Paul's Travel Pictures

Toyota Prius Headlight Bulbs Replacement Guide
How to replace the headlight bulbs in a third generation 2010 to 2015 Toyota Prius hybrid hatchback with pictures.

Main Menu            Home           Digital Cameras

Misc. Pictures            Articles            My Blog

Toyota-Prius-Headlight-Bulbs-Replacement-Guide-001
2012 Prius Headlight
Toyota-Prius-Headlight-Bulbs-Replacement-Guide-002
Low Beam - Cloudy Eye
Toyota-Prius-Headlight-Bulbs-Replacement-Guide-003
Reach Behind Headlight
This automotive "how-to" guide was specifically written to assist owners of the third generation (2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014 & 2015) Toyota Prius hybrid hatchback in replacing the low beam, high beam, parking light, front side marker, front turn signal and fog light bulbs in the headlight assemblies.

Owners of the previous 2nd generation 2004-2009 Prius and other Toyota, Lexus or Scion vehicles such as the Yaris, Corolla, Matrix, Camry, Sienna, Avalon, Highlander, RAV4, FJ Cruiser, Venza, 4Runner, Sequoia, Tacoma, Tundra, IS250, ES350, tC, FR-S, iQ, xD, and xB may also find these DIY instructions to be helpful.

Replacement bulbs with their part numbers are as follows: Low Beam # H11, High Beam # HB3 or 9005, Front Parking Light # 2825, Side Marker # 2825, Front Turn Signal # 992 or 7440A, and Fog Light # H16 or 5202.



 
Toyota-Prius-Headlight-Bulbs-Replacement-Guide-004
1/4 Turn Counter Clockwise
Toyota-Prius-Headlight-Bulbs-Replacement-Guide-005
Press Tab - Unplug Bulb
Toyota-Prius-Headlight-Bulbs-Replacement-Guide-006
Old # H11 Low Beam
No tools are needed to access the low beam, high beam, parking light or side marker bulbs.

The Low Beam bulb is located at the center of the headlight assembly and resembles a cloudy eye.

To access the bulb, reach behind the headlight assembly and rotate the black/green base 1/4 turn counter clockwise.

Pull the bulb straight out of the assembly. Press the release tab on the power connector and slide it off.

Toyota-Prius-Headlight-Bulbs-Replacement-Guide-007
Philips H11 LL 12V 55W
Toyota-Prius-Headlight-Bulbs-Replacement-Guide-008
New H11 Bulb
Toyota-Prius-Headlight-Bulbs-Replacement-Guide-009
Insert New Low Beam Bulb
Insert a new H11 low beam bulb into the headlight assembly and rotate the base 1/4 turn clockwise to lock it in place.

Be sure to not touch the glass part of the new halogen bulb with your fingers or anything greasy in the engine bay. If you do get the bulb dirty, wipe it clean with an alcohol moistened paper towel.

Toyota-Prius-Headlight-Bulbs-Replacement-Guide-010
1/4 Turn Clockwise
Toyota-Prius-Headlight-Bulbs-Replacement-Guide-011
Push On Power Connector
Toyota-Prius-Headlight-Bulbs-Replacement-Guide-012
High Beam Bulb
Push the low beam bulb's power connector straight on to the base until it clicks into place.

The High Beam bulb is located at the bottom corner of the headlight assembly closest to the center line of the vehicle.

Toyota-Prius-Headlight-Bulbs-Replacement-Guide-013
High Beam Bulb Base
Toyota-Prius-Headlight-Bulbs-Replacement-Guide-014
1/4 Turn Counter Clockwise
Toyota-Prius-Headlight-Bulbs-Replacement-Guide-015
Pull Out High Beam
Reach behind the headlight assembly and rotate the black/gray base of the high beam bulb 1/4 turn counter clockwise before pulling it straight out.
Toyota-Prius-Headlight-Bulbs-Replacement-Guide-016
Press Plug Release Tab
Toyota-Prius-Headlight-Bulbs-Replacement-Guide-017
High Beam Bulb Removed
Toyota-Prius-Headlight-Bulbs-Replacement-Guide-018
Sylvania HB3 9005 60W
Press the release tab on the high beam bulb's power connector and slide it straight off.

Insert a new HB3 or "9005" high beam bulb into the headlight assembly and rotate it 1/4 turn clockwise to secure it in place.

Toyota-Prius-Headlight-Bulbs-Replacement-Guide-019
Insert New High Beam
Toyota-Prius-Headlight-Bulbs-Replacement-Guide-020
1/4 Turn Clockwise
Toyota-Prius-Headlight-Bulbs-Replacement-Guide-021
Front Parking Light
Push the high beam bulb's power connector straight on to the base until it clicks into place.

The Front Parking light bulb is located at the top corner of the headlight assembly closest to the center line of the vehicle.



 

Toyota-Prius-Headlight-Bulbs-Replacement-Guide-022
1/4 Turn Counter Clockwise
Toyota-Prius-Headlight-Bulbs-Replacement-Guide-023
Pull Out Old 2825 (168) Bulb
Toyota-Prius-Headlight-Bulbs-Replacement-Guide-024
1/4 Turn Clockwise
Reach in behind the headlight assembly and rotate the small black plastic base of the parking light bulb 1/4 turn counter clockwise before pulling it straight out.

Pull the old 2825 bulb straight out of the socket and push in a new 2825 or # 168 miniature wedge base bulb straight into the socket.

