I'm attempting to change out the headlights on my 1987 4x4, and find the task slightly daunting. In the owner's manual it has instructions on how to remove the grille with a flathead, turning each plastic tab 360 degrees to the right etc. I was all set to do it, but when I went to buy the headlights at O'Reilly Auto Parts the guy who sold them to me was a Toyota mechanic for "20 years". He walked out and said "Just remove the two bottom screws and tilt the assembly up. Then you can bend it open and slip the headlight out without removing the entire grille." He said he'd done it to over 200 trucks.

Bending anything on my toyo freaks me out. But I'm not super psyched on removing the grille and dealing with those little tabs.

Anyone tried his method?

 

I would just remove the whole assembly. It doesn't take very long. 5 minutes maximum. Change out the lights and put it back on. Just be careful of the tabs, they are most likely going to be brittle.

 

Wait, that's not what I've been getting from searching yotatech threads... sounds like a nightmare?

 

I had a 1988 Pickup. I had to pull mine off twice, once to replace one of the end pieces on the grill, the other to replace the headlight. I accidentally broke off a few tabs the first time. It wasn't that big of a deal though, its a lightweight part that doesn't require many mounting points. It always took me about 3 minutes to get it off. Just get a long flathead screw driver. I don't know if other people are approaching it a different way, but mine always worked. I had spare tabs but I never felt it was that important to put all of them in. Plus, it makes it easier to take it off. Just take the flathead, find the tab, and twist it until it is verticle I believe. I can't remember the orientation. But it was never that difficult of a job for mine.

 

Okay thanks for the confidence. I'm on it. Did you have to remove the side/parking lights as well? I'm seeing conflicting info about this...

 

Done.

Whoa! That was easy. Those tabs popped right out and everything went in and out of place perfectly. What's great about doing these little things yourself (I'm new) is that you can clean everything up, replace whatever screws you want and just get a good look at things. Mechanics don't really take the time for this (why would they clean up your car?). That really would've only taken about twenty minutes if I didn't take the time to polish the grille, assemblies up etc.

If anyone in the future is worried about this, just go for it. Thanks xcfunrunner =)

Now on to the next project. Sticking the TOYOTA decal on the tailgate. Gulp.

 

Wow, your truck has those little tabs still? Don't think I've ever had or worked on a Toyota pickup that the grille wasn't zip tied on... I've got a whole bucket of universal Toyota body fasteners on my bench for any time I smash a grille or need to take it off.

 

you probably spent more time typing that than it would take to remove the grille

 

Yep, got all of the tabs. And they work surprisingly well... odd little invention.

My truck has the black grille, but I see a ton of them for sale on craigslist. I might buy a chrome one and swap it out from time to time, just because it's so easy.

Tomorrow I tackle the Toyota tailgate decal. Anyone care to weigh in on whether the wet or dry application works best?

Anyone done it?

 

Get some hella or other brand H4 conversion housings and never worry about it again. Plus you get much brighter lights.

 

Damn, wish I'd done more research. It's not necessarily too late, but I've just installed brand new Silvania SilverStar H6054s (30% brighter than stock). They look like giant spotlights compared to the original old 6054s that were in there.

Maybe next winter I'll do the H4 conversion... although it looks like most people just run the silverstars in their H4 conversions.