16 Tacoma bumper cap removal

Okay I'll give it a try. Kinda dark out now so imma give it a shot again later. Thanks for the help man!

 

No problem

 

If I'm understanding Lawfarin correctly, he's saying is you need to push the connector in towards the sensor so that when you press on the release tab, it will allow the connectors latch to release from the sensor

 

Correct, however it's the connector for the 7pin trailer connector but may also need to be done on the connectors for the parking sensors if they are similar. Also sometimes dirt gets caught insides some of those connectors making the releases even harder. Toyota I don't think are as bad as some other manufactures but sometimes they can be a real pain in the ass

 

Having a difficult time with #5, any suggestions?

 

Got a pic of the sensor? Might be able to grab a small flathead to release the clip careful but too much pressure can break it or bend too far out and it won't hold very well going back in

 

If you lay on your back and look up at the bottom of the bumper you'll see all of the integral retaining clips on the bottom of the black bumper cap, and where they snap into the square holes in the steel bumper support.

I used about a 12" flat blade screw driver which is about the longest you can get up in there, and pushed the tip in between the bumper cap and the steel bumper support on the inward row of retaining clips, which is the row of clips facing towards the front of the truck, and starting from each end I inserted the tip of the screw driver right next to each of the clips and popped them out of the steel bumper support.

After I had all of the inward row of retaining clips popped out, from the top side I just grabbed the edges of the bumper cap starting at each end, and starting pulling up on the center cap and all of the rear retaining clips popped out of the steel bumper support. This takes a little bit of force, but they go easily pop out and none of the retaining clips were damaged.

 

I was able to remove all push pins, trailer plug, two license plate lights, but I am not seeing where the clips are to release the two sonars on the center black cap that are right above the license plate lights. Do these pull of similar the the two license plate lights? They are difficult to reach for me and I am not sure where the clip to release is since all I see is black plastic on them. Then the senor on the color matched cap can't even been reached from underneath the bumper, will these be reached when I finally get the cap off or before. Sorry, I know I am being difficult but I am not to pulling shit of my truck that seams complicated and delicate.

 

Honestly I'm not sure. I haven't tried to take mine off yet and I don't have the parking sensors in my truck

 

Finally got that damn connector to come off!! Man... but anyway after I took that off I removed the 3 push pins like it said. Now can't seem to pop the the whole bumper off. Did I have to remove the license plate light housing too? Or do I just pop it off it's socket?

 

Should just be able to pop it off the socket

 

Anybody else know if I have to remove the light bulb housing too?

 

Just the lights.

 

MetrickMetal,

Thanks for the write up. You saved me a lot of time and hassle.

I was rear ended in a drive thru by some dumb ass lady on her cell phone. Needless to say she got out with it in her hand.

Nothing happened but a few scratches on the chrome.

I wrapped mine in Black Brushed Steel.

Cheers!

 

wait how the hell.... ? that's awesome

 

LOL thanks. the hardest part was wrapping them. I wrap pretty good, but for some reason they were difficult to handle. I took mine off completely.

 

Okay... what's the secret to getting the chrome end caps off? Everything else was relatively easy, but I could not get the alligator clip to release. There are also two chrome "fingers" along the top of each cap that seem to be holding-on. After two hours, I finally gave up. Any insight will be greatly appreciated.

 

I used a cotter pin removal tool to slide under the clip and pry it free. Once it's released you can depress the other two chrome tabs w a flat blade screwdriver along w the two pop clips on the outer edge. Voila

 

Thanks. How did you get the clip? I can't find it; I only know it's there from reading other posts.

 

The clip is a rectangular metal piece that has teeth. It's circled in the top left hand corner. Use a pick or cotter pin removal tool and slide it under the metal between the black plastic and chrome tab. Pull upward, but pull slowly w pressure. Alternate sides as you pry it up. The other circles areas have pop retainers pins and tabs to depress and pop open. The arrow shows where two bolts hold the cap assembly to the rebar.