Installing LED license plate light on 2016 Tacoma

Ugh I did one side the hard way before I discovered this thread. I am greatful for all the help and advice you guys all share. Thank you and Merry Christmas!
-Chuck

 

Im so glad I found this thread before I replaced the bulbs today. I have the tow package and I was able to replace both lights in under 5 minutes.

 

+1... (nursing banged up hands right now)

 

Can't seem to get into mine. Which one do I have? Clips or rotating socket? Neither works.

 

Anyone?

 

I can't speak from experience because I'm not with my truck, but if you have a retractable mirror and a flashlight, you'll be able to get a good look at the back of the light housing to see what needs to be done for removal.

 

Rotating socket.
Counter clockwise to loosen.
Clockwise to tighten.

 

Thank you. I eventually got it. It was much easier getting it off then putting it back in. I even had my little nephew come and try to help and it still have me issues...Lol. Got it done though. Thanks again

 

Yeah I was able to see the general area with my cellphone light but trying to figure out which solution to go with and how to fit my hands past the tow hitch is where the fun began. Good thing I checked in with you all first. Getting it out was way easier then putting it back in, but I got it done. Thank you guys

 

+1 (minus quite a bit of skin)

I'd second the notion that going back in is much harder than coming out. My suggestion is to do the quarter-turn pull out method for the assembly BUT while you do that note the exact position of the assembly as it comes out. There are three tabs on the assembly that fit 3 key holes. However, one of the tab/keyholes is bigger than the other. You'll never see which hole you're aiming for when you're putting it back in, so check it on the way out.

Then switch out the bulb and turn on the lights to be sure you've got the LED polarity correct. Now, unplug the wires by pushing the little white tab. You'll have the assembly and new bulb together in one hand and the wires just hanging. Reinsert the bulb/assembly combo and quarter turn back into place. (This is easier said than done, but easier with the wires out of the way) Finally, plug the wires back in. Have a beer. This may have been more frustrating than you expected.

The biggest mistake I made was losing the new LED bulb INSIDE the hole! After quite a bit of cursing, I realized I could pull it out with a magnet. I have one of those telescopic magnet stick things that fished it right out (both times).

 

Lol I did that too and managed to get it out the same way..

 

I gave up trying to get in there with my hand, and went and bought these:


Just reached up there and squeezed the tabs on the black housing and pushed the whole assembly out onto the bumper.

 

Found an easy way to do plate lights with tow hitch. Get your child to do them. Only ment to be changed by childs hands, no adult human hand can work in that space. If you dont have a child of your own handy maybe offer the neighbors kids candy to... no wait dont do that. Sorry suckahs sometimes kids do come in handy.

 

All you have to do is reach under the bumper & look for the bulbs. Turn them counter clockwise slightly and pull. Put back in exact opposite way. Hardest part for me was putting them back in since my bulbs were square and took time to fiddle with to fit but hey I did it

 

You must not have a tow package

 

Just finished mine truck with a tow package and got it done in about 8 minutes.

Not meaning to brag but my hands are pretty big so here are a couple tips that worked for me.

I was able to lay on my back further under the spare and reach from ABOVE the tow hitch and down onto the bulb assembly. It turned counter clockwise pretty easily. Think I used left hand on both sides and I slipped my hand around the 7 Pin harness wires on the driver side.

Also I checked the polarity of both bulbs before re-installing.

Hope that helps as everyone else seems to go from under the tow hitch.

 

That was the such an ass kicker with the tow package. One went easy but the second one would not turn back.

 

I was able to turn the bulbs out counterclockwise without much issue. But for the life of me I could not get them back in! Fumbled with it for a while, gave up and tried again the next morning.

I ended up pushing the entire black housing out the outside of the bumper from the inside. Took the light out, then took two long screwdrivers and used one to put pressure on the black clip and the other to push on the entire housing. With a bit of prying it eventually launched out.

I don't think I would have been able to rotate the bulb back into the housing with the housing still installed - it took a fair amount of pressure to get it on even with the housing removed.

Pushed the housing back in from the outside of the bumper and re attached the wiring.

Done - finally!

 

what a bitch that was....but got it

 

This was the stupidest design ever! Pretty easy to take out but it’s a PITA to figure out how to put the bulb back in! Still not sure I have it in correctly but it’s sealed enough. I also dropped the led into the light housing somehow and a magnet wouldn’t work! Thankfully I bought a decent sized tweezers with a light and was able to grab it by looking through the housing. Thankfully it’s done for now!