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Toyota Highlander Courtesy Step Light Bulb Replacement Guide
How to change a burnt out courtesy step light bulb in the door panel of a 2014 to 2018 Toyota Highlander SUV.

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2017 Highlander Door Panel
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Courtesy Step Light Housing
This automotive maintenance tutorial was specifically written to assist owners of the third generation (2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018 plus maybe also the 2019 and 2020 model years) Toyota Highlander SUV in changing a burnt out courtesy step light bulb located in the housing at the bottom of the plastic interior door panel.

Owners of other Toyota, Lexus and Scion vehicles such as the 4Runner, Avalon, 86, C-HR, Camry, Corolla, iM, Land Cruiser, Mirai, Prius, RAV4, Sequoia, Sienna, Tacoma, Tundra, Yaris, FR-S, xB,  xD, tC, xA, CT 200h, ES 250, ES 300, ES 330, ES 350, IS 250, IS 350, RX 300, GS 250, NX 300 and RX 350.

The compatible replacement miniature wedge base light bulb part number is 168.

You could also install a brighter 168 LED bulb.

The only tool needed to access and replace the bulb is a small flathead screwdriver or a small plastic pry bar tool.



 
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Pry Out Light Housing
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Light Housing Removed
To prevent from scratching the plastic surfaces, you may choose to either cover the tip of your screwdriver with a thin micro fiber cloth or instead use a small plastic pry bar tool.

Insert the blade of the screwdriver in between the top edge of the courtesy step light housing and the plastic interior door panel.

Gently pry out the light housing and remove it from the door panel.

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Push In Release Tab
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Disconnect Power Plug
Gently push in the release tab on the white plastic electrical connector before sliding it straight out of the socket.
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Pull Off Back Cover
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Pull Out Old Light Bulb
Gently pull the grey plastic cover off the back of the light housing.

Set the rear cover aside in a safe place.

Be careful when you remove the old light bulb. If the old light bulb was recently turned on, it might still be hot enough to burn your fingers.

Pull the old light bulb straight out of the socket.



 

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Push In New Light Bulb
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Re-Insert Plastic Tabs
The OEM light bulb was a Toshiba 168 bulb.

Push a new # 168 bulb straight into the socket.

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

Line up the grey plastic rear cover with the back side of the light housing.

Re-insert the plastic tabs into their slots.

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Push On Rear Cover
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Push In Power Plug
Push the other side of the cover until it clicks securely into place.

Push the power plug straight into the socket on the light housing.

The new light bulb should have turn on immediately as soon as you pushed in the power plug.

If not, press the "Unlock" button on the key fob to re-activate the interior lights.

If you installed an LED bulb and it doesn't work, try removing the bulb, rotating the electrical contacts 180 degrees and pushing it back into place. Some LED bulbs are polarized and will only work when the + positive and - negative contacts are in the correct orientation.

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Re-Insert Wires First
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Pop In Light Housing
Re-insert the wires and front edge of the light housing back into the opening in the plastic interior door panel first.

Then gently snap in the retaining clip on the rear edge of the light housing.

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Light Housing Replaced
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Test New Courtesy Step Light
Be sure to record the bulb change in your vehicle's service records.

Please check out all of my 2014-2018 Toyota Highlander DIY Repair & Maintenance Guides.
 

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