JDM/Blacked Headlights - DIY Guide

Do you recall how many bolts hold in the headlight?
Just looking at it real quick I see three. One on top of the fender, one in the fender well, and one behind the long trim piece on top of the bumper. If that is all there is, then it seems to me that the headlight can be removed without removing the bumper.
Again, I just looked at it real quick and tried to remove the long trim piece, wasn't able to get it off.
Will try again in a little while.
 
There should be three... like you said. That long trim piece was a PITA!!! Its held on by clips and the way I took it off was with a flathead screwdriver just unclipping each one of them.
 
Yeah, it looks like a PITA.
If I can access those three bolts, then I should be able to pull the headlight right out, no?
Or am I missing something?
 
iFORCE said:
There should be three... like you said. That long trim piece was a PITA!!! Its held on by clips and the way I took it off was with a flathead screwdriver just unclipping each one of them.
Click to expand...

OK, so it's 3 bolts holding the headlight and the most difficult to get is under the trim piece. Have you been thinking of how to remove that trim piece without removing the bumper? As far as got you right, you've used screwdriver to unclip one by one clip. Is it any other way to rich them on the assembled front? I
 
3 main bolts.. but after just looking at it again... there seems to be a backet extending out from the bottom of the main reflectors out to the side with a clip. You can look at it from the engine bay and look straight down at it.

I'm lazy too.. but the bumper really wasn't that hard to take apart. Just couple of bolts... here and there.

Sorry I can't remember how many bolts there are.... I should rip it all apart and find out again! If you can take off the headlight without removing the bumper.. let me know and I'll edit my first post.
 
iFORCE said:
3 main bolts.. but after just looking at it again... there seems to be a backet extending out from the bottom of the main reflectors out to the side with a clip. You can look at it from the engine bay and look straight down at it.
Click to expand...

This looks to me like a screw connection that can only be accessed once the bumper is removed. So yes, from what I can see, the bumper does need to be removed. CRAP!!!

Also, the long trim piece has 6 box shaped openings that you stick a flat bladed screw driver into and push to pop the clips. But the trim piece only pulls up on the inside edge. This reveals 3 plunger type clips that pop up and can be removed. The long trim piece does not appear to completely separate from the bumper.
At least that's what I see.
The bumper does not really seem that hard to remove.
Can't play with it any more today, so will revisit it again later.

The screw that is accessed from the inner fender well doesn't seem to be one of the mounting points for the headlight, it seems to be where the bumper connects to the fender, not sure though.
 
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For me.. it was just so much simplier if I just took everything apart. Like I said before.. these parts interconnect with each other and was just simplier taking the whole bumper apart.

That inner fender nut..... I'm pretty sure its for the headlights.. but hey... I took off the whole bumper and I couldn't stick my head.. a flashlight.. and a wrench in that little hole. :(

keep me updated! :D
 
That long trim piece kinda has me stumped, does it completely separate from the bumper?
You're right, it's very difficult to get your face in there with a flashlight to see WTF is going on. I already broke a couple of the clips that hold on that damn trim piece.
 
It might be easiler if took off the bumper (like iForce said)... however, I manage to change my headlight to JDM headlight without taking the bumper off. (No offense)

In fact, it is what it supposed to be... according to the instruction sheet. I just found a bit difficult when you access to the lower bolt of the headlight unit. That's the only difficult part.

Anyway, it only takes me an hour to finish both. And... I am not professional....

Will upload pictures later...
 
HRunner said:
It might be easiler if took off the bumper (like iForce said)... however, I manage to change my headlight to JDM headlight without taking the bumper off. (No offense)

In fact, it is what it supposed to be... according to the instruction sheet. I just found a bit difficult when you access to the lower bolt of the headlight unit. That's the only difficult part.

Anyway, it only takes me an hour to finish both. And... I am not professional....

Will upload pictures later...
Click to expand...

Any help or input you could provide would be appreciated. I'm sure that a bunch of other people have gone through this procedure.
If I have to take the bumper off, I will, but I would rather not.

An hour?????.........Geeez.
 
I think the blacked out headlights would look very cool on a white runner

HRunner - would you be willing to fax me those instructions if you still have them?
 
CGY_LTD_V8 said:
Looks good! however, black housed lights might look odd on a white 4Runner, any suggestions? :)
Click to expand...

you can paint it any color you want... EVEN WHITE!! which I've been thinking about. I think it would look really nice.. having the color matched to your body color.. like a ferrari.
 
iFORCE said:
you can paint it any color you want... EVEN WHITE!! which I've been thinking about. I think it would look really nice.. having the color matched to your body color.. like a ferrari.
Click to expand...

Uumm I would exactly compare my 4runner to a Ferrari. but the white is something to think about for sure!
 
HRunner said:
It might be easiler if took off the bumper (like iForce said)... however, I manage to change my headlight to JDM headlight without taking the bumper off. (No offense)

In fact, it is what it supposed to be... according to the instruction sheet. I just found a bit difficult when you access to the lower bolt of the headlight unit. That's the only difficult part.

Anyway, it only takes me an hour to finish both. And... I am not professional....

Will upload pictures later...
Click to expand...

Please post how you did it with images. It looks like this is the way to remove the lights when you have brush guard installed.
 
Folks... please be patient~ ;):

I did took pictures when I doing the upgrade. Still trying to organize a bit and maybe write up a bit (since I am not good in writing...)

And sure I will post the illustration for your reference. Don't worry :P
 
CGY_LTD_V8 said:
Looks good! however, black housed lights might look odd on a white 4Runner, any suggestions? :)
Click to expand...

Yea, sounds cool~ I think the smoked JDM headlights look good on any color... of course, it would be even more cool if you painted it "white".... like iForce said... haahaa~

Hope to see it soon~
 
HRunner said:
Yea, sounds cool~ I think the smoked JDM headlights look good on any color... of course, it would be even more cool if you painted it "white".... like iForce said... haahaa~

Hope to see it soon~
Click to expand...

Well, I think I will go ahead and give it a try. If I don't like it then I can always get another pair from the dealership right lol? :D
 
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