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2009-2013 Toyota Corolla License Plate Light Bulbs Replacement Guide
How to change a burnt out license plate light bulb in a 10th generation 2009 to 2013 Toyota Corolla with pictures.

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Corolla License Plate Light
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Trunk Lid Carpet Cover
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Pry Out Plastic Pop Rivet
This automotive "how-to" guide was specifically written to assist owners of the 10th generation (2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013) Toyota Corolla in changing a burnt out license plate light bulb or upgrading them both to brighter LED units.

Owners of other Toyota, Lexus or Scion vehicles such as the Yaris, Matrix, Prius, Camry, RAV4, Sienna, Tacoma, Tundra, FJ Cruiser, Venza, Highlander, Avalon, Sequoia, Land Cruiser, IS 250, ES 350, GS 350, tC, xB, xD, iQ and FR-S may also find these DIY instructions to be helpful.

Replacement license plate light bulbs are part # 168 from various manufacturers such as Sylvania, GE, Eiko, Putco, and PIAA. You may also use any other miniature wedge base bulb such as # 194, 175, W5W, 2825 and 2827.

The only tools needed to access the bulbs is a flathead screwdriver and possibly a pair of needle nose pliers.



 
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Needle Nose Pliers
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Pull Back Trunk Lid Carpet
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Reach In To Bulb Socket
Pop open the trunk and locate the round black plastic fasteners that secure the trunk lid carpet panel in place.

Carefully pry out the two fasteners closest to the burnt out license plate light with the flathead screwdriver or you can instead use a pop rivet removal tool.

You may need a pair of needle nose pliers to pull the fastener out.

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1/4 Turn Counter Clockwise
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Pull Socket Out of Trunk
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Pull Old Bulb Straight Out
Pull back the trunk lid carpeting and locate the black plastic license plate bulb socket.

Reach in and rotate the socket 1/4 turn counter clockwise before pulling it straight out.



 

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Old # 168 5 Watt Bulb
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Push In New Bulb
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Testing New Bulb
Pull the old bulb straight out of the socket and push in a new # 168 bulb.

If you would like to have brighter license plate lights, install some compatible replacement 168 LED bulbs.

Test the new bulb by turning on the headlights.

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Insert Socket In Trunk
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1/4 Turn Clockwise
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Replace Trunk Carpet
Insert the socket back in to the trunk lid and rotate it 1/4 turn clockwise to lock it in place.

Replace the trunk carpet panel.

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Push In XMas Tree Clips
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Insert 2nd Fastener
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Test License Plate Bulb

Line up the holes in the carpet with the holes in the metal trunk lid before pushing in the two black plastic "Christmas" tree pop rivet friction fasteners.

Be sure to record the bulb change in your vehicle's service records.

For more, check out my other Corolla DIY tutorials at the links below -

2009-2013 Toyota Corolla Repair & Maintenance Guides

2003-2008 Toyota Corolla Repair & Maintenance Guides
 

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