License Plate Bulb Change procedure NOT from under truck?

I thought I read that I should be able to pop off the light lens from the bumper side of the license plate bulbs rather than getting under the truck.

am I correct?

my rear ARB summit bumper is great but access to the traditional way to change the bulbs from up and under like I would with the stock bumper is pretty involved

TIA

 

i see the inserts on the side of the lens cap on top but i didnt want to keep prying and make indentions on my bumper or maybe crack my lens cause that babdboy refused to give. i did just change out my lights the other day for some diode dynamics (same time i did meso ultimate tails), and imma be straight up. i changed it from underneath and it suuucked.

 

Damn. I swore I read you could do it from outside. Can’t find it in any of my searches. You think the stock bumper sucks, ARB makes you remove this intricate trim/skid plate to get anywhere near it

 

Get under the truck and stick your hand to where the license plate light assembly goes and squeeze the friction clip on top and the bottom will follow from outside. That’s what I did. It was very difficult trying to turn that tiny socket 45 degrees without removing the whole unit.

 

Yeah but I can even get to the bulb or assembly underneath the truck without removing a bunch of stuff. Sounds like illl need to do that. Just way more of a project than I hoped to do for two bulbs.

 

If you don’t have the rear tow hitch then it’s a lot easier. For me, the only problem is there’s a wire harness that needs to be moved before you can even see the bulb socket.

 

Rear hitch and ARB bumper

 

So do future reference i see no way to have them be removed from NOT being able to reach them. But absolutely the easiest way is to squeeze the clips on the housing and push it out of the bumper and do the bulb change where you can access everything. Check polarity and function, screw back in to back of housing and then slide the housing back in the hole. Note the clips go on the sides of the housing hole. NOT the top and bottom.

diode dynamics upgrade, check!

 

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/easy-lic-plate-bulb-removal-tool.643352/#post-22267802

 

Tried the switch my license plate lights to LED the other day too. I have the stock bumper and tow package. I got the left side but it was very Difficult to do following the instructions on YouTube that 3 or more people posted. Reach up under and turn the thing counter clockwise then pull out. Like I said I got the left side but the right well I couldn't figure out how to get my left hand in position to get it, I'm left handed. I tried with my right hand but due to an injury years ago in don't have as good grip strength with my right hand so I was not able to get it to turn.
There must be a way to do it from above.

 

If you can squeeze the actual rectangle plastic housing- the whole thing just pushes out. Then do all the turning and bulb swap from up on the bumper. There is plenty of wire. The tabs holding the housing in take almost no force to squeeze and push out

 

I don’t recall where on the internet I found this ‘from above’ method using a trim tool but it works:

Use a trim tool like this:


The trim tool can be pressed in beside the lamp housing to release the clip:


Then reach behind the bumper and just push the lamp housing out.


Now you've got it out in the open where it's easy to see and handle. After you've swapped the bulb, the housing simply snaps back into place.

 

i like that. I didn’t think there was enough room for trim tools on either side but if it works, awesome.

either way you have to push from behind the housing and pinching the tabs from under the truck is just as easy and I bet faster. Now if we could depress the tabs from the outside AND pull it out eliminating getting under the truck all together... that’s the best solution

 

You're right...i remember swearing a lot when I removed the incandescent bulbs to install LED's.

 

@wiljayhi that is the way I was looking for, thanks so much for posting that.

I had a set of trim tools handy. Was able to push the tool on front and back of the lens and easily use my right hand under the bumper to push it out. Its Very much easier to turn the thing from above and change the bulb. It all snaps back quickly once you test the new led. Took under 5 minutes to do the remaining side. Didn't even break a sweat over it unlike the last attempt.

 

I thought the friction clips were on the sides??????????????????? not top and bottom?

 

On mine the clips were on the sides of the lens facing the front and back of the truck. Look for a little indent in the lens. I just did it to mine.

 

we need a solution for pushing those clips in AND pulling it out...all from NOT under the truck. credit card on both sides were too thick. maybe a thin long box cutter blade on each side to depress the clips...and then a 90 degree pick tool to slide it out?

 

I used a thin trim tool like in the post above to press the tabs from the top side. I was able to push it out from under rather easily. I'm good with that. I didn't have to work hard to twist it from under. Just pushed each side out with a few fingers once to tabs are pressed with the tool. Maybe of your hands are too big you can get a helper, like a wife, significant other or some offspring with smaller hands.