How to Replace Headlight Bulb on 2005 Prius
2006 Prius Bulb cost about $11 at auto parts chain store., TIP: Save yourself some pain, replace both bulbs or you will be changing the other one in a few weeks. , Cut your fingernails., Open hood of car. , For driver's side bulb, remove the fuse...
Step-by-Step Guide
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Step 1: 2006 Prius Bulb cost about $11 at auto parts chain store.
The time taken to replace drivers side: 25 minutes on the first attempt. -
Step 2: TIP: Save yourself some pain
, Find a mirror on a stick and a flashlight.
It helps if the car is not in the sun to cut down on deep shadows.
Almost everything you will be working with is black. ,, It will loosen and come off.
Use the cover to hold the tools.
It is not necessary to remove the front dust cover held on with phillips fasteners. , This can be done with a Phillips screwdriver (quarter turn to left to pop loose, then push from behind / pull up the reusable clips).
If you remove the cover of the fuse box first, you can use the fuse box cover to hold the screws. , This will require a small blade-type screwdriver to pry off re-usable plastic rivet. , You might need a long-handled flat blade screwdriver to loosen it at first (see video below).
Push cover back from headlight assembly to gain access to bulb / wiring harness. , Reach into the car with the back of your hand facing forward so that the square white plastic removable socket for the lamp passes between your index and middle fingers.
Wiggle the socket off.
Do not let go until you look at the configuration/position of the holes in the socket and note them for reconnecting. , To remove the driver's side rubber weatherproofing boot which is fitted with bump-outs to aid removal stand at the front of the car, place the shaft of a screwdriver on the side of the bump and push it toward the driver's side fender to rotate the boot about 1/16th of a turn (Clockwise when viewed from front of car looking back towards engine).
If the boot does not wiggle out of the hard plastic track/housing, push to turn the boot some more. , TIP:
This is the hardest part as the fit around the bulb is tight to keep out water.
So push bulb forward when you pull rubber boot backwards (otherwise you may damage metal spring and have to go to dealer) Remove and read the cover to see what is the top.
Feel the 4 square bumps around the hole. , Look for a hook that captures the wire and holds the wire under tension.
Unhook the wire and swing it away. practice hooking it up again.(TIP:
Drive side and Passenger side are different.
Unhooks down on driver side up on passenger side)(Note:2003-2004 Prius had exactly same hook position. both side Unhooks down) ,,, This will ensure the bulb is aligned before you re-hook the retainer. , This may be hard, especially on the Passenger side, where the body of the car blocks your view.
TIP:
This can be done with one hand, by holding bulb forward and swing retainer behind bulb.
Then just hook metal spring over hook. , This is very difficult to do.
A mirror placed in front of the boot is a great help in getting the boot back on.
Ask your helper to hold the mirror.
TIP:
This can be done without a mirror by pushing small hole around back of bulb.
But be sure outer four tabs are aligned (one of the four is larger then the other three) , Reconnect the electrical connection after redistributing the grease in the socket. ,,,,, The whole process takes about
1.5 hours because you can't see anything you are doing and wonder if you are doing it correctly. , Estimates from $100 to $600.
A 61 year old woman with little experience and stiff fingers just did this on the drivers side in less than 30 minutes
-- two beers for me! -
Step 3: replace both bulbs or you will be changing the other one in a few weeks.
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Step 4: Cut your fingernails.
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Step 5: Open hood of car.
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Step 6: For driver's side bulb
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Step 7: remove the fuse box cover by first pressing on the front side (press toward back and lift up)
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Step 8: no need to monkey it off one side at a time by pressing anything that looks like a latch (that's a good way to break the tabs).
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Step 9: For passenger side bulb
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Step 10: remove plastic cover (dust cover in front) under hood of your Prius.
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Step 11: If bad bulb is on Passenger side: remove small air duct blocking headlight.
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Step 12: Remove waterproof cover by turning ~30 degrees.
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Step 13: Remove electrical connection to bulb by standing at the driver's side fender
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Step 14: face forward with your right hip on the side of the fender.
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Step 15: On the hard plastic holder mark the position of the square raised bump on the boot (use a piece of tape).
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Step 16: When the boot is loose from the rim slide your flat hand under it (palm to the front of the car) and wiggle it off the plug end of the lamp.
