Changing license plate bulbs.. What a PITA!

[CTB727]

Last week I ordered some LEDs from V-LEDS.com and they finally came in. I bought a pair of white LED license plate bulbs and a pair of 6000k white (no 5k available for this particular model ) back up lights. I removed the entire trunk liner and when I saw where the license plate bulbs were mounted, I thought "you've gotta be kidding me".

The bulbs were mounted at the most awkward angle you could imagine, and just trying to get your hand into the area where they're mounted is challenging enough. Twisting the bulb socket took some extra strength because that area has never been touched before. Toyota sourced some damn good bulbs, because after 12 years, the original incandescent bulbs still worked just fine. I finally got the bulbs out, swapped the LEDs in, and they worked.

The backup lights were much easier to deal with. No awkward angles to stick your hand into, and it was just a simple twist, pull, replace. I'll post some night pics when I get time.

Here are the LEDs I used:
License plate: http://www.v-leds.com/Exterior-LED/C...-p6985865.html

Backup lights: http://www.v-leds.com/Exterior-LED/P...-p7526829.html

The backup lights were expensive as hell, but I decided to give them a try. They are definitely much brighter than stock, and are somewhat blinding when you're standing behind the car at night, but the only problem is that the Avalon reflectors don't really reflect down towards the ground that well. Instead they reflect the light straight back. Either way, they made backing out at night while having 15% window tint a little easier.

[NRecob]

I've got a bulb out above my license plate myself....so you have to pull the trunk lid liner (HATE doing that--they never want to go back exactly the same and the fasteners break/get lost/won't hold etc)? Then what? The way it looks from the outside of the trunk it looks like there may be bolts/Screws holding the whole license plate assembly in place--just wondering if it's easier to just pull the whole assembly then change the bulbs? (I don't know as the only manual I have is the Haynes guide--it's NOT that great!).

I've GOT to get that Toyota Factory Manual for my 1995 Avalon! Didn't someone say it's available on CD? (The online viewing the manual for $15 for 2 days won't work for me (their software is PC only).

Just curious.....

[pmesfun]

Indeed it is, I used angled needled nose plies to remove them. To remove the screws, hold the out ring in place, than unscrew until it completely comes out, stop there(if you don't, it justs goes back in) Than, just pull out, they shouldn't break.

[NRecob]

Originally Posted by pmesfun

Indeed it is, I used angled needled nose plies to remove them. To remove the screws, hold the out ring in place, than unscrew until it completely comes out, stop there(if you don't, it justs goes back in) Than, just pull out, they shouldn't break.

Thanks pmesfun for the guidance! MUCH appreciated!

[CTB727]

Trunk lid liner was the easy part. The fasteners are fairly easy to remove (just like pmesfun described). The worst part is getting your hand in their to remove the light socket.

If you're putting LEDs in, be sure to test them before putting the socket back in its place. If you put the LED in backwards, it will not light so be sure to test it!

I really hope nothing goes wrong with these bulbs, I don't wanna have to go through that again.

[NRecob]

Originally Posted by CTB727

Trunk lid liner was the easy part. The fasteners are fairly easy to remove (just like pmesfun described). The worst part is getting your hand in their to remove the light socket.

If you're putting LEDs in, be sure to test them before putting the socket back in its place. If you put the LED in backwards, it will not light so be sure to test it!

I really hope nothing goes wrong with these bulbs, I don't wanna have to go through that again.

Thanks! I'm going to see if I can remove the entire license plate/light bulb assembly from the trunk lid by separating them into 2 parts--I see a gasket in between the trunk lid and the license plate/light bulb assembly and it looks like it comes apart so it probably does. If I had the Factory Manual this take apart would be obvious....

[pmesfun]

Originally Posted by NRecob

Thanks! I'm going to see if I can remove the entire license plate/light bulb assembly from the trunk lid by separating them into 2 parts--I see a gasket in between the trunk lid and the license plate/light bulb assembly and it looks like it comes apart so it probably does. If I had the Factory Manual this take apart would be obvious....

Buy a TIS 2-day description, I downloaded everything. Well worth it!

[NRecob]

Originally Posted by pmesfun

Buy a TIS 2-day description, I downloaded everything. Well worth it!

Thanks but their program only works on PC's (I'm Mac based). I'll have to either get the printed factory manual or find it on CD.

[BearDog81]

CTB727,
I have to replace just one of the license plate bulbs. Can you tell me what way you had to twist the bulb assembly to get is out? Do you have to pull and twist straight back towards the rear view mirrror when the trunk lid is up? Thanks much.