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Attempted to replace the HID bulbs in my 08.....but :(

Discussion in 'Gen 2 Prius Care, Maintenance and Troubleshooting' started by Fartsalot, Dec 26, 2018.

  1. Fartsalot

    Fartsalot Junior Member

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    I was all pumped up to change the bulbs since one was acting up and would soon fail. I go out and try to remove the plastic cover per the utube vid I watched. Well...the cover is not coming off and the plastic tab broke off by my pressure on it trying to get it to turn off.

    I stopped at that point since I did not want to make a bad moment worse. What is the procedure to get the cover off, I'm sure this is not a isolated problem in this situation. I did try the other side and it is the same way as well..... Grrrrrrr...
     
    #1 Fartsalot, Dec 26, 2018
  2. padroo

    padroo Senior Member

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    You mean that girl on YouTube can just reach in there and remove it and you can't? Welcome to the club, I always ended up removing the headlight assembly to change mine when I owned it. Had it down to 15 minutes, remove headlight assembly, change bulb and reinstall. They were still hard to remove even with the headlight removed. I always put a little lubrication on the rubber seal while I had it off. Some remove the whole front bumper but that isn't necessary.
     
    #2 padroo, Dec 26, 2018
  3. Fartsalot

    Fartsalot Junior Member

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    OMG removing the entire headlight assy.... Ugh that sounds like a night mare that is reality.

    Yea that girl did it so easy

    How difficult it this going to be? I have no idea where to start to take that light out.
     
    #3 Fartsalot, Dec 26, 2018
  4. DGH

    DGH Thread Terminator

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    I found that letting a little silicone spray soak in on the o-ring helped loosen it a bit, still pretty tight though.
     
    #4 DGH, Dec 27, 2018
  5. Fartsalot

    Fartsalot Junior Member

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    Last night to took a q tip and ran it around the edge of the cap with some PB Blaster. Later on today my son n law will come by and see if he can get it to come off. He is younger and has a stronger grip with him being a 41 yr old farm boy. I looked on some u tubes and they showed the front coming off to remove the headlight assy. Why in the hell would Toyota make a simple bulb change so involved.
     
    #5 Fartsalot, Dec 27, 2018
  6. Fartsalot

    Fartsalot Junior Member

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    YIPEE HORAY GRIN GRIN

    Son n law came over and he turned the covers and they came off,,the one on the passenger side was easy prezy. Im sure the dab of PB Blaster was a big help.

    The bulbs are replaced and here is the good part....MY girlfriend is a dental hygienist and of course she works with her small hands and in small places and works by looking in a mirror . I showed her how the bulb goes in and how the spring clip works and she said "no problem". She reached in and pulled off the spring clip and pulled out the bulb in about 2 seconds and put the other one in and was done. She said it was just another patient to her LMAO
     
    #6 Fartsalot, Dec 27, 2018
  7. MichaelKnight

    MichaelKnight Junior Member

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    That is why Carolyn at Luscious Garage was able to accomplish this task without removal of headlight.
     
    #7 MichaelKnight, Dec 28, 2018
  8. padroo

    padroo Senior Member

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    We hate to admit it when we get outdone by a girl.

    You will still need to remove the headlight assembly if one of the headlight ballast get wet. They are located in the bottom of the headlight assembly.
     
    #8 padroo, Dec 28, 2018
  9. jstraw20

    jstraw20 Member

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    I just replaced the driver's side bulb on mine. Struggled mightily with the plastic cover and actually broke one of the tabs off. I was about to give up but after hitting it with a hair dryer for a few minutes it came right off.
     
    #9 jstraw20, Dec 31, 2018
    DGH likes this.
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