[riceandpho]

hi guys, i just bought a replacement high mount stop light in spoiler, mine was cracked, so any of u guys noe how to take it out, i do see 2 screws behind the spoiler, behind the lamp, also is it led, or is it one bulb like the 3rd gen 4runner, kuss i want to put my extra piaa bulb in there.

[li_runner]

If you can get the screws out, yes that will release the light.

However I doubt you can; if you open your tailgate you will see 2 black circles. They pop out to reveal 2 bolts. Remove those 2 bolts, and then the spoiler is free. Push up on the spoiler and it will come free from the tailgate.

You can then get to the screws and remove the light.

[toto]

Be very, very careful removing the spoiler!! There is more holding it than those two screws - there are also two clips that are riveted to the door. Toyota suggests replacing the clips whenever the spoiler is removed, but you have to drill them out to do it.

See the attached PDF about replacement of the spolier to get an idea of what I'm talking about.

[riceandpho]

ok guys, i just did this earlier, and i tell u guys this its not that hard.
first u open the tailgate up,
then u see the 2 screw caps, pop them off carefully,
next take a 10mm socket and have some extension and take the 2 screws out
next close the tailgate, slowly and let it lock back, have the window down for even easier removal, i did
after that slowly slide the spoiler down, u should see 2 plastic clip that holds it
crefully remove the plug on the left, should b a that holds it
next take ur spoiler out, and open up ur trunk and set it there
then carefully remove the 2 phillips screws out, and then pop the light out, top first then bottom
besure to remove the plug from the bracket on the left of the spoiler
then take the light out, and then u should see a long wire
after that take the bracket out and use 8mm socket to remove the bracket from the light
next slide the 2 screws off the original light
then get ur other light and slide it back in
put bracket on and tighten it back up
feed the long lamp wire to the hole and put the light back in
put the plug in the braket
tight up the 2 philips screw
then take it out of the trunk, close the tail gate and set the spoiler on top of the truck
then plug up the socket
after that slide the spoiler back up to those clips, and it should lock it back up
open the tailgate and screw the 2 10mm screws in, and then put those caps on. and that is it, have someone step on braks to comfirm
i use a stick to jam the brake pedal and front seat to test and it works.

[JGHilde]

Changing out the high-mounted stop light is MUCH easier than this!

Just go to any auto parts store and buy a right-angle philips head screwdriver for 3 bucks. Then you can remove the light fixture from the spoiler without removing the spoiler from the truck. (I've done it on my 2005 4Runner).

BUT - does anyone know how to remove the bulb from the fixture? From what I can tell it's totally sealed up, requiring replacement of the entire fixture to fix a burned out lamp!

Please, someone tell me I'm wrong and how to open the fixture to change out the bulb.

[riceandpho]

on my 07, the whole thing needs to b replace, because the whole thing is led.

[JGHilde]

I found the stop lamp assembly for factory-installed rear spoiler significantly cheaper at shoptrd.com. Put in OEM part# 81570-35100.

[artspeed]

Originally Posted by JGHilde

Changing out the high-mounted stop light is MUCH easier than this!

Just go to any auto parts store and buy a right-angle philips head screwdriver for 3 bucks. Then you can remove the light fixture from the spoiler without removing the spoiler from the truck. (I've done it on my 2005 4Runner).

BUT - does anyone know how to remove the bulb from the fixture? From what I can tell it's totally sealed up, requiring replacement of the entire fixture to fix a burned out lamp!

Please, someone tell me I'm wrong and how to open the fixture to change out the bulb.

I have the same problem on 2003 4runner Limited with a spoiler. Looks like the 3rd brake bulb is out. I removed the the the lamp assy by unscrewing the 2 large philips screws behind & took it out. I figured that's the hard part, let's just get the bulb replaced and put it back in - here is the difficult part: the lamp appears to be sealed and there seems to be no way of getting inside. I see several tabs behind the lens cover and tried pressing on them, but they don't seem to release the lens. I'm afraid if I press harder they will break. I have the shop manual, but it does not say anything about getting the bulb out. Has anyone found a solution to this?

[JGHilde]

Originally Posted by artspeed

I have the same problem on 2003 4runnel Limited with a spoiler. Looks like the 3rd brake bulb is out. I removed the the the lamp assy by unscrewing the 2 large philips screws behind & took it out. I figured that's the hard part, let's just get the bulb replaced and put it back in - here is the difficult part: the lamp appears to be sealed and there seems to be no way of getting inside. I see several tabs behind the lens cover and tried pressing on them, but they don't seem to release the lens. I'm afraid if I press harder they will break. I have the shop manual, but it does not say anything about getting the bulb out. Has anyone found a solution to this?

As i recall, the lamp assembly is glued together with something similar to super glue. i used a razor knife to carefully cut thru the seams - then just broke it apart.

My problem was not burned out LEDs (LEDs almost never burn out). My problem was a bad solder joint where the power wires connect to the circuit board. I was able to re-solder the power wire to the circuit board and that fixed it for me.

[artspeed]

I don't think mine is LED, I believe it is a bulb on a 2003 T4R

[sr5hi]

Originally Posted by artspeed

I don't think mine is LED, I believe it is a bulb on a 2003 T4R

I believe that on 2003 4Runners with spoilers, the third brake light mounted in the spoiler is an LED Assembly. If your 4Runnner does not have a spoiler and the third brake light is located at the top center of the tailgate then it takes a #921 bulb.

[artspeed]

I do have a spoiler, I thought it was a bulb b/c at an oil change the dealer said my 3rd brake light was out and asked if they want me to change the bulb. It also made sense, as the whole light is out, not just one or 2 diodes. Had I known it would be such a dilema I would have told him to just replace it.

[artspeed]

Originally Posted by JGHilde

As i recall, the lamp assembly is glued together with something similar to super glue. i used a razor knife to carefully cut thru the seams - then just broke it apart.

My problem was not burned out LEDs (LEDs almost never burn out). My problem was a bad solder joint where the power wires connect to the circuit board. I was able to re-solder the power wire to the circuit board and that fixed it for me.

Where is the PCB where you found a bad solder joint? I will check that as well. If my lamp is LED, then it is unlikely all LEDs in it burnt out all at once - the problem would be somewhere else.

[lorderick70]

My brother works at the dealership and I was told that unless you're very technical person you have to replace the whole LED unit not just one bulb. I hope this helps.

[artspeed]

I agree with you and I am very technical. I'm not sure if this unit is LED or bulb. If it's LED then the whole thing needs to be replaced anyway since none of them work. I'm leaning toward a bulb though, but I still cannot find how the lamp assy opens. There isn't even a connector to disconnet there in the spoiler - it must be at the gate.