Glove box light bulb change....

[LittleCaesar]

I recently changed out my glove box for a second time and this go around I decided to use an LED T5 bulb instead of a 12w T4.

Here is a comparison of new vs. old:

To remove the old one open the glove box, pop open the light bulb plastic protector cage by pushing on the tab towards the engine using a 90 degree pick or small flat blade screwdriver. It should pop down. Then just grab the old bulb out or take some small 90 degree pliers and pull it out at the base.

The plastic protector (I had already put in the new bulb before this DIY):

The T5 LED bulb took some fiddling to come on but has worked well. The light bulb does not come on just by opening the glove box, at least the parking lights must be turned on.

The finished product, albeit a poor picture of it:

Now when the po po pulls ya over for going too fast at night you aren't fumbling around for the registration and insurance card.

 

[Joelev]

I did this the other night and ripped off that little plastic cover/cage. I have a real knack for breaking things as I go.

 

[Nervo19]

I don't think my 2000 SR5 has a light there! Time to investigate. I have some spare LED bulbs. My ashtray light has never worked either.

 

[T4R2014]

So that little cage is hinged? Thanks for the DIY. Where did you buy your LED bulb?

 

[LittleCaesar]

There is a shop in Virginia that sells them. It an AGT brand T5-W that I think can be found off Amazon. Usually comes in a 2 or 4pk. Of the 50 AGT LEDs I have installed for myself and others, only one was bad out of the box.

Not always a fan of LED bulbs (still trying to find white 3127s for the domes) but this application does well.

 

[Troybylt]

Didn't know I had a glove box light until after I had owned the truck for a year, I pulled the glove box out to do the taco wip mod and went "Whats this round slotted grate thing?" The bulb was a nice charred black. Next time it burns out definitely going LED. Just about every light on my rig is LED say for the headlights and dash bulbs. Though I did find some nice high quality H4 fanless headsinked LED bulbs for my Goldwing that should fit in... Hrm... I like the pure white light though it's a bit more harsh than the warm incandescent glow. I'd change my dash lights but I'm rather fond of the pale moon green. Got a HU colour tuned to match perfect.

 

[nobb]

For the 3 years of owning my 4R, I didn't evening realize the ashtray and glovebox had a light because they were burnt. Good thing they both use the same bulb, so you can just buy a pack off eBay.

 

[Reinout]

I found these that worked: I found some at my local car parts store for a 2 pack it was about 5$

Bulb number 2723

Sylvania Vanity Mirror Light Mini Bulb 2723LL- ReadReviews onSylvania #2723LL

 

[bkw]

That 2723 is what I used.

The various references say #74 bulbs, and AutoZone had #74 also. But 2723 has the same size and base, but the 2723 are almost twice as much watts == brighter == also probably burn out faster. ...(yep, now looking at the web site, it actually lists lumens there. #74 9 lumen, 2723 12 lumen.

Now I'm looking at leds for the long term but these are the handy answer for now, no waiting for mail. Same bulb worked in the ash tray, not that I can think of any possible reason I would ever actually need that ash tray light. What would I store in the ash tray? An emergency $50 bill? A single usb thumb drive with the briefing for my mission and plans to the facility?

 

[Nervo19]

What would I store in the ash tray? An emergency $50 bill? A single usb thumb drive with the briefing for my mission and plans to the facility?

I put change in mine and always have. I don't go through tolls often enough to justify an EZ Pass. Still have not replaced the bulb because my son is driving my 3rd gen.

 

[sport2004]

Does a 2004 Sport have a glove box light...? Inquiring minds...

 

[seabun]

I used to keep change in the ashtray, but now stash my keys in there and the coins in an altoids tin in the top of center console; easier to get to. And I hate rattles, but a small piece of felt cut to size cures that! I used some spray adhesive to secure a square of black felt to the bottom & top of the ashtray, and perfect silence. Another two pieces in the center console(both big area and top drawer) keep flashlights, pens, etc from clanking around.

As for alternative uses, sometimes I'll pull the ashtray out and put it in the glove box. The blue #74 led ashtray light, thus unemcumbered, gives a little ambient lighting that goes with all my other blue stuff. Otherwise, a small green window in the ashtray itself makes the light rather useless.
[MENTION=69868]LittleCaesar[/MENTION] for what it's worth I installed these 48smd led panels in my dome and trunk light 4 years ago (wow time flies!) and love them. Super bright, no more shadows. A two-pack on ebay was $1 and they came with assorted adapters for various bulb sizes. Just plug in the De3175 festoon and stick the panel in using the adhesive back. The exact ones I got are long gone but a search for "dome led panel" should do it.

 

[Skibber]

I purchased everything for my LED swap at superbrightleds.com per [MENTION=57546]4-Ripcord[/MENTION] post here

 

[Kmurt]

Haha, true.. My ashtray is also new and there's not a mark in it (PO stenched up the original). I won't store coins in there cause I hate rattling sounds. My coins go in the door pull pocket until I get home.

As for why replace the ashtray lamp?

1) Factory perfect. 3rd gen gives you 110% and deserves no less in return.
2) Nostalgia. The green glow reminds me of being a kid and every car came with an ashtray, often open.

I think it's Toyota funny the way the color spectrum is a little off on all the different backlights. They were that way when they were new too. I consider it character.

Yes, I know my lighter bezel ring light pipe is clearly not providing uniform brightness. That's why I saved the original one. It's at the bottom of the to-do list lol.

Ok. I'm pretty jealous of all the OEM "green glow."

I have a couple lights burnt out (ECT, AC, rear window, etc..)

Do you have any chance of having the OEM part numbers for all these bulbs? I don't want LED lights and prefer the OEM. I for the life of me cannot find them on any Toyota parts website. It seems most people have the Limited style climate control, I have an SR5 model with the knobs so there is pretty much no info on this anywhere.

 

[Magmotor]

Ok. I'm pretty jealous of all the OEM "green glow."

I have a couple lights burnt out (ECT, AC, rear window, etc..)

Do you have any chance of having the OEM part numbers for all these bulbs? I don't want LED lights and prefer the OEM. I for the life of me cannot find them on any Toyota parts website. It seems most people have the Limited style climate control, I have an SR5 model with the knobs so there is pretty much no info on this anywhere.

Here's what I found for my '01 SR5:

http://toyotapartsestore.com/oemparts/toyota-2015/lamp_assy_glove_box_8126033010.html

 

[Kmurt]

Here's link (with links) to glove box and ECT / Rear window bulbs, also shows bulbs for climate control backlight bulbs on Limited. Since you're SR5 with manual A/C controls, just pull the center console trim, remove the climate control section, pull a dead bulb and visit your local Toyota parts counter. Most likely special order 1-2 days to arrive.

http://www.toyota-4runner.org/3rd-gen-t4rs/226986-dim-dash-=-tungsten-deposits-2.html#post2510375

Thanks for the info. I'm going to pull the dash and look at these bulbs. Going to the dealership around here is probably a waste of time since they are lazy and can never find me the right parts.

 

[csp]

You all are really going to the dealer for light bulbs? Putting a Toyota part number on XX brand bulb doesn't make them last longer. Go with a brand like Sylvania at any local parts store and I'll bet it's the same bulb (or better) that the dealer has.

 

[Scramble]

The lighter, ashtray & glove box light up???!!!! LOL
I dont think they ever lit up on my base model, but I'll check.
I'm pretty good with up keep on stuff like that.
No need for dealer bulbs, I've had Sylvanias & Phillips last longer than OEM.

 

[csp]

Keep drinking that OEM Kool-Aid.......

BTW, you never just need one bulb. A spare or two is always good to have also in that glovebox.

 

[ThorInc]

I did this the other night and ripped off that little plastic cover/cage. I have a real knack for breaking things as I go.

There is a tab that you can use to disengage the cage cover, a locking latch. The issue that I had was trying to use my fingers to remove the bulb.........fingers are too big to grab the bulb and worse when I used latex gloves as I could barely get a tip to grip on to. Anywho, found a much easier solution for me. Remove the two screws at bottom of glove box and remove the entire glove box by sliding up and out. The bulb is in an actual 'cage' that is held in place by two tabs at either side of the cage hinge & locking tab. Pry out with a flat screwdriver and the entire cage will pop out and you can then disengage from the white wire harness that powers it from the back. My fingers would never get a grip on that bulb and I felt that if I used the pliers I was going to break it.