|
03-23-2014, 08:45 PM | #1 |
Changing a headlamp w/o blood or removing the bumper
Ok so I have an '07 Yaris Hatchback and the passenger side headlamp reached the end of its service life (went out). Seems that there are two schools of thought: 1. Remove a large portion of what holds the bumper in place, then remove the entire headlight housing from the vehicle to gain access to change the lamp in question or 2. Leave the headlamp housing in the car and if you don't have tiny hands scratch up your mitts getting the old lamp out and the new one in. Makes me pine for the '85 Chrysler Laser: 3 screws, remove the entire bulb/housing combination and replace it with a new one. 5 min no hassle. I dismissed school of thought #1 out of hand. A few tips about going about it without removing the bumper and housing: Tools: 1. Left hand only of leather work gloves (preferably fairly snug fitting) 2. small flashlight (2" long max) 3. Small Mirror (approx 2" x 3.5") 4. 6" long flathead screwdriver 5. lockback pocket knife 6. Safety Goggles. Wiggle the plastic electrical connector at the center of the large rubber boot on the back of the light housing out of the back of the lamp then wiggle the outer ring of the rubber boot off the back of the housing to expose the retaining clip for the lamp. Leave the boot on the lamp base for now. These are both exceedingly simple and easy to do and do not take much effort. Now wedge your mirror down in there in front of the boot and behind the housing and shine your flashlight so you can see the inboard retaining clip. Now you now what your feeling around for when you go looking for the outboard clip. Remove the mirror. Keep in mind the lamp retaining ring is permanently attached to the housing, it just swings down and out of the way when the clips are released, so no worries about dropping it. With the work glove on your left hand face the windshield and go feel around and find that outboard clip and pull it toward the center of the car, it will take some effort, though you will feel it pop out fairly as soon as you move it over about 1/4". Now take the work glove off and feel around for the inboard retaining clip with your left hand, once you have it use your left hand to place and keep the blade of the screwdriver on the inboard side of the clip and with the right hand push the clip outboard, it should pop loose after about 1/4". The retaining ring will swing down out of the way and you can now wiggle the lamp and rubber boot out. I put the gloves back on and donned safety goggles for this next step. Take the back (dull) side of the pocket knife blade and use that to gently pry the rubber boot off of the lamp base. Put the work glove back on and take the new bulb out of the box, note that there are three metal tabs on the base (not the electrical contacts) these three tabs will need to align with grooves in the housing, also note that the lamp will have a metal spoon shaped thing adjacent to the filament, the lamp should be installed so the spoon is at the bottom with its concave side facing up. Place the lamp into the housing, use the mirror and flashlight to make sure the tabs are lining up with the housing grooves, once they do swing the retaining clip up and and use the gloved hand to pull the outboard clip inboard and push it forward until it seats into the groove in the housing, then do the same for the inboard clip except pushing it outboard and forward until it seats. Use the mirror and flashlight to double check that both sides of the retaining clip are securely seated. Compress the rubber boot and snug the small end around the lamp base, then snug the large end over the housing making sure it is seated equally along its circumpherence (the bottom can be a little tricky. Position the plastic electrical connector over the 3 electrical contacts and push toward the front of the car until fully seated. Done. Hope this helps someone.
|
|
03-23-2014, 09:02 PM | #2 |
oye now that is a read....bumper off well top half can do bulbs under five min lol
|
|
03-24-2014, 07:22 AM | #3 |
Drives: 2007 Toyota Yaris Hatchback Join Date: Sep 2012
Location: Las Vegas, NV
Posts: 323
|
^ Agreed. Minor changes with indention and it'd be easier on the eyes. As for the changing of the light bulb, partially removing the bumper will make it much easier for you. I have big hands and cannot, for the life of me, get behind my drivers headlight and change it without cutting myself.
|
03-24-2014, 12:32 PM | #4 | |
Quote:
Do agree with big hands can be a pain |
||
03-24-2014, 05:13 PM | #5 |
Join Date: Feb 2010
Posts: 603
|
How many Yaris owners does take to change a light bulb?
|
03-25-2014, 08:28 AM | #6 |
Drives: 07 YARIS HATCH 5 DOOR Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: Montreal Qc
Posts: 354
|
I do a LOT of KM per year with the Yaris and I have to replace the bulbs every 6 to 8 months.... yea take the bumper cover off! and while you are there, change all the bulbs! \
|
03-25-2014, 09:22 AM | #7 |
Drives: 06 Polar White 5dr, 13 Soul 4u Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: Georgetown, Ontario, Canada
Posts: 5,743
|
Why would that be? Mine is 8 1/2 years old with 206,000km and OE bulbs still in there.
__________________
|
03-25-2014, 09:29 AM | #8 |
Drives: 07 YARIS HATCH 5 DOOR Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: Montreal Qc
Posts: 354
|
i do around 80,000kms on highway and the bulbs I have are cheap so they go yellowish quite fast. and the highway i drive on is not a 4 lane highway but just 2 lanes so seeing far ahead is good specially when you have deers and all kind of animal crossing the road!
the EOM lasted 60,000kms and I had to replace one so even if they are not burned I change them |
03-25-2014, 09:29 AM | #9 |
Drives: 2009 Base Hatch 2 Dr Auto Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: nj
Posts: 4,790
|
Is there a bumper cover removal procedure somewhere?
Thanks!
__________________
Synthetic Oil: Its All In Your Head |
03-25-2014, 09:32 AM | #10 |
Drives: 07 YARIS HATCH 5 DOOR Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: Montreal Qc
Posts: 354
|
it's pretty easy to remove, http://www.yarisworld.com/forums/sho...7&postcount=12
|
|
|
Similar Threads | ||||
Thread | Thread Starter | Forum | Replies | Last Post |
fs: stock headlamp stalk w/o fogs | bizzlebaby | Items for Sale by private party | 2 | 08-24-2010 03:24 PM |
[REQUEST] Removing Front Bumper + Faulty Electric Window '04 Yaris | lufcfan | DIY / Maintenance / Service | 0 | 03-03-2010 06:29 PM |
Need a DIY for removing front bumper | Taiyaki | DIY / Maintenance / Service | 10 | 05-08-2009 11:12 AM |
Removing front bumper | fat45s | DIY / Maintenance / Service | 1 | 01-31-2007 06:25 AM |