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DIY...rear map lights removal (w/ moon roof)

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41K views 21 replies 14 participants last post by  NowImToyotaMan84  
#1 · (Edited)
i haven't got my LEDs yet (2 more days)...but i know some people already have some and are waiting to put them in. this is for cars with moon roofs.

so here i go, (my first diy) if i need to fix let me know.


tool need : 1 screwdriver

1) first you want to remove base from roof liner.

there are 2 clips in the rear...2 in front...and 2 on sides (6 total). put screwdriver between base and roof liner and pry down and out while pulling on base. start with sides then work around.

Image

Image

Image



2) remove cover from base.

there are 10 clips holding cover to base. put screwdriver between base clip and cover and pry out to unhook (make sure they are staying out) then work your way around 1 by 1. there are 2 clips in the middle...1 you can unhook like others. other middle clip you cant see but you will need to wait until you get all other clips unhooked then just pull apart the last clip will just unhook itself.

Image



3) remove bulb from bottom and replace with bulb of choice.

you can now access bulb and replace it. after replacing bulb just clip cover back to base and base back to roof. done


Image



i know the repair manual said different...i tried it and failed. so i did it my way. enjoy!
 
#2 ·
nice DIY jack! i'll treat you with a frosty!:lol: cant wait to led swap all my lights inside! i haven`t done anything yet ive been lazy! take pics when you get your leds!
 
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#6 · (Edited)
thanks...just make that frosty into a rootbeer float instead. :thumbsup: there are too many threads for LEDs already lol...i dont think one more is going to help it :lol:

darksparkz said:
Oh, it was that simple? Fits 194 bulbs right?
Click to expand...
yea it was simple. hardest part was removing the base from the roof. like dcemureviews said yea it uses 194.

dcemureviews said:
I KNEW IT! Nice Jack! I actually tried doing that method as someone on this forum said to dismantle it. However, I ended up breaking one of the middle clips and didnt want to risk breaking the other clips on the side. I thought maybe someone knew and easier way.

Those doing it though..be warned. Plastic feels really cheap and can break.

I also though of bending or removing the metal shield above the bulb.

Dark: yes, it uses 194 bulbs.
Click to expand...
yea there was a few different ways to remove bulbs...i thought about bending metal piece too but didnt want it to brake anything. this was the easiest way i could do. i know you been wanting to replace your leds for a while now. lol so i thought i'd give it a try.
 
#3 ·
Oh, it was that simple? Fits 194 bulbs right?
 
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#4 ·
I KNEW IT! Nice Jack! I actually tried doing that method as someone on this forum said to dismantle it. However, I ended up breaking one of the middle clips and didnt want to risk breaking the other clips on the side. I thought maybe someone knew and easier way.

Those doing it though..be warned. Plastic feels really cheap and can break.

I also though of bending or removing the metal shield above the bulb.

Dark: yes, it uses 194 bulbs.
 
S
#5 ·
AWESOME YOU ROCK! Finally someone with a DIY for this, all my interiors are LED except for the rear map lights, finally I can swap them out lol

One question though, do i have to push the clips in with a screw driver or just tuck my fingers in towards the middle of the housing and pull down, similar to the moonroof console up in the front of the car? These clips look difference and seem much harder to get down then the larger moonroof console.

I guess I'll give it a go this weekend and start with the sides then work the middle out. Thanks very much for this, I appreciate it!

-SD
 
#7 · (Edited)
SourDieseL said:
AWESOME YOU ROCK! Finally someone with a DIY for this, all my interiors are LED except for the rear map lights, finally I can swap them out lol

One question though, do i have to push the clips in with a screw driver or just tuck my fingers in towards the middle of the housing and pull down, similar to the moonroof console up in the front of the car? These clips look difference and seem much harder to get down then the larger moonroof console.

I guess I'll give it a go this weekend and start with the sides then work the middle out. Thanks very much for this, I appreciate it!

