Embarrassing Question - 2001 Celica 190 Vvtl-i

[Big_Sid]

Morning...

This might sound like a dumb question... but does anyone know how to change the main headlight bulb on a 2001 Celica 190 VVTL-i on the drivers side?

It looks like the light cluster might have to be taken out, but I REALLY don't want to have to do that. The unit looks too tight up against the wheel arch to be able to manourve a bulb out, plus theres a plastic couling covering it and the brake fluid reservoir.

Any ideas? Is this covered in the user manual??

Thanks - Sid

[DefiantFrog]

heheh... I had fun with this first time as well! Its not as easy a job as you'd think. Will take you about 30 - 40 mins to do both bulbs first time. It gets easier though....

You need to remove the plastic cowling (pop the centre pins from each plastic rivit by pushing them in slightly with a screw driver, that then releases the rivit, and in turn all the plastic). Then its just a case of being a bit of a contortionist with your hands & wrists to pop the clip off, and get the old bulb out.

Remove the adaptor on the original bulb and put it on the new bulb (that one had me for about 30 mins, as it doesn't look like theres an adaptor on it!), then get some old towling in your engine bay around where you are about to put your new bulb back in - you WILL drop the bulb several times - better it land on something soft and clean than smash on something hard and dirty. Then using a piece of clean townling / cotton pick up the bulb, and manuver it back in to where it should be.

The hardest part of all this is lining the bulb up right, and getting the clips back in place. Make sure you have lots of time and lots of light. I wouldn't even bother at dusk / night time, you'll never do it.

Don't bother trying to free the light cluster from the car unless you absolutely have to, you need to start messing with your front bumper to do that, and you'll get in even more of a mess!

Alternatively, take it to Halfords who do it for a standard ~£2 a bulb! If you trust 'em that is!