Toyota Tacoma
Headlight Bulbs Replacement Guide
How to change a burnt out low beam, high
beam, front turn signal and side marker in a 2016 to 2021 Tacoma.
2020 Tacoma Headlights |
Low Beam - High Beam |
1/4 Turn Counterclockwise |
This automotive
maintenance tutorial was specifically written to assist owners of the third
generation (2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021 and probably also the 2022
and 2023 model years) Toyota Tacoma pickup truck in changing a burnt out low
beam, high beam, front turn signal or side marker light bulb in the
headlight assemblies or upgrading all of them to brighter and longer lasting
LED units. Owners of other Toyota or Lexus vehicles such as the Tundra, 4Runner, Hilux, Highlander, C-HR, Avalon, Camry, Corolla, Supra, Land Cruiser, Prius, RAV4, Mirai, Sequoia, Sienna, Yaris, CT 200h, ES 300h, RX 350, GX 460, LX 570, NX 300, RX 450h, UX 200 and UX 250h may also find these DIY instructions to be helpful. The compatible replacement light bulb part numbers are as follows: Low Beam # H11, Low Beam # H9, Front Turn Signal # WY21W (also known as 7440A or 7440NA) or possibly the 7442NA and Front Side Marker # W5W (also known as 2825). Please use the Amazon Part Finder website to verify the correct part numbers and check your old light bulbs before purchasing new ones. The bulb part numbers may vary depending on the year, trim level and whether the truck was manufactured in Japan or North America. No tools are needed to access and replace the low beam, high beam or front turn signal. To change the front side marker light bulb, you'll need a flat head screwdriver, a 10mm socket and a 1/4" drive ratchet. The first two steps are to open the hood and move to the side of the vehicle with the burnt out light bulb. The low beam light bulb is situated near the outer part of the headlight housing with a lens that resembles a cloudy eye. Reach in behind the headlight assembly and rotate the base of the old low beam light bulb 1/4 turn in the counterclockwise direction before pulling it straight out of the housing. |
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Remove Low Beam Bulb |
Push Down Release Tab |
Pull Off Power Plug |
Push the release
button on the black plastic electrical connector before sliding it straight
off the base of the old low beam light bulb. The OEM (original equipment manufacturer) low beam light bulb in this 2020 Tacoma TRD Sport was an Osram H11 12V 55W halogen bulb. |
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Osram H11 12V 55W |
Empty Bulb Housing |
Push On Connector |
Avoid touching the
glass part of the new low beam bulb with your fingers or anything greasy or
oily in the engine bay. If you do get the new bulb dirty, wipe it clean with a paper towel and some rubbing alcohol. Push the electrical connector straight on to the base of a new H11 light bulb. You should hear or feel the power plug "click" securely into place. If you would like to have brighter low beam lights that will also last much longer before burning out, install some compatible replacement H11 LED bulbs. |
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1/4 Turn Clockwise - Lock |
Base of High Beam Bulb |
Disconnect Power Plug |
Install the new
bulb into the headlight housing and rotate it 1/4 turn in the clockwise
direction to secure it into place. The high beam light bulb is situated near the center of the headlight assembly. Push in the release tab on the black plastic electrical connector before sliding it straight off the base of the old high beam bulb. |
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1/4 Turn Counterclockwise |
Old High Beam Removed |
High Beam Housing |
Rotate the base of the old high beam bulb 1/4 turn in the counterclockwise direction before pulling it straight out of the housing. | ||
1/4 Turn Clockwise - Lock |
Push On Power Plug |
Front Turn Signal Socket |
Try to avoid
touching the glass part of the new halogen high beam bulb with your fingers
or to anything dirty in the engine bay. If you do get the new bulb dirty, clean it with a paper towel and some rubbing alcohol. Install the new number H9 light bulb into the housing and rotate it 1/4 turn in the clockwise direction to secure it into place. If you would like to have brighter high beam lights that will also last much longer, install some H9 LED light bulbs. The front turn signal light bulb is situated near the inner corner of the headlight assembly closer to the center line of the vehicle. |
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1/4 Turn Counterclockwise |
Pull Out Old Light Bulb |
Push In New Light Bulb |
Pull the old wedge
