Replace Headlights - 2006 Tacoma

Boulderskies · #1 11-20-2018, 03:36 PM

There is a lot of questions and mis-information about replacing the headlights (the whole assembly, not just the bulbs) on 2nd Gen. Tacomas. I just completed the work and the associated research and would like to share what I hope is a complete and succinct method. It was far easier than many of the recommendations I found but still quite challenging. So here goes:

((Before beginning, pull your truck into a place where you can shine your headlights (low beam) and mark the top part of their reflection on a wall).

1. Go here to learn how to remove front bumper (ignore the part about actually taking bumper off truck-you dont need to):
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MgGvdKexBqY

2. Go here to learn how to replace headlights (ignore the part about removing lower bolt):
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G9r3feo_y8g

3. To remove lower headlight bolt, follow bumper removal video until right after you pull each side of bumper from truck. At that point you can pull each side out and down just a bit to access bolt easily.

4. Go to Toyota Parts of Dallas website and research specific part numbers for your particular year Tacoma. Buy these-do NOT mess around with ebay or other knock-offs-they leak! Period. Spend the money for the genuine Toyota parts-you might as well if you're going to this much work.

If you break the plastic fastners, research their part number on Toyota Parts of Dallas and run that same number on Amazon. They are MUCH cheaper.

5. Follow videos in reverse order to replace headlights and bumper.

6. Re-aim headlights per: http://toyotarepair5.blogspot.com/20...on-toyota.html.

Good luck. I can try and answer any questions...

Scott

Toyota Forum · #2 11-20-2018, 03:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by boulderskis

There is a lot of questions and mis-information about replacing the headlights (the whole assembly, not just the bulbs) on 2nd Gen. Tacomas. I just completed the work and the associated research and would like to share what I hope is a complete and succinct method. It was far easier than many of the recommendations I found but still quite challenging. So here goes:

((Before beginning, pull your truck into a place where you can shine your headlights (low beam) and mark the top part of their reflection on a wall).

1. Go here to learn how to remove front bumper (ignore the part about actually taking bumper off truck-you dont need to):
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MgGvdKexBqY

2. Go here to learn how to replace headlights (ignore the part about removing lower bolt):
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G9r3feo_y8g

3. To remove lower headlight bolt, follow bumper removal video until right after you pull each side of bumper from truck. At that point you can pull each side out and down just a bit to access bolt easily.

4. Go to Toyota Parts of Dallas website and research specific part numbers for your particular year Tacoma. Buy these-do NOT mess around with ebay or other knock-offs-they leak! Period. Spend the money for the genuine Toyota parts-you might as well if you're going to this much work.

If you break the plastic fastners, research their part number on Toyota Parts of Dallas and run that same number on Amazon. They are MUCH cheaper.

5. Follow videos in reverse order to replace headlights and bumper.

6. Re-aim headlights per: http://toyotarepair5.blogspot.com/20...on-toyota.html.

Good luck. I can try and answer any questions...

Scott

Thank you, sir! I may need to create a "how to" section...