Other compatible bulbs include # 158, 194, W5W or you can choose a brighter LED unit.

Insert the parking light socket back into the headlight assembly and rotate it 1/4 turn clockwise to secure it in place.

Toyota-Prius-Headlight-Bulbs-Replacement-Guide-025
Front Side Marker Light
Toyota-Prius-Headlight-Bulbs-Replacement-Guide-026
Reach In - 1/4 Turn CC
Toyota-Prius-Headlight-Bulbs-Replacement-Guide-027
Pull Out Old # 168 / 2825
The Front Side Marker light bulb is located at the amber colored lower outer edge of the headlight assembly near the front quarter panel. (This bulb can be difficult to remove for people with larger hands.)

Reach in to the engine bay and rotate the small black plastic side marker bulb socket 1/4 turn counter clockwise before pulling it straight out of the assembly.

Pull the old # 2825 bulb straight out of the socket and push in a new 2825 or other miniature wedge base bulb such as the 168, 175, 198 or a brighter LED unit.

Toyota-Prius-Headlight-Bulbs-Replacement-Guide-028
Test New Headlight Bulb(s)
Toyota-Prius-Headlight-Bulbs-Replacement-Guide-029
Testing High Beam Bulb
Toyota-Prius-Headlight-Bulbs-Replacement-Guide-030
Turn Signal & Fog Light
Test the new bulbs by turning on the headlights, flashing the high beams, and activating the hazard signals.

The Front Turn Signal and Fog Light bulbs are contained in a separate housing at the bottom corner of the bumper.

(Please note, this 2012 Prius was not equipped with fog lights.)

To access either of these bulbs, you'll need a flathead screwdriver, a Phillips head screwdriver, and a 10mm socket with ratcheting wrench.

Toyota-Prius-Headlight-Bulbs-Replacement-Guide-031
Turn Wheels Opposite Side
Toyota-Prius-Headlight-Bulbs-Replacement-Guide-032
Wheel Well Liner
Toyota-Prius-Headlight-Bulbs-Replacement-Guide-033
Flathead - Unscrew Fastener
Turn the steering wheel all the way to the opposite side of the burnt out bulb that you'd like to replace.

Unscrew the black plastic wheel well fastener with a flathead screwdriver and remove the center plastic pin piece.

Remove the Phillips head screw on the wheel well liner located near the top of the tire.

Toyota-Prius-Headlight-Bulbs-Replacement-Guide-034
Pull Out Plastic Fastener
Toyota-Prius-Headlight-Bulbs-Replacement-Guide-035
Plastic Under Engine Cover
Toyota-Prius-Headlight-Bulbs-Replacement-Guide-036
Remove Plastic Pop Rivet
Move to underneath the front bumper and remove the black plastic pop rivet that secures the bottom edge of the wheel well by first prying out the center piece.

Then remove the 10mm screw with the socket and ratcheting wrench.

Set the four fasteners aside in a safe place.

Toyota-Prius-Headlight-Bulbs-Replacement-Guide-037
Remove 10mm Screw
Toyota-Prius-Headlight-Bulbs-Replacement-Guide-038
Pull Back Wheel Well Liner
Toyota-Prius-Headlight-Bulbs-Replacement-Guide-039
1/4 Turn Counter Clockwise
Pull back the black plastic wheel well liner away from the front quarter panel.

Reach in and rotate the light grey turn signal bulb socket 1/4 turn counter clockwise before pulling it straight out of the housing.

Toyota-Prius-Headlight-Bulbs-Replacement-Guide-040
Pull Out Turn Signal Bulb
Toyota-Prius-Headlight-Bulbs-Replacement-Guide-041
Insert - 1/4 Turn Clockwise
Toyota-Prius-Headlight-Bulbs-Replacement-Guide-042
Fog Light (If Equipped)
Pull the old turn signal bulb straight out of the socket and push in a new amber colored 992 or 7440A bulb straight into the socket.

Insert the socket back into the housing and rotate it 1/4 turn clockwise to secure it in place.

(If your Prius is equipped with fog lights, the bulb will be located either below the turn signal bulb or further inwards near the lower grille area of the bumper. In my experience, to remove an H16 or 5202 fog light bulb, you have to squeeze together the two outer release tabs with your thumb and forefinger before pulling it straight out of the housing.)

Toyota-Prius-Headlight-Bulbs-Replacement-Guide-043
Test New Turn Signal Bulb
Toyota-Prius-Headlight-Bulbs-Replacement-Guide-044
Re-Insert 10mm Screw
Toyota-Prius-Headlight-Bulbs-Replacement-Guide-045
Push In Pop Rivet
Test the new turn signal bulb by activating the hazard signals.

Secure the bottom of the wheel well liner by replacing the 10mm screw and pop rivet. Then replace the black plastic fastener and Phillips head screw on the wheel well liner near the front tire.

For more, check out my other Toyota Prius DIY Repair & Maintenance Guides.
 

If you found this guide to be helpful, please consider making a small donation by clicking on the PayPal.com "Donate" button located to the right of this paragraph. Thank you!
(Note: I am not a registered charity. Donations are not tax deductible.)

Main Menu       Home       Digital Cameras

Misc. Pictures       Articles       My Blog

 

Copyright 2024 © PaulsTravelPictures.com
 All Rights Reserved ®

Paul's Travel Pictures is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com.

Privacy Policy     About Paul & Author Contact Info