the headlight housing and the other side of the retaining clip to release it.

Now all I had to do was pull the boot cover out with the attached headlight bulb.

This all took maybe 5 minutes total regardless of how lengthy the process may have sounded. I'll attach the pictures from the service manual on this post to show you guys how the retaining clips work as well as how to remove the bumper cover for those who choose to go that route.

[Old&InTheWay]

I could not get my hand anywhere near the bulb and was thinking of giving up when I found this video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PlN6wC8hon4

I was a bit nervous to take apart the bumper, but it really was as easy as it looks in the video. Took about 20 minutes and all you need is a 10mm socket and maybe a flathead screwdriver. If you break a plastic clip because they are old and brittle (like I did) a zip tie does the trick just fine. Next time I need to do it it'll take 10 minutes.

[tmontague]

I wouldn't even try to change a bulb in the yaris without removing the headlight. I value the skin on my hands too much and I have mitts for hands.

Once you remove the bumper once, you'll realize how easy it is and just keep doing that.

Just keep all of the bottom screws in and the bumper just moves forward more than enough to remove the lights. Takes all of 5 mins.

Just make sure you tape your metal side panels near where it meets the bumper so you don't scratch them...ask me how I know

[bad]

I did it on the passenger side without taking the whole assembly or the front bumper off. I used this guys video and the eyes in my fingers: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rPpXkBBfYEU

The whole video is good, but especially 13:54 is the best part.

By the way, the fat tab went up and the clip flops down when you take the bulb out. It flops upward when putting the bulb back in. Don't put grease on the contacts until after you put the bulb in and the boot on. Use vinyl or nitrile gloves when handling the bulb. Use a flat head screw driver to gently pry the boot off. Watch the video. These directions I am giving are not in order. Look at the bulb and the clips through the front of the headlight assembly while taking the bulb out and putting it back in.

It took about an hour.

[robkay]

If you figure on having your Yaris for a while you can get a pack of clips cheap on eBay. Pick up a set now to have in your box for next time.