Trick to repalcing headlight bulbs?

So I'm trying replace the bulbs with better incandescent bulbs from the auto parts store and it looks like there's no room in there to get the old ones out. Passenger side has about 1.5 inches between the bulb and the washer fluid bottle, and the drivers size is 2 inches from the battery. So is there a trick? Remove the actual light housings? Remove the bottle and battery? Find someone with really tiny hands?

Thanks in advance.

 

I’ve never had a problem removing the bulbs but then again my hands aren’t all that big haha.

 

No tricks. Just snug.

Hardest part is wiggling off the electrical connector.

After that, its all pretty obvious.

Remember, force is an answer. Force may not be the right answer.

 

I had to remove battery and washer bottle; don't see how it could be done otherwise

 

"YouTube"is your friend.

 

I did not remove anything to change headlight and foglight bulbs.

 

Ah, good advice. I see now that it is possible. I know I'm still going to curse a few times, and I'm going to have bloodied knuckles, but I know it can be done. Thanks!

 

lots of cursing with assertive gentle force pulled it out. i probably should have waited for it to get warmer to do it it was in the winter made the rubber rather tough to get the rubber boot off. on one side the pin came out completely and had a pain the ass time trying to get that back on when reinstalling.

i did unbolt the washer fluid assembly and move it out of the way gave me more room. i didnt need to on the drivers side.

 

Yea, I was out there in 35 degree weather yesterday looking at it and I was like "No way this is going to happen until it's warmer or I can get the truck in a garage."

 

You think that causes bloody knuckles, wait til you decide to replace the parking light bulbs lol!

 

Did you pull back the fender liner and go at it from the bottom?

 

For the passenger side, remove the bolts holding the windshield washer reservoir and turn it sideways. (Do not disconnect it.) This will give you just enough room to work. pull the harness connector off the bulb carefully by wiggling it a bit. Do not yank it off or you will cause bigger problems. Next carefully work the rubber boot off making sure not to yank the bulb out with it. Finally, carefully release the infuriating wire clip that holds the bulb in place. (You may want to take a picture of it before you do in case you drop it.) Swap bulbs making sure not to touch the glass with your skin. Now, reverse the process to put everything back together.

For the driver side, you shouldn't have to remove anything although it is pretty tight in there.

Good luck.

 

Nope from the top lol. I didn’t even know about going from underneath

 

Yeah same here. I have big hands and had to move stuff to be able to see and move around.

 

You've read this thread, right?

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/the-ultimate-headlight-upgrade-h4-not-led-or-hid.398066/

 

you know what they say about guys with small hands......

 

I also had to loosen the washer fluid tank. My big mistake was not knowing there was a retainer clip on the bulb (LOL) that needed to be removed first.

 

Driver side, usually loosen the bracket on the battery to give me some room. Passenger side, remove the bolts from the washer fluid reservoir and plenty of room with my big hands...lol

 

Trying not to have any skin touch the bulb while wiggling your hand around just makes it that much more irritating. The longer life bulbs are worth the extra money in my opinion, especially if you do a lot of night driving.

 

The connector and rubber boot come off easily. The problem is the wire clip. I stage the replacement bulb within easy reach. Then unhook wire clip and keep hold of it as you swing it out of the way. Remove old bulb, grab new one and install without touching the glass. Re-hook clip. If you let the clip flop around it may( and in my case did) fall out and may be lost. It isn't so obvious how it goes back in.