base light bulb straight out of the socket. If you have difficulty removing the old light bulb due to debris or corrosion (rust) in the socket, I recommend wearing some protective cloth or leather gloves and trying wiggling the bulb while pulling it straight out. This 2020 Tacoma TRD Sport was equipped with WY21W front turn signal light bulbs which are supposed to be the same as the DOT specification 7440A or 7440NA amber colored light bulbs. Some Tacoma models are equipped with 7442NA front turn signal light bulbs. Please be sure to check your old front turn signal light bulbs before buying new ones! If you would like to have brighter turn signal lights, install some compatible replacement WY21W LED bulbs or 7442NA LED light bulbs depending on which bulb your truck was equipped with at the factory. Push the new light bulb straight into the socket. |
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Empty Bulb Housing |
1/4 Turn Clockwise |
Outer Edge - Side Marker |
Re-insert the bulb
socket into the housing and rotate it 1/4 turn in the clockwise direction to
secure it into place. The front side marker light bulb is located at the outer corner of the headlight housing. To access the side marker bulb socket, you'll have to go in through the wheel well liner (also known as the "splash guard" or "engine shield"). |
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Plastic Wheel Well Liner |
Loosen Plastic Pin |
Plastic Pin Removed |
An optional step is
to turn the steering wheel all the way in the opposite direction of the
burnt out side marker light bulb to create more working room in the wheel
well. Loosen the black plastic pin in the fastener just in front of the tire by turning it in the counterclockwise direction with a flat head screwdriver. Set the plastic pin aside in a safe place. |
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Screw - Bottom Edge |
Screw - In Front of Tire |
Loosen Counterclockwise |
There are two metal
screws that should also be removed. One screw is located under the wheel well liner with the screw head facing down towards the floor. The other screw is in front of and just above the tire. |
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Plastic Pin & Metal Screw |
Pull Back Plastic Shield |
Remove Bottom Screw |
Remove the two
screws by turning them in the counterclockwise direction with a 10mm socket
and a 1/4" drive ratchet. I tried to skip removing the screw on the underside of the wheel well liner, but it was too difficult to pull back the liner to reach the side marker bulb socket. So I had to continue with removing the screw on the underside. |
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Lower Screw Removed |
Easier Access To Socket |
1/4 Turn Counterclockwise |
Set the two screws
aside with the plastic pin. Gently pull back the wheel well liner and look up to locate the small gray plastic bulb socket. Rotate the side marker bulb socket 1/4 turn in the counterclockwise direction before pulling it straight out of the housing. |
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Side Marker Bulb Socket |
Install New Light Bulb |
Empty Bulb Housing |
Pull the old
miniature wedge base light bulb straight out of the socket. Push a new number W5W light bulb straight into the socket. If you would like to have brighter side marker lights, install some compatible replacement W5W LED bulbs. |
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1/4 Turn Clockwise |
Side Marker Installed |
Replace Plastic Liner |
Re-insert the bulb
socket into the housing and rotate it 1/4 turn in the clockwise direction to
secure it into place. Push the wheel well liner back into place. |
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Re-Insert Bottom Screw |
Tighten Screw Clockwise |
Push In Plastic Pin |
Re-insert the screw
into the underside of the wheel well liner and tighten it in the clockwise
direction with the 10mm socket and a 1/4" drive ratchet. Push in the plastic pin to secure the middle of the wheel well liner. |
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Replace Metal Screw |
Wheel Well Liner Secured |
Test New Light Bulbs |
Replace the metal
screw at the front of the liner by turning it in the clockwise direction
with the 10mm socket and the 1/4" drive ratchet. Double check that all the wheel well liner fasteners are securely attached. To test the new light bulbs, turn on the headlights, activate the hazard signals and flash the high beams. Tip - If you installed LED bulbs and they are not working, try rotating the electrical connectors 180 degrees or remove the wedge base bulbs from the sockets, rotate them 180 degrees and push them back into the socket. Some LED bulbs are polarized and will only work when the "+" positive and "-" negative electrical contacts are in the correct orientation. Be sure to write down the bulb change in your vehicle's service records. Please
check out all of the
2016-2021 Toyota Tacoma DIY Repair & Maintenance Guides. |
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