Front turn signal removal

[newbee mechanic]

I need help.
How do you remove the front turn signal?
After removing the obvious screw above the light,
I still cannot get it out.
I guess I need to push it forward, so I tried to push it
forward with my palm.
I also tried to prying it forward a bit with
a screw driver.
Any suggestions?

[anthonycds]

Don't pry anything! You'll risk snapping a tab or something. Once you get the top screw off, I usually get under the truck or through the wheel well locate the lower tab and push the lower tab through, and it should pop out. Hope this helps.

[newbee mechanic]

I tried reaching in from the wheel well.
There is very little room to get in there.
I can barely touch the bottom
of the turn signal with the tip of my fingers.
Can't figure out how to "push the tabs through."
Could you describe that in a little more detail?

[Trunk Monkey]

On the lower part of the light assembly towards the fender there is a plastic tab that locks the light in place. You have to push on the part of the tab on the light to slide it under the "lock" holding it in place. The PS one is pretty easy to see and get to, I had to remove the battery and get a long screwdriver to get to the DS one.

[newbee mechanic]

Thanks for the tips, Trunk Monkey,
I will try the PS side first to get a good look at it.

[anthonycds]

The easiest way to get to the "tabs" will be from under the truck, it eliminates having to take battery out. Hardest part is to locate the damn tabs. Once I located them, I used the butt end of my mini mag lite to push tabs through-it doesn't take much to push through, but it's probably not going to work by just using your fingers to push it through. Once those tabs are pushed through, the signal light housing will move forward and from that point you can just pull the whole thing the rest of the way out.

[1loudLX]

I pull straight forward and the lights pop out. maybe I'm doing it the easy way or something. Ill try the harder way next time

[newbee mechanic]

Man, I finally got it,

After about an hour of trying by pushing
on the tab, I said screw this. I never got enough leverage in that tight space.

So, I just pulled hard straight forward
and it poped out. I had to put on some heavy gloves so I could grab the sharp edge of the turn signal on the outer side. Wasn't hard I guess. I just never thought to use gloves previously, so could never pull hard enough. 1loud was right.

So the trick is, to use heavy gloves so you get a good grip on that sharp edge and to pull straight forward without fear.

Anyway, here are some pics of the TABs for for future reference.

newbee_mechanic/Front Turn Signal - Photobucket - Video and Image Hosting



Thank you guys.

[1loudLX]

no problem. But gloves? thats for

[newbee mechanic]

Very funny

Btw, I'm gonna get the Pioneer AVIC F in June
when it comes out. I saw your setup, looks good. Prolly could use some of your flaky tips. I have an LX like you. I guess I'm gonna need some bezel spacers.

[1loudLX]

for the radio i just had a piece of plastic trimmed to fit the dash trim. Then we cutout the square to fit the screen. Ive seen some more elaborate trim shrouds, but it gets the job done.


Pictures look like my color, you have a 98-00?

[anthonycds]

Originally Posted by newbee mechanic

1loud was right.

...I wasn't wrong either, works each and everytime. I guess LX models have less secure tabs to hold em in place
Glad ya got it figured out bud.

[1loudLX]

LC and LX have the same tabs. I put LC markers on my LX

[Trunk Monkey]

If you pull straight forward with force you can break those tabs. Not that I know.

[anthonycds]

Originally Posted by Trunk Monkey

If you pull straight forward with force you can break those tabs. Not that I know.

...you see! I was trying to save you from the possibility of that happening but hey, it worked for you anyway.

[newbee mechanic]

I agree, the safest way would be to push the tabs out from the inside. But for me, I just could not get enough leverage on the tabs in that tight space. And as 1loud pointed out, I have tender hands.

The tabs are not the positive locking types, like say on a wiring harness. It is just held in there by friction. IMO, it is safe to pull, as long as you take care to pull it forward straight out, without tilting forward or twisting in any way. So gotta pull out grabbing the outboard bottom edge as well, which is kinda sharp.
For me, a last ditch, resigned to break it, desperation, sudden jerk, did the trick. Popped out in one firm tug.

Anyway, knowing the position and direction of the tab, helped me figure out which way to pull.

So, Thanks all for the tips.
I got my cracked head lamp replaced.

[LXPearl]

I replaced my side marker bulb recently. I thought the light housing would pop right out after removing the screw, but not so. I was hesitant to pull straight out too hard, so on a trip by the Toyota dealer I asked a service person about it. They suggested pulling the headlight unit first. I then went by the Lexus dealer and one of their people with a nylon looking flat piece pryed the light housing forward and it was as described above. It is simple, once you know what to do. The tab is for positioning more than as a holding clip, so pulling straight forward works well.