Changing Headlight Drivers Side

The high beam went out on my 2011 Tacoma last night. I had to change the passenger side headlight a couple of years ago and it took several people on this forum to set me straight. Once I did it, I figured I should be able to change the drivers side headlight. Wrong. First, I had to remove the battery just to get to it, but I can not remove that rubber seal to get to the light. The rubber seal is cone shaped and seems to be pulling on something and will not come out. What is the trick to getting that rubber seal out?

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O71EnM4iLjE

 

And it should be this easy. Replaced mine a few times. Definitely don't need to take out the battery.

 

Thanks for the video, but it doesn’t help. Here is a photo showing how far I can get that rubber seal out. It is hung up on something. I have no clue what it is hung up on and I don’t want to break anything. I did not have this problem with the passenger side.

 

I've had the same thing happen once. Not sure if it was pressed on too far, or what. Just ended up grabbing both sides, and getting both thumbs down in around the rubber, kinda like you're holding it with your left hand, just stick your thumb in there, and do the same with your other hand on the other side. Your other four fingers of each hand would be inside the cone, thumbs on the outside, and just twist and pull slowly, but firmly. My hands are pretty small, so was still easy enough to do with battery in place.

 

This, it does get stuck on there and needs some persuasion but it will go

 

That sounded like it might work, but it did not. It sounded like I was about to break something when I twisted it.

 

Can you find the spring release thing? you might be able to take out the light still in the rubber boot. Not positive, but worth a shot.

 

No, I can’t see the spring release. I can see something that resembles it, but it seems broken. I give up. I’ll buy a light bulb and take it to a shop. If they break something, they can fix it. I appreciate the help in this thread.

 

I think what you’re seeing is that the rubber is fused to the base of the light bulb. I almost gave up out of frustration changing my bulbs over the same thing. You have to pull way harder than you think you should, to the point that it seems you’ll break something. When I reinstalled I put a light film of dielectric grease around that rubber gasket to try and prevent it from happening again.

 

Spray some silicone spray lube all around it.