Upgraded Light Bulbs For New Shape Avensis

[Nightstalker]

LO all

Just wanted to know if there is anyone out there who knows if there are any upgraded bulbs we can use on our Avensiseseses

You know like blue side lights and stronger main lights n so on...

regards

Rob

[Chris Dance]

I have just had both headlights changed under warranty. The dealer told me some customers had installed higher rated bulbs. These bulbs melted the lights and invalidated the warranty. So be very careful changing the type of bulb that is recommended. Also changing a bulb necessitates removing the front spoiler. It is not an easy job. My son was charged £70 by a dealer for changing the bulb on his new shape Avensis.

[Nightstalker]

Do I understand this correctly that we have to go to the dealership to get a normal headlight bulb changed?

I know that when I had my laguna I had to, but that was because I had xenon bulbs...

Think I should have done me homework on this one :ffs:

Still dont believe we need to go to Mr T and pay him to change our lightbulbs.....surley cant be tru :!Removed!:

[Blaze]

Cant imagine Mr.T would have time to change everyones lightbulbs!

[Nightstalker]

Not him personally but he could get his kronies to do it for him.... :censor:

[Blaze]

I know that!

I know how busy a Mr T garage can be and if they changed everyones bulbs they wouldnt get any other work done!

[Nightstalker]

NOW THAT MAKES SENSE - also explains why its a pain at times to book the car in for warranty issues.... :D They are to busy changing light bulbs

[Chris Dance]

OK guys go out to your new shape avensis cars this week end and remove and fit the light bulb. You will be there for a good while and there would be plenty of swearing. Anybody who knows any easy way to do it without damaging anything please let me know. My dealer said it is an impossible job unless the front spoiler is removed. Hence the £70 charge for bulb change on my son's Avensis.

[Nightstalker]

There must be someone out there who can let us know step by step...I remember my cougar being a pain, you had to remove the whole headlight unit, but after a few screws n stuff with in 10-20 mins the bulb was changed....

But surley you would not have to remove the whole bumper to change a light bulb....if so Im gutted... :ffs:

[DVH]

Near side requires Batt removing to gain access

offside due to the screenwash bottle thier is no room to get your hands in, remove bumper and light unit to gain access.

info from toyota tech bullitins with regards fogging

http://techdoc.toyota-europe.com/tsb_detail.asp?fileID=547

[Bosnjo]

HOLD ON EVERYONE !!!!!!!!!!!

I've changed my bulbs to upgrade to Bosch SHENNON BLUE 4000K. Do not remove anything to change your bulbs (H7). I've changed my bulbs without removing anything. Few months later I've decided to change turning signs bulbs in headlights. I've upgraded to PHILIPS SILVER VISION to avoid that yellow effect from amber bulbs. Now I don't have that yellow spot inside my headlight and new turning signs look silver but when they flash it's amber and even stronger then simple amber bulbs. Changing turning signs bulbs required the same work as changing H7 bulbs because I needed to remove those protection covers from inside headlights. Attention: It's nightmare to do it, but dealer use exactely the same procedure. When I was doing it for the second time it went smoother because I knew what I was doing. First time I lost a lot of skin from my hands but second time I've done it just with few scratches on my skin (no bleeding). If I have had used gloves it could have been better.

AGAIN, DON'T REMOVE ANYTHING

If some of you guys still need help to do it I'll write step-by-step procedure how to do it.

NEW SHAPE AVENSIS, 2005 1.8VVTi

[Nightstalker]

I knew there would be someone out there who knows....

SO anychance for a step by step, also if you have the bulb numbers would help

cheers matey

[Bosnjo]

OK, here it comes (my english is not so good but I'll try)

BULBS:

For headlights I've found bulbs made by Bosch, H7, and they have on the cover: SHENNON BLUE. That's all, I found them in Hypermarket. Later I've seen PHILIPS BLUE VISION 4000K H7. They are basicaly the same. Don't buy those cheaper ones because they are stronger then Bosch and PHILIPS, don't last long and they melt headlight. Also, they are forbidden. If I can remember well, they need to be 45W(or 50W), but those PHILIPS and Bosch are exactely the power the car needs.

For turning signs inside headlights I found PHILIPS SILVER VISION PY21W. I couldn't buy them in Portugal so I've ordered through eBay. They came with offset pins, but that's something less important as I just removed one pin carefully with sand-paper. All bulbs in Avensis need oposite pins. Pins are used to hold bulbs in. As you take off one of the pins the other one is more then enough to hold the bulb. I don't know, maybe you can find that bulb with oposite pins in place you live. I've done it as described and works fine.

There are many other silver 21W bulbs in the market but they all give less light and they get very hot. The one from PHILIPS is the only solution.

ADVICE:

If you want to change both H7 and 21W do it at the same time. I've done mistake changing H7 without having right 21W bulbs. So, when I got 21W bulbs I had to do it all over again.

PROCEDURE:

Both headlights have covers on their back. Each cover has the clip on one side and inlay on the other. So, all you have to do is to unclip the side with the clip, pull it away few centimeters on that side and then pull the way the clip is. I mean, if clip was on the left, after uncliping and pulling away little bit, pull it left, and it's out. Sounds easy, doesn't it? But it isn't! One headlight is easy to do but the other one has the bottle (washing windshield liquid) just on the way you are supposed to pull cover away. So, first do the side without bottle on the way. I've done side with the bottle as follows: I was alone, but if you have someone to help it would be easier. Grab the bottle just bellow its cap and push it away as much as you can. Don't worry, it won't break. As long as you are doing removal of the cap the bottle has to stay whole the possible way back. It would be good if someone helps holding it in that position. Then, unclip the side of the headlight cover that has the clip. Pull the side of the cover you've just unclipped as much away as possible. You'll see that it's not enough as when you start pulling to the side where clip was, the other side (with inlay) wouldn't liberate. Here you need some force and sensibility. Pulling it to the side, keep on moving it up and down. Use the force pulling to the side but move up and down carefully. Don't use the force for up-down movement.

It will take a while until it pops out. Here you go. Then just unclip H7 as in any other car, unplug it, plug a new one, clip it back in. Now... the other trouble is to put the cover back on its place. When I was doing it for the second time, I found very easy way. It got in in 5 seconds. Here is the way: Put the flashlight or any other light to iluminate the place where cover has to fit in side inlay. As you are fitting that side you have to observate whole the time what you are doing. Bring that "thong" as close to the inlay as you can. Then get very long but thin screwdriver. Following the inner wing of the car with screwdriver (I mean horizontal, and 90 degrees to the cover) press the "thong" towards the inlay and it will easily fit in. That's it. Just clip the other side in and you have the job done.

Keep me informed and if you couldn't understand something, just ask, I'll try to explain better.

Cheers

[Nightstalker]

That looks like quite a fiddelly job, I can see myself loosing :ffs: :censor: it when changing a bulb.

Thanks for the detailed info.

[valentinc]

Indeed, no need to remove front bumper to change the headlights and long beam bulbs (H7 and H1 respectively for the new Avensis). I replaced the original OSRAM with Philips Vision Plus. They say it provides 40% more light and a longer beam. (honestly, 40% is a bit too much, unless I am close to blindness :o)

Philips Silver Vision is only a "designers' trick" as it only the look of the bulb which is silver. Otherwise, not any superior light.

My son changed the bulbs as I was helping him by holding the torchlight. !Removed! difficult stuff, he got his hands scratched and we both got frozen because we did it as outside was -5 degrees.

Good luck