Changing lights on the side mirrors? - Toyota Nation Forum : Toyota Car and Truck Forums

wirebender · 03-08-2010, 02:46 AM

I managed to get all of my interior lights switched to LEDs, but I want to change the lights on the mirrors also, I am unable to see an easy way to pop the cover off? Do I need to take apart the mirror some how to access them? anybody know the kind of LED needed? thanks!!

wirebender · 03-09-2010, 11:29 PM

well no replies yet, but I hope someone can help me out soon. there are lights that come on under the side mirrors on the highlander when we approach the car with the key fob. those are the lights I want to change, but I have no idea how to get to them.

Has anybody every attempted to get to those mirror lights?
thanks!

***TrailDust*** · 03-09-2010, 11:56 PM

I don't recall a thread where anyone described the process, but hopefully someone may chime in to help out. If not you may have to resort to a short-term subscription to Toyota's Technical Information System to get the diagrams/instructions you need.

limitedblizz · 03-09-2010, 11:56 PM

hey
i havent done that yet.
but am interested in how you did all your interior lights w/leds.
do you have a diy post in here on it? pics?
why'd you do it?
thanks

wirebender · 03-10-2010, 12:03 AM

here are some photos of the light that I want to get to

wirebender · 03-10-2010, 12:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by limitedblizz

hey
i havent done that yet.
but am interested in how you did all your interior lights w/leds.
do you have a diy post in here on it? pics?
why'd you do it?
thanks

I have a 09 highlander hybrid limited with all of the options, sun roof AND DVD, bug guard, running boards, mud flaps, side moldings, etc.

I went to www.superbrightleds.com and this is what I got.

for the most part the bulps you will need are the 194 wedge bulbs, there are many sizes, and several sizes or types will work.

for the inside door courtesy light, both sides (2 bulbs), the front maps lights (2 bulbs), the front top visor/ mirror lights (2 bulbs)and the license plate lights(2 bulbs) I got the following leds, (in white)

for the middle dome light I got two of these (this may be way too bright for your likings, maybe the one above will be ok) my wife doesn't like how two of these are WAY too bright. I may switch them out for the side mirror ones if that is the same bulb base.

for the back dome light (trunk area) you have to get a different type, it will be a festoon light type.
31 mm size. I think I orderd this one below, the bottom in the photo.

basically the covers all seem to pop out with a flat head and then you just replace it. some are harder to get off then others, the license plate ones are accessible from the outside and will be the easiest ones to do! try those first!

hopefully I can get my side mirrors changed out soon!

black_sedan · 03-10-2010, 08:51 AM

With the pictures you've included, my guess is that you're probably going to have to disassemble the housing.

What color are you trying to change it to? Aren't they already white LED's?

nick1sp · 03-10-2010, 09:08 AM

already been discussed. here's the link to that post

changing bulb in puddle lamp of mirror

wirebender · 03-10-2010, 09:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by black_sedan

With the pictures you've included, my guess is that you're probably going to have to disassemble the housing.

What color are you trying to change it to? Aren't they already white LED's?

they seem to give a yellowish regular light off, and don't appear to be an LED. I have never seen a TH with a white light there already?

wirebender · 03-10-2010, 09:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nick1sp

already been discussed. here's the link to that post

changing bulb in puddle lamp of mirror

ahh,, the photos on that post are missing! I there seems to be some metal clips that won't move in there, also some black clips and some side clips,, need to see the photos!! maybe someone can repost it!

limitedblizz · 03-10-2010, 10:06 AM

thanks for the info, especially the too bright comment.
it is my wife's car, so that was definitely good info.

why do this? is the light better? whiter?
what made you decide to do this?
thanks
rob

wirebender · 03-10-2010, 11:32 AM

good questions! ; as you konw the lights in the interior know are very yellowish, they are also very dim. I wanted to go with the LEDs because I wanted to make more light to see things and to make the contrast colors stand out more. I went with the regular white, standard wite,, not the blue or cool white and not the yellowish white.
To give you a good comparision, imagine a regular flashlight that is old and the battery is less than half gone and you shine it in the dark and you get the dim yellowish beam, that's what the factory bulbs are, and now imagine this compared to a single floursent bulb, white, bright and clean. There are reasons why most kitchen lights are birght and white, those are the same I wanted the interior to be like that. I have the grey leather, and the white makes it look very nice to blend with the silvers. the colars are more ture.
I am in southern california, so the licnense plate is a blizzard white color with sparkels, so the license plate lights make that stand out and pop more.
I am excited to try to get the side mirrors changed soon, as soon as figure out those clips!!

Quote:

Originally Posted by limitedblizz

thanks for the info, especially the too bright comment.
it is my wife's car, so that was definitely good info.

why do this? is the light better? whiter?
what made you decide to do this?
thanks
rob