Hey! Haven't anyone replaced licence plate bulbs?

 

Apparently not since the 2004 models
On my Ford Contour, I had to use a screw driver to pry out the frame and lens before I got to the tube-light looking bulb.
Just be careful that the plastic gets brittle over the years and is prone to cracking.
Not sure if it applies to the Sienna.

Good luck

 

Here's some help:

 

Thank you 2006SiennaLE!

I've already read this part of Repair Manual, but wanted to avoid remove the outside garnish. In the Owners Manual appears that the light socket can be taken out separately, but I can't understand how

I'll take "Plan B" and will remove all the garnish to put it on my desk and see what to do with it.

May be it is a reason to replace the bulbs with LED ones to forget about them "forever"? Who knows the brand/model of LED bulb usable as the direct replacement?

From the other side -- if a bulb is burn out after five years, replacing the both of them could help to forget about them for another five years.

 

One thing that is interesting IME with car light bulbs....often times the SAME side will keep burning out before you have to replace the other side.

YMMV.
Good Luck!! 8)

 

One thing that is interesting IME with car light bulbs....often times the SAME side will keep burning out before you have to replace the other side.

May be. But, according Murphy's law, if you replace only one bulb, a possibility that other one will burn out soon, depends on how hard is to replace it

 

Today I found out how to take out the socket. It have to be turned counterclockwise for about 30-45 degrees. Nothing to press and none other tricks to do.

It was very hard the first time to turn the socket and it was a reason I was afraid to break something. I removed the outside garnish as shown in 2006SiennaLE post above to see how to do this job.

 

ahhhhh, yes....the ol' twist-and-pull trick....thanks!
Maybe I'll get around to replacing one of mine now too. ;D 8)

 

Replace both of them. If one is out the second one will follow soon.

 

I replaced both tag lights today....and they were harder to turn than I thought....but they do turn about 30-40 degrees and then pull out.

And since I had the panel off the tailgate, I replaced the running lights too. They also turn and pull out. My Sienna is six years old, so I don't really want to do this again for another six years.

sunnygator

 

I happened to need to replace BOTH bulbs for rear taillight (on the hatch) AND a license plate light for my 2004 XLE Ltd. I did both from the inside via removal of the rear hatch panel.

Here are my comments...

How to replace Parking Light in the Rear?
http://siennachat.com/forum/index.php/topic,469.msg15151.html#msg15151

YMMV.
Good Luck!! 8)

 

Help I can not get my lens out .I could get the one end loose with a screw driver but nothing else would move. I am trying to change the license plate bulbs,does anyone know how these come out ?Thanks in advance

 

You need to remove the interior panel off the liftgate.

 

You need to remove the interior panel off the liftgate.

What a pain,I thought that you could remove the lens from the outside??

 

Replace both of them. If one is out the second one will follow soon.

I actually recommend against doing that - you want the two bulbs to have very different ages, so both don't burn out at approximately the same time.

According to this thread: http://forums.officer.com/t141656/ cops love to pull over cars with broken lights (since apparently the same type of people who neglect repairs also usually have other violations), so it's better if at least one of your licence plate bulbs works.

 

I actually recommend against doing that - you want the two bulbs to have very different ages, so both don't burn out at approximately the same time.

According to this thread: http://forums.officer.com/t141656/ cops love to pull over cars with broken lights (since apparently the same type of people who neglect repairs also usually have other violations), so it's better if at least one of your licence plate bulbs works.

lol on this recommendation. It's a PITA to get these replaced so definitely do them both and use LED's. The chances of bulbs going out at the same time is unlikely. The likelihood of you needing to go through this pita diy to replace the bulb you should've replaced but didn't because of the logic of bulb age is very high.

 

I removed the panel off. Just pull it. No tools needed. The sockets will be exposed. Detach the wires, and turn the socket counterclockwise. It feels complicated when you start, but when you finish, it feels like a piece of cake...Really

 

I removed the panel off. Just pull it. No tools needed. The sockets will be exposed. Detach the wires, and turn the socket counterclockwise. It feels complicated when you start, but when you finish, it feels like a piece of cake...Really

It worked for me too! Simple and fast but it is a little tight getting to the sockets.

 

Let the lift gate be fully extended in open position. Stand underneath the bulb but facing the front of the van, raise your arms and approach the bulb holder with both hands (like reaching something overhead) and twist it. I could apply a lot more torque from this stance versus the torque I could apply facing the bulb and twisting it with just thumb and index finger. Use one hand to moderately grip the bulb holder so it does not fly out and gets lodged in-between sheet metal frame of the door. Warm temperature would be helpful. Good luck.:smile:

 

I found that it was easier for me to stand in the trunk well facing the back door. Counter-clockwise facing the back is the correct direction to turn it. Also, somehow from this position, I found that I had better leverage to turn the socket than when I was standing on the ground.

Your "mileage" may vary, of course. In other words, something else may work better for you. All I know is that I struggled for about 45 minutes. Then when I did this, I had it done and put back together in less than 10 minutes.

 

Thanks to all previous messages that helped me get my license plate lights replaced.
Struggled mightily in 20 degree weather for a long time trying to get my 11 year old lights replaced until I found this post.
There was NO MOVING my sockets at all until I put a couple drops of household oil on them. Between the cold and the fact they hadn’t ever been turned since new made it impossible to move. Toyota REALLY dropped the ball on this one. Just to save one measly screw for outside access...
Of course the cold contributed to breaking a couple pieces of the liftgate trim fasteners and tabs too. :frown:

Thanks guys for helping me keep the 165,000 mile van on the road!
Dale
In Maryland