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Step 17: To take the old bulb out use the mirror to inspect the wire bail bulb holder.
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Step 18: Look in the front of the headlight and note the flat side of the hole that corresponds to the flat metal base on the bulb.
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Step 19: It may be useful at this point to practice putting in the old bulb and fastening the wire retaining bale/spring/wire.
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Step 20: Replace the new bulb WITHOUT touching the glass part of it nor getting it dirty (think rubber gloves) TIP: You can look through the front lens to see the Bulb alignment.
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Step 21: Snap retainer spring back into place.
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Step 22: Note the "TOP" of the boot
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Step 23: and slide the small hole over the bulb by pressing on each of the four rectangles imprinted on the boot.
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Step 24: Re-rotate the boot back on clock-wise (as viewed from engine facing forward) back into place by pressing it back in the track and using the shaft of the screwdriver to rotate the boot back to its tight position at the mark.
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Step 25: TIP: Test lights as you replace each bulb and before you put everything back in place
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Step 26: Replace fuse box cover.
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Step 27: Replace small air duct on Passenger side
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Step 28: Replace plastic engine cover.
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Step 29: Wipe your hand and pat yourself on the back as you close the hood.
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Step 30: Go get a cold beer as you realize you just saved a squid-load of money!
Detailed Guide
The time taken to replace drivers side: 25 minutes on the first attempt.
, Find a mirror on a stick and a flashlight.
It helps if the car is not in the sun to cut down on deep shadows.
Almost everything you will be working with is black. ,, It will loosen and come off.
Use the cover to hold the tools.
It is not necessary to remove the front dust cover held on with phillips fasteners. , This can be done with a Phillips screwdriver (quarter turn to left to pop loose, then push from behind / pull up the reusable clips).
If you remove the cover of the fuse box first, you can use the fuse box cover to hold the screws. , This will require a small blade-type screwdriver to pry off re-usable plastic rivet. , You might need a long-handled flat blade screwdriver to loosen it at first (see video below).
Push cover back from headlight assembly to gain access to bulb / wiring harness. , Reach into the car with the back of your hand facing forward so that the square white plastic removable socket for the lamp passes between your index and middle fingers.
Wiggle the socket off.
Do not let go until you look at the configuration/position of the holes in the socket and note them for reconnecting. , To remove the driver's side rubber weatherproofing boot which is fitted with bump-outs to aid removal stand at the front of the car, place the shaft of a screwdriver on the side of the bump and push it toward the driver's side fender to rotate the boot about 1/16th of a turn (Clockwise when viewed from front of car looking back towards engine).
If the boot does not wiggle out of the hard plastic track/housing, push to turn the boot some more. , TIP:
This is the hardest part as the fit around the bulb is tight to keep out water.
So push bulb forward when you pull rubber boot backwards (otherwise you may damage metal spring and have to go to dealer) Remove and read the cover to see what is the top.
Feel the 4 square bumps around the hole. , Look for a hook that captures the wire and holds the wire under tension.
Unhook the wire and swing it away. practice hooking it up again.(TIP:
Drive side and Passenger side are different.
Unhooks down on driver side up on passenger side)(Note:2003-2004 Prius had exactly same hook position. both side Unhooks down) ,,, This will ensure the bulb is aligned before you re-hook the retainer. , This may be hard, especially on the Passenger side, where the body of the car blocks your view.
TIP:
This can be done with one hand, by holding bulb forward and swing retainer behind bulb.
Then just hook metal spring over hook. , This is very difficult to do.
A mirror placed in front of the boot is a great help in getting the boot back on.
Ask your helper to hold the mirror.
TIP:
This can be done without a mirror by pushing small hole around back of bulb.
But be sure outer four tabs are aligned (one of the four is larger then the other three) , Reconnect the electrical connection after redistributing the grease in the socket. ,,,,, The whole process takes about
1.5 hours because you can't see anything you are doing and wonder if you are doing it correctly. , Estimates from $100 to $600.
A 61 year old woman with little experience and stiff fingers just did this on the drivers side in less than 30 minutes
-- two beers for me!
About the Author
Alice Ross
Enthusiastic about teaching creative arts techniques through clear, step-by-step guides.
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