-SD
Click to expand...
thanks. you could try to push clips of base in with screwdriver (they do move in and out) or you could pull realy hard on one or both sides (front and rear) and it will come out.
 
#10 ·
Thank you very much for the write-up. I don't intend on swapping anything out, but my rear reading light cluster isn't secured properly, so now I can take it off and put it back on properly. :)

On another note, why is everyone so obsessed with shelling out $100 to swap interior lights for LED? There is no advantage in this and it's not like you're gonna get better fuel economy or anything...

Or is this another "fad" like 6000K Xenon lights which may "look cool" but actually put out the same or worse light than halogens? :lol:
 
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#12 · (Edited)
SourDieseL said:
^I think I spent close to $30 to swap out all of my bulbs to leds and I honestly like that white over the halogen yellow tone that comes out on the regular bulb. I can read and see much better with the LEDs versus the halogen bulbs....how do I know? I have LED's upfront and halogen's in the back because I couldn't swap them for the life of me so it was easy for me to compare while riding in the back of my car.
Click to expand...
^ Agreed 100%. I think I might have spent a little more than $30..depends on which LEDs you get. I probably spent $40-50

I also prefer the white over the halogen yellow. Not to mention, LEDs draw less power and last a lot longer. With the bulbs, if they blow out, you'll have to replace them. With the LEDs, you wont have to worry. Wish I had a comparison of the halogen verse LED. But I guess you can take a look at my cardomain page and see how bright the LEDs are.

Kind of goes for the same for the cathode in the trunk. You rarely going in there. But there will be a time when the bright light will come in handy. It did for me within a week of installing it.

After installing LEDs, I'm so tempted to swap out my gfs Accord as well as my Odyssey. Its night and day between the halogen and LEDs.
 
S
#11 ·
^I think I spent close to $30 to swap out all of my bulbs to leds and I honestly like that white over the halogen yellow tone that comes out on the regular bulb. I can read and see much better with the LEDs versus the halogen bulbs....how do I know? I have LED's upfront and halogen's in the back because I couldn't swap them for the life of me so it was easy for me to compare while riding in the back of my car.
 
S
#18 ·
JACK_FROST said:
i haven't got my LEDs yet (2 more days)...but i know some people already have some and are waiting to put them in. this is for cars with moon roofs.

so here i go, (my first diy) if i need to fix let me know.


tool need : 1 screwdriver

1) first you want to remove base from roof liner.

there are 2 clips in the rear...2 in front...and 2 on sides (6 total). put screwdriver between base and roof liner and pry down and out while pulling on base. start with sides then work around.

Image

Image

Image



2) remove cover from base.

there are 10 clips holding cover to base. put screwdriver between base clip and cover and pry out to unhook (make sure they are staying out) then work your way around 1 by 1. there are 2 clips in the middle...1 you can unhook like others. other middle clip you cant see but you will need to wait until you get all other clips unhooked then just pull apart the last clip will just unhook itself.

Image



3) remove bulb from bottom and replace with bulb of choice.

you can now access bulb and replace it. after replacing bulb just clip cover back to base and base back to roof. done


Image



i know the repair manual said different...i tried it and failed. so i did it my way. enjoy!
Click to expand...

I hate to revive a dead thread, but can you (the OP) or someone else post some pics for this DIY? The posts in this thread suggest that there were once pictures to support this thread.

With all the talks of potentially breaking clips, it would help anyone replacing their bulbs if the pics were back on this thread to show the best way to remove the base/light fixture.
 
N
#22 ·
I read the OP and the first page and took off to remove this. I broke two clips. No one should "grab and pull down", that is not the right way. Once I had it off I saw the correct way. You should start on the sides like the OP says, but rather than just pull down you should pry down a bit and use a screwdriver on the circled tabs and essentially "jab" them inwards. That will release them. You may have to let up (don't pull down) for the tabs to release, but that is the correct way.

Now I'm trying to find a replacement rear dome light because mine won't stay pulled up to the roof.
 
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