1. Welcome to 4Runners.com!

    You are currently viewing as a guest! To get full-access, you need to register for a FREE account.

    As a registered member, you’ll be able to:
    • Participate in all 4Runner discussion topics
    • Transfer over your build thread from a different forum to this one
    • Communicate privately with other 4Runner owners from around the world
    • Post your own photos in our Members Gallery
    • Access all special features of the site

Rear signal bulbs dropped into the housing as I tried to pull them out

Discussion in '5th Gen 4Runners (2010-2024)' started by h4yd3n, Jan 9, 2020.

  1. Jan 9, 2020 at 5:25 PM
    #1
    h4yd3n

    h4yd3n [OP] New Member

    Joined:
    Jan 5, 2020
    Member:
    #12584
    Messages:
    210
    First Name:
    Hayden
    Vehicle:
    2021 Limited
    5th gen - Anyone else experience this and have an easy way to pull the loose bulb out of the rear signal housing?

    I feel dumb ...
     
    KSJ08 likes this.
  2. Jan 9, 2020 at 5:34 PM
    #2
    4X4Runner

    4X4Runner The Anti Pro, Pro! Staff Member

    Joined:
    Apr 3, 2014
    Member:
    #2
    Messages:
    1,541
    Gender:
    Male
    The left coast
    Vehicle:
    2017 4Runner Smashed Ass Edition
    Mad driver mod. OME Suspension. 285/70R17 BFG AT KO2
    Yep. Did that before. Got any double sided tape and 1/8” steel rod? If so, fold over some tape on one end, bend slightly and put it into the housing. Helps if you can see where you’re guiding it or have a spotter. Once you get it slowly and I mean slowly, extract the rod and hope the bulb doesn’t catch on the housing and come off
     
    arnette64, KSJ08, MrBruns and 2 others like this.
  3. Jan 9, 2020 at 5:49 PM
    #3
    h4yd3n

    h4yd3n [OP] New Member

    Joined:
    Jan 5, 2020
    Member:
    #12584
    Messages:
    210
    First Name:
    Hayden
    Vehicle:
    2021 Limited
    Thx I’ll try that tomorrow !
     
  4. Jan 10, 2020 at 2:37 AM
    #4
    Charlievee

    Charlievee New Member

    Joined:
    Dec 20, 2018
    Member:
    #8149
    Messages:
    1,287
    Pull the housing and shake it out. Its fun.
     
    KSJ08, Agent_Outside and MrBruns like this.
  5. Jan 10, 2020 at 10:10 AM
    #5
    Agent_Outside

    Agent_Outside A Guy A Girl and A Trail

    Joined:
    Dec 18, 2018
    Member:
    #8098
    Messages:
    1,933
    Colorado
    Vehicle:
    Built 2011 T4R Limited

    This, super simple.
     
  6. Jan 10, 2020 at 11:04 AM
    #6
    4X4Runner

    4X4Runner The Anti Pro, Pro! Staff Member

    Joined:
    Apr 3, 2014
    Member:
    #2
    Messages:
    1,541
    Gender:
    Male
    The left coast
    Vehicle:
    2017 4Runner Smashed Ass Edition
    Mad driver mod. OME Suspension. 285/70R17 BFG AT KO2
    I like how more than one person has done this.
     
  7. Jan 11, 2020 at 10:14 AM
    #7
    h4yd3n

    h4yd3n [OP] New Member

    Joined:
    Jan 5, 2020
    Member:
    #12584
    Messages:
    210
    First Name:
    Hayden
    Vehicle:
    2021 Limited
    Hmm so I couldn’t manage to get the bulbs out with sticky tape.

    I am trying to pull the housing but it’s not budging. The YouTube tutorials make it seem super easy to pull out. Does anyone have a good way to pull out the housing without cracking the plastic ?

    23829E22-B8E4-4666-8D23-4A2AE946F4DE.jpg
     
  8. Jan 11, 2020 at 10:18 AM
    #8
    Charlievee

    Charlievee New Member

    Joined:
    Dec 20, 2018
    Member:
    #8149
    Messages:
    1,287
    There's two or three 10mm bolts. Then its held by a few of the plastic clips toyota loves so much. Just be gentle but frim and it will pop out. I want to say pull the side sway from the car to release the clips then to the rear, but its been awhile.
     
  9. Jan 11, 2020 at 10:22 AM
    #9
    h4yd3n

    h4yd3n [OP] New Member

    Joined:
    Jan 5, 2020
    Member:
    #12584
    Messages:
    210
    First Name:
    Hayden
    Vehicle:
    2021 Limited

    Correct. This YouTube video shows the same-https://youtu.be/mgFpsIOcSu8

    the problem is that he manages to pull the housing with little effort after removing the nuts, while I can’t even get a decent grip to pull the housing
     
  10. Jan 11, 2020 at 12:03 PM
    #10
    h4yd3n

    h4yd3n [OP] New Member

    Joined:
    Jan 5, 2020
    Member:
    #12584
    Messages:
    210
    First Name:
    Hayden
    Vehicle:
    2021 Limited
    Update: I figured it out after a couple hours of being gentle with it.

    1. Gently tug to the outside of the light until you hear a light cracking sound

    2. Examine from inside the truck to see if the top metal taillight prong is loose

    3. gently tug downward until you hear a second light cracking sound

    4. Taillight should easily come out by pulling straight backward

    thanks for the combined tips everyone! My new LED 7440 signal bulbs are ultra bright with a very pleasing amber color.

    985381EC-11EB-495D-B1F3-54200690D78E.jpg
    70623160-9EED-4493-AD11-787CEF54F8A6.jpg
     
    Last edited: Jan 11, 2020
    DrewMan likes this.
  11. Jan 11, 2020 at 12:25 PM
    #11
    Charlievee

    Charlievee New Member

    Joined:
    Dec 20, 2018
    Member:
    #8149
    Messages:
    1,287
    Good stuff, did you replace the reverse bulbs as well. Makes a huge difference when backing up.
     
  12. Jan 11, 2020 at 12:33 PM
    #12
    h4yd3n

    h4yd3n [OP] New Member

    Joined:
    Jan 5, 2020
    Member:
    #12584
    Messages:
    210
    First Name:
    Hayden
    Vehicle:
    2021 Limited
    Yes—I did get some $8 LED 921 reverse bulbs. They are significantly brighter directly behind the vehicle in view of the backup camera, but I noticed that they have very poor “surrounding” area brightness in the side mirrors. So I will try out some $13 LED 921 bulbs to see if they provide better surrounding area lighting.

    BTW: tips for everyone, these LED taillight bulbs are generally far larger/longer than the stock bulbs, and the connectors are very short. Thus, unfortunately it may be necessary to pull the housing in order to get the bulbs into locking place. — this is why I ended up dropping the LEDs into the housing in the first place.
     
  13. Jan 11, 2020 at 3:10 PM
    #13
    Living the dream

    Living the dream New Member

    Joined:
    Nov 3, 2018
    Member:
    #7661
    Messages:
    276
    Gender:
    Male
    ABQ
    Vehicle:
    2019 T4R Off-Road KDSS
    Probably because he has pulled them off a couple times before. Like the 3rd gen Tacoma the first time is the hardest and it seems like your going to break the thing, but then it pops and your good. If you have to do it again it will be much easier.
     
    Charlievee likes this.

Products Discussed in

To Top