License plate lights

[JayCee88]

Does anyone here know if it’s possible to replace the license plate lights to LED version?

[tfc]

If it's  a W5W bulb you can buy a led version for canbus on eBay

[Auris2010]

You can change the whole unit with led. 

[JayCee88]

Thanks both. Can I just swap the bulb out or do I need to swap the whole unit please?

Not much information on the web but looks like the whole unit needs to be swapped? Also looks like most of the rear boot trim needs to be removed. 
 

Anyone here with Touring Sport model upgraded their license plate lights?

[PCM]

16 hours ago, JayCee88 said:

Does anyone here know if it’s possible to replace the license plate lights to LED version?

I did on my IQ. 10 minute job...

( As you take out the little light unit, assuming it's similar, make a mental note, so you know the way it goes back in. 

[JayCee88]

2 minutes ago, PCM said:

I did on my IQ. 10 minute job...

( As you take out the little light unit, assuming it's similar, make a mental note, so you know the way it goes back in. 

Cheers. This on a 21 Corolla Touring Sport though. I had a look and can’t see a way of removing the rear license plate light units from the outside. 

[PCM]

3 minutes ago, JayCee88 said:

Cheers. This on a 21 Corolla Touring Sport though. I had a look and can’t see a way of removing the rear license plate light units from the outside. 

The car manual should help... mine just gently prised out. 

[TonyHSD]

Yes, you can do only the bulbs with leds. There is already a lists about it but to find perhaps you need to search in Google uk and it will show you results from the forum easier than if you look at the forum search window. 

[JayCee88]

24 minutes ago, PCM said:

The car manual should help... mine just gently prised out. 

I did have a look at the manual but can’t find anything about changing the rear license plate bulbs. Perhaps I will have another look. 

[JayCee88]

24 minutes ago, TonyHSD said:

Yes, you can do only the bulbs with leds. There is already a lists about it but to find perhaps you need to search in Google uk and it will show you results from the forum easier than if you look at the forum search window. 

Cheers. Found below on YouTube, but it’s for hatchback. I believe should be same for TS?

Looks fairly easy popping it out and swapping with T10 wedge LED units. 
 

 

[JayCee88]

Ok found one for Corolla TS hybrid.

This one suggest that it might be a lot of work and whole unit needs to be replaced.

 

 

[TonyHSD]

8 minutes ago, JayCee88 said:

Ok found one for Corolla TS hybrid.

This one suggest that it might be a lot of work and whole unit needs to be replaced.

 

 

If Toyota hasn’t included a window cover to remove most likely means the whole door cover doesn’t need to be removed. 
Start from outside and take off these black plastic surrounds carefully, them with angled plastic remover tool insert into side of the light unit just under the clear glass and press in these plastic clips and the whole unit should pop out. Be careful these are super easy to brake and cost £40+ per unit from Toyota or £12 from aliexpress which actually are super good quality. 
Best to work on plastics when outside temperature is at least 12c° or more , or use a hairdryer to warm up the plastic so not been brittle. 
The bulbs are w5w. Osram and Philips does a good led available on Amazon, or standard bulbs osram only as any others does not last long . 👍

[JayCee88]

5 minutes ago, TonyHSD said:

If Toyota hasn’t included a window cover to remove most likely means the whole door cover doesn’t need to be removed. 
Start from outside and take off these black plastic surrounds carefully, them with angled plastic remover tool insert into side of the light unit just under the clear glass and press in these plastic clips and the whole unit should pop out. Be careful these are super easy to brake and cost £40+ per unit from Toyota or £12 from aliexpress which actually are super good quality. 
Best to work on plastics when outside temperature is at least 12c° or more , or use a hairdryer to warm up the plastic so not been brittle. 
The bulbs are w5w. Osram and Philips does a good led available on Amazon, or standard bulbs osram only as any others does not last long . 👍

Cheers. Ordered some plastic trim removal tools and shall await for better weather before attempting this. 
Hope it’s an easy replacement as LED license plate lights will really finish off the rear 🙂

[JayCee88]

Ok had a closer look at the rear license plate lights and it doesn’t look like it’s something I can remove from the outside. The cowl protecting the unit doesn’t seem to have any edges suitable for prying. 
Perhaps the second YouTube video is accurate to the process of changing bulbs for Corolla TS.

[Don Mac]

Please correct me if I'm wrong, but are you not risking issues at MOT time by changing an exterior bulb to an LED with, potentially, a very different beam output pattern?

I have noticed a number of cars which appear to have undergone DIY number plate light "upgrades". They are noticeable by the much brighter, whiter light. Unfortunately they are also often noticeable because said white light is either visible directly to the rear (which is illegal) or making the plate illegible because all you can see are a couple of patches of blinding white light reflecting from it (possibly illegal for obscuring the plate, possibly an MOT failure).

Apologies if I'm raining on anyone's parade here, but I'd rather just stick with the original bulbs than risk failing an MOT (or even having the local constables stop me to explain their views on the subject...).

[TonyHSD]

1 minute ago, Don Mac said:

Please correct me if I'm wrong, but are you not risking issues at MOT time by changing an exterior bulb to an LED with, potentially, a very different beam output pattern?

I have noticed a number of cars which appear to have undergone DIY number plate light "upgrades". They are noticeable by the much brighter, whiter light. Unfortunately they are also often noticeable because said white light is either visible directly to the rear (which is illegal) or making the plate illegible because all you can see are a couple of patches of blinding white light reflecting from it (possibly illegal for obscuring the plate, possibly an MOT failure).

Apologies if I'm raining on anyone's parade here, but I'd rather just stick with the original bulbs than risk failing an MOT (or even having the local constables stop me to explain their views on the subject...).

That right , fully agreed with that! 👍

For the removal perhaps best to check car manual first., physical or online there might be information and a picture how to do that job the right way. 
My car I push from behind but my door cover has a special opening for that job. 👍

[Auris2010]

Its not illegal to changed it too led or any brighter light than the stock bulb. It wont even fail MOT. Its becomes illegal and fail MOT if the pattern of light is not for its intended purpose in the case of the plate number, illumination should be downwards focusing on the number plate itself and should not be focus somewhere which blinds other car user. 
 

There should be a slot on each side the press for it to loosen up. You can use a small flat screw driver. Ive  changed mine almost from new until now working well.