Ok, there has got to be a trick getting to that darn corner lightbulb!!! I was yanking straight forward on that sum b*tch housing until the whole truck was moving forward and back. I even tried using a screwdriver for extra leverage.. no bueno.

Yes I got the top screw off. Is there another one that I'm missing?!?!

How many people does it take to change a light bulb...?

Thx~

 

its pretty tough but its just a snap that's really hard to remove.
you have to pull on the light from the lower part by the fender and pull it kinda hard

 

I know what you're talking about I've put so many different bulbs in there that I found the trick. I basically just remove the screw and then standing BEHIND the corner lense (facing toward where the truck is pointing) I hit the lense with the palm of my hand pushing it forward. Works every time. Prying it off is much more difficult. Sounds a little brutal, but you'll see what I'm saying when you try it. Don't be worried about breaking anything. It'll be fine. Good luck!!!

 

x2...You have to sort of "pop" it off. I just did some stuff to mine the other day and it took me a while to figure it out again, been a while since I've done anything with them.

 

hmm mine comes right off once i take the screw off?

 

feel LUCKY! i'm with the others. AND... after i do the bulb change, the next one is needed, when?





(the answer: when you forget how to take the lens off)
repeat.

 

Ok- Thanks everyone for the help!

So picture me in a Pep Boys parking lot. It's 90 degrees out. I tried the open palm technique. Didn't work. That sucker was on there tight! So I'm just yanking the hell out of this sucker. I see where the catch is near the bottom, so I'm trying to pull from the bottom. But it's still not coming out. I use my foot for leverage (seriously) and "POP" it flies out so hard, it breaks the retainer clip to the wire harness as it goes skidding across the parking lot.... ARGH!!!

This has now taken over the cup holder for the most asinine design flaw in the 1998 4Runner! All this for a $1 light bulb.

Here is a pic. Enjoy my misery.

I went ghetto fabulous and duct taped the little bastard back on.

 

x2 on this! It just took me less than 2 minutes using this method to do BOTH SIDES on mine. It came out easier than I expected. Super easy! THANKS PDYSBRASIL!

 

As the quote says, I slapped the corner light housing near the bottom a few times with the heal of my hand and the housing finally came off.

 

I struggled the first time with mine too but now can get them off pretty quick. I need a bulb housing/connector though, anyone got a spare they wanna sell?

 

ahhh yes reviving the dead. skirg welcome to yota tech. make sure you check the dates on threads you post in.

 

I'll have to try the "slap it off" method next time, but I've found some sucess with a trim removal tool ("Y" shaped pry tool) from underneath the truck, if you get someone to wiggle it you can jam the tool in the gap and pop it off that way as well. A work light makes this much easier.

 

I helped my friend do this on his 98 tacoma. It was super easy with a long shaft flat head screwdriver. The tricky part is feeding it into just the right spot, but with a slight twist, it pops right off. Where as, all my fingertips were turning white trying to pull it out. This method did not work. Didn't want to break my friends lights so i went with the flathead.

Tho, from 2009 i would hope he figured it out by now

 

Flat head screwdriver really helps. You just got to show it who's boss, but use some restraint.

 

Corrosion on the shaft after years of driving causes the problem I believe. Mine was difficult the first time, just like the early to mid 90's Hondas. Once you get it off clean the metal pin that goes back into the plastic retainer and I even put some anti-seize for good measure. No problems removing them since.

 

Worked like a charm. Thank you.

 

I just changed my corner lights last week and it definitely made me feel stupid for the first couple of minutes. Open hood. Unscrew top screw then put a pry tool, I used a plastic trim tool, plastic putty knife would work. Pry forward. Easy once you realize how it's hooked. The lens is clipped to these two tabs: