How to change H11 headlight bulb?

[moorex555]

Hey guys, looking for a walkthrough on how to change the low beam headlight bulbs on a 5th gen?

Tried searching and couldn't find anything except the Lightwerks HID mod write up... I'm hoping it's much easier to just change the bulb without taking the whole grille apart like that?

Thanks in advance...

 

[andres0603]

Just the bulb itself?

 

[moorex555]

Just the bulb itself?

Yeah, i'd just like to replace the low beams with something brighter and whiter... not looking to convert to HIDs or anything

 

[Gyprat]

Do you have a user manual for the vehicle? It should have a paragraph explaining how to do this.
I have not removed the low beam light bulbs on my 4runner but there is a cover on the back of the headlight assembly that you need to remove to gain access to the low beam light bulb.

Beware that using one of those "brighter" bulbs may require low beam readjustment. Higher wattage bulb will produce more heat and may damage the headlights ($330 a piece to replace).

Also stay away from those blue bulbs claiming to be "whiter". They are not. You'll end up with blue light instead of normal white. In case you decide to go with HID option, don't buy anything with color temperature higher than 5600 K. Higher "K" number does not mean the lights will brighter. I know a guy who bought 8000K option thinking he got the brightest lights. He ended up with annoying purple light that was worse than the original light bulbs.
Also in some states you can get in trouble with using aftermarket "bright" lights.

 

[flyrv9]

Also, do not touch any of the glass part of the bulb with your bare fingers. You will leave a print on the bulb causing the surface to heat unevenly. This will cause the bulb to fail or at least shorten its life. If you should touch the bulb, clean with alcohol and a lint free cloth.

I don't know about the 4Runner (haven't changed one yet) but with some high intensity bulbs the filament orientation matters. When it does, there is usually a tab so the alignment is preserved but you never know. A good way to go is to see how the bulb you are replacing is oriented when you remove it.

 

[philsey]

I don't know about the 4Runner (haven't changed one yet) but with some high intensity bulbs the filament orientation matters.

FYI HID bulbs do not have a filament. Plus, the bulb base has alignment tabs such that it cannot be installed improperly.

 

[Tstoutlv]

http://www.toyota-4runner.org/5th-g...light-bulb-conversion-h11-h9-9005-9011-a.html

I did this to my 2010 (pre facelift) and it made a world of a difference. I did both my low beams and fogs. I only get flashed from oncoming traffic when they're in a shorter car. I'm also lifted 3". IMO one of the easiest and very effective little mods! I highly recommend.

 

[Foques]

Do you have a user manual for the vehicle? It should have a paragraph explaining how to do this.
I have not removed the low beam light bulbs on my 4runner but there is a cover on the back of the headlight assembly that you need to remove to gain access to the low beam light bulb.

Beware that using one of those "brighter" bulbs may require low beam readjustment. Higher wattage bulb will produce more heat and may damage the headlights ($330 a piece to replace).

Also stay away from those blue bulbs claiming to be "whiter". They are not. You'll end up with blue light instead of normal white. In case you decide to go with HID option, don't buy anything with color temperature higher than 5600 K. Higher "K" number does not mean the lights will brighter. I know a guy who bought 8000K option thinking he got the brightest lights. He ended up with annoying purple light that was worse than the original light bulbs.
Also in some states you can get in trouble with using aftermarket "bright" lights.

8K is whiteish-blue, anything past 8100K goes into purple spectrum. That's where you see a serious drop off in performance. If he "ended up with annoying purple light" he got 10-12K range.
OEM bulbs - depending on manufacturer - are sold in range of 4600-6500K.

 

[4Running303]

http://www.toyota-4runner.org/5th-g...light-bulb-conversion-h11-h9-9005-9011-a.html

I did this to my 2010 (pre facelift) and it made a world of a difference. I did both my low beams and fogs. I only get flashed from oncoming traffic when they're in a shorter car. I'm also lifted 3". IMO one of the easiest and very effective little mods! I highly recommend.

Not sure if you did, but just making a suggestion to redirect your headlights since you've lifted 3". There's a phillips head screw on the top, behind the headlight assembly. Turning it (forget which direction) will tilt your headlight down towards the road and hopefully avoid shining into lower vehicles.

If you've done it, nevermind...maybe others haven't done this after their lift.

 

[moorex555]

Do you have a user manual for the vehicle? It should have a paragraph explaining how to do this.
I have not removed the low beam light bulbs on my 4runner but there is a cover on the back of the headlight assembly that you need to remove to gain access to the low beam light bulb.

Thanks for all the tips!

I did see in the manual the basic instructions for removing the bulb cover and the bulb, but what I was wondering is if the bulbs are easy to access or if there's some process i have to follow to get to them...

I'm asking coming from a WRX where I had to remove my windshield washer fluid container on the driver's side (easy) to reach the headlight and on the passenger's side disconnect the maf and pull out the air intake (not so easy with my large american hands) to access the headlight.

I saw a write up on installing HIDs on a 5th GEN 4runner on here where it looked like he had to remove the whole grill cover, but I'm not sure if that was only to access the headlights or to make room for mounting external ballasts...

I'm hoping I don't have to do all that just to get to the headlight cover?

 

[philsey]

.... but what I was wondering is if the bulbs are easy to access or if there's some process i have to follow to get to them...

Wait ... seriously? .... [MENTION=132149]Runer4Life[/MENTION] posts you up a video SHOWING EXACTLY how to access AND remove the bulb, and you don't even look at it? Wow.

In the beginning of this video it shows you how to remove the H11 low beam headlight bulb.

Hang on, I'll be right over an do it for you, 'kay?

 

[Tstoutlv]

Not sure if you did, but just making a suggestion to redirect your headlights since you've lifted 3". There's a phillips head screw on the top, behind the headlight assembly. Turning it (forget which direction) will tilt your headlight down towards the road and hopefully avoid shining into lower vehicles.

If you've done it, nevermind...maybe others haven't done this after their lift.

I used my daughter's chalk to mark my location of tires and light position on wall pre and post lift. Haha. Didn't want to be "that guy" hah. Good advice though. Hate driving head on with people who don't adjust.

 

[gqballa]

Does drilling the headlight dust covers void ones warranty?
I've had to drill out my 96 A4 so that part I'm familiar with.

 

[BUS34]

Wait ... seriously? .... [MENTION=132149]Runer4Life[/MENTION] posts you up a video SHOWING EXACTLY how to access AND remove the bulb, and you don't even look at it? Wow.



Hang on, I'll be right over an do it for you, 'kay?

My 2011 4Runner does not have a low beam dust cover and the bulb connection is flush with the headlamp housing and virtually against the metal.
Crazy hard to change the bulb unless you have tiny hands.