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Replacing The Headlight Without Removing The Bumper Question

Discussion in 'Gen 2 Prius Care, Maintenance and Troubleshooting' started by HDM2021, Aug 3, 2024.

  1. HDM2021

    HDM2021 New Member

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    Aug 3, 2024
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    Location:
    The South East
    Vehicle:
    2006 Prius
    Model:
    II
    Hello,

    Recently the headlight on the drivers side of my 2006 Prius has started to work intermittently. I am seeking to replace it by myself and I have seen videos of people performing the procedure without the disassembly of the bumper and trimmings by removing the cap behind the bulb and working on it that way by just popping the hood. My problem is the large plastic cap behind the bulb on the assembly car doesn't seem to come off in any way. It doesn't seem to pull off or twist off though I know it may be that I haven't been able to get a good grip on it, it is also slightly different from the ones I have seen in videos on this subject and I don't know if it is specific to the 2006 model and requires a special technique or use of a tool to remove it and I don't want to force it because it may break. If you want to further explanation of what part I am referring to I can post a picture of it.
     
  2. Tombukt2

    Tombukt2 Senior Member

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    Durham NC
    Vehicle:
    2009 Prius
    Model:
    Base
    I think there's also a bunch of yellow stickers on the headlight assembly itself and the reason for this is you're dealing with high voltage high intensity discharge lamps bulbs and wiring there's a ballast involved that's on the very bottom of the light assembly You can see it in YouTube videos but you won't see yours until the headlight assembly is in your hands so I'm not sure what your goal is and what exactly you're working on You might want to make sure that you know that you have HID lights in the car before you start trying to pull the cover off I think they're both the same more or less No that's not true they're not the same if I recall the halogen you have a boot but the HID you have a polyethylene like heavy plastic cover that has to be twisted a certain amount and then withdrawn and when I've done mine I've usually sprayed them with something like WD-40 and what looks to be the seam where it goes together. And then that will twist and come apart a little easier It is really difficult to do in the car like the YouTube videos where the girl is doing it it seems she already has those covers undone that's half the job. So you are working with HIDs and what are you going to put back there h i d to LED conversions or just replacing with the d type bulb that goes there?
     
  3. Tombukt2

    Tombukt2 Senior Member

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    Location:
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    Vehicle:
    2009 Prius
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    Base
    Pay attention to the YouTube videos and the people doing the work You don't remove the front bumper You're going to bend it outward a little bit or towards more than the front of the car leaving the car where it sits so you can lift up the rear of the housing and slide it out of the stepped bracket that's built into the bumper that accepts the light assembly you'll see this when you lift it up and remove it you'll have a aha moment possibly. We're not removing the whole front bumper cover even if you do both sides of the lights you're not going to take the front bumper cover and sit it on the ground It's going to remain on the car the whole time You're only loosening the fender liner to undo a bolt that most people will try and pry and pry and pull and break to get undone when all they had to do was move a piece of plastic and use a Phillips screwdriver so maybe not be that person possibly.