Toyota Solara Headlight and Bulb Replacement

[@DukeOfEarle]

Excellent, clear pictures and explanation. If only all how to vidoes were like this!

[@sajcanter]

Mark Thanks for this video. I had the intermittent problem with the factory bulbs on my 2007. Suspected bulbs and/or ballast. Left the dealer feeling very depressed. Purchased Toshiba D4S bulbs on E-Bay. It was very hard to accept the bulb alone was the problem but replacement, using your procedure, has solved the problem. Neither light has "winked" out for several weeks now. Before, I couldn't make it to the corner store. My wife thinks I'm a hero, but I give all the credit to you.

[@Gustamachio]

Thanks brother. I just replaced my headlamps from Carparts.com The lamps are between 180-195 each there and you can get a 5% off cupon code by emailing them to get on their mailing list. Better than the $500+ each they are from the Dealer! Your video was great in detail of finding all the bolts and body clips. I did take a couple off under the front bumper which gave it a lot more flex. Thanks again for making this video

[@gmp3699]

Thanks for the helpful video. The headlamps on my 2005 Solara were dull, and cleaning didn't help. They had to be replaced. I bought aftermarket lights to save some serious $$ over Toyota lights. Your instructions were perfect and made the installation easy. Thank you again.

[@IsaacEasley-wn8ln]

This tutorial was great. I was able to replace the driver's side light with little difficulty.

[@b.jlovett]

Hey Mark, thanks for the great video......I have a 2008 Solara SLE V6 coupe with just the halogen bulbs, but I upgraded to LED bulbs last summer.....The right side was very easy for me , I had a fair amount of room to work the bulb, with out moving the entire assembly........How ever, the left side was a major Bitch......had to remove the entire assembly, but got it done eventually ........Again , thanks for a well done video.

[@edd7140]

Excellent video, nice job! Big difference on looks and functionality on my 2006 Solara. There are a ton of cars in FL with headlight assemblies that should really be replaced, but mine is no longer one of them! Many thanks

[@MichaelDennis42]

Thanks very much for the video. It helped a LOT, when I tried to replace the High/Low beam in my 2004 Solara with an LED bulb that required me to remove the whole lens assembly. You saved me a LOT of time especially finding the hidden bolt :)

[@vincegalluccio1878]

what a well done repair video !!! most videos are recorded so badly or lit so badly or explained so badly or have loud music playing over the dialoge that you learn almost nothing. thank you for your excellent work. and i will have great time working on my dim low beam headlights on my new 2007(!) solara convertible. since it is now 2024, i am thinking i will cut an access hole in the bumper guard where it covers that one 10 mm bolt that holds the bottom of the light assembly. then removing the assembly is easy as rest of bolts are easy to access. plug the access hole with snap in cover maybe.

[@vincegalluccio1878]

mark, thank you for this info.good pics and talk. i could find almost nothing else to help with removing the headlight assembly. my 2007 toyota solara convertible which i just got needed new assemblies because the vertical adjusment of the low beams did not move the lights at all. other web searches indicated that the problem was a broken part inside the assemblies. so, my car being quite a bit older than yours when you worked on it, i wanted to see if i could make the removal even easier than your method by being open to and happy with a hole in the bumper cover right over the HIDDEN BOLT. using your pictures and a beer or two, i estimated the location of the hidden bolt and drilled a 5/8 hole in the cover. well, then i drilled another, and then another, and i got it! happy days. i removed the 10mm bolt easily then and expected to be able to pull the assembly off the car. surprise!! i couldn't. even though i had removed the top bolt and pins of the bumper cover, it did not bend enough(dispite some energetic effots) to overcome the hold the bumper cover had on the bottom of the light assembly. so, tomorrow, maybe, i will use the rest of your method to get more movement of the bumper and be able to remove the assembly. thanks again for your video to help me get started. at my present age and retired, i enjoy projects and this is a good one. and i will have fun searching web for info on patching holes in my bumper cover. my first thought was to use 1 inch or 2 inch snap in plumbing covers or maybe fake exhausts like the 1950ties buicks.

[@k.1000]

THANK GOD for this video I cannot find much videos on 07 Solaras.

[@jakeyw11]

Thank you for posting! People like you make KZbin an unