[sharkinstx]

As part of my hail damage suffered last spring, the right headlamp took a hit on the "lip" along the top on the side, where it meets the fender. The insurance company wants to replace it with the aftermarket part (boo!), but I can buy the Toyota part from Toyota of Cool Springs for just $5 more than what the insurance company quoted for the (I imagine Chinese) part.

The thing is, the estimate included 1.6 hours to remove and replace the bumper cover. Do I really need to take that off, or is there a trick (without breaking something) to changing out the headlamp?

Also, what about the plastic filler piece (the part diagram calls it a "bumper filler")? How can I get that off, hopefully without breaking it? The part diagram shows one retainer for each filler.

 

[05Moose]

No need to remove bumper cover. And yes, there's a clip on the filler. I think mine broke partially, but they are staying in just fine. There are writeups around, but finding the pics is challenging.

 

[Taco'09]

sharkkinstx, I removed all that stuff earlier this year on my '14 in order to get ample access for installation of a hidden winch mount. Are you talking about that small painted filler piece immediately beneath the headlights or the larger black filler with the air inlets that covers the underlying aluminum crash bar, or both?

 

[sharkinstx]

sharkkinstx, I removed all that stuff earlier this year on my '14 in order to get ample access for installation of a hidden winch mount. Are you talking about that small painted filler piece immediately beneath the headlights or the larger black filler with the air inlets that covers the underlying aluminum crash bar, or both?

These are little painted plastic fillers below the headlights, between them and the bumper. The retainers sell for $4 apiece, and that's on the Toyota of Cool Springs site.

On this page, the fillers are Item 22, and the retainers are Item 23.

http://parts.toyotaofcoolsprings.co...ine/body-cat/bumper-and-components-front-scat

 

[Taco'09]

As I recall there were two retainers on that painted fill piece one on each end. The one you have already identified and #8 on that diagram being 52531-04010. Seems like I did not have to remove the #8 piece but the filler has a tab of sorts that slips in to that other retainer rather loosely

The other thing I seem to remember is I had to take the grill off in order to get to that filler piece. The grill comes off by undoing the obvious screws on top but then there are some plastic tabs on the inside of the grill that are molded to it that slip into some slots behind. I think I remember it puzzling me for a bit until I just grabbed the grill and kind of gorilla-yanked the thing back toward me. I do remember falling on my rear when it come off. You might do well being a little more gentle...

 

[sharkinstx]

As I recall there were two retainers on that painted fill piece one on each end. The one you have already identified and #8 on that diagram being 52531-04010. Seems like I did not have to remove the #8 piece but the filler has a tab of sorts that slips in to that other retainer rather loosely

The other thing I seem to remember is I had to take the grill off in order to get to that filler piece. The grill comes off by undoing the obvious screws on top but then there are some plastic tabs on the inside of the grill that are molded to it that slip into some slots behind. I think I remember it puzzling me for a bit until I just grabbed the grill and kind of gorilla-yanked the thing back toward me. I do remember falling on my rear when it come off. You might do well being a little more gentle...

Thanks. What year model is yours?

 

[Taco'09]

Thanks. What year model is yours?

Silly me. Is a '14 so all the basic pieces are the same.

 

[sharkinstx]

Silly me. Is a '14 so all the basic pieces are the same.

Aha! Thanks. When you pull off the plastic bumper fillers, which end did you pull first? The end closest to the grille, or near the fender? I figure on gently prying with a screwdriver with the tip wrapped in tape (like the FSM always suggests).

 

[Taco'09]

I believe that you have to work closest to the grill as for sure I had it off before I took off that piece.

Today is bonus day for you! I'm putting 5100s on and if you like I will pull the grill just to make sure. Stay tuned....

 

[Taco'09]

......back. There is an easy way to remove that piece if your your truck cooperates.

Make sure you first put some 2" wide painters tape along the seams of things that get removed. I usually tuck it into the seam about 1/4" and it serves of course to minimize scratches.

On the headlight assy itself, you will see a small area of black plastic criss-cross pattern. This will be next to the seam of the grill and the filler piece. I put two fingers behind the filler at that intersection, at the extreme right (inside toward the grill) and pulled it back a tiny bit. You can see a green and a gray push clip. I got lucky and was able to give it a little more pull and disengage it about 1/4". It seems like it would be easy to break the plastic tabs here doing this if your truck does not cooperate.

Don't pull it out very much go much as the other side of that filler piece (toward the outside end) pushes into a special engagement tab and it looks easy to break off. The way to do it is to pull along the length of the filler about 1/2", again toward the grill, and it will pull out of the engagement tab.

Now, having said all that, I saw only one very small screw under that filler piece. I also tried removing the grill to get to those green and gray tabs and used a simple plastic pry tool made for car clips and they came off easier. You are going to have to remove the grill anyway so might as well minimize problems and go straight for that method. Here is a youtube video I found:

 

[sharkinstx]

Thanks for the tips, and the video. The outboard clips look particularly tricky. I'll watch the video more closely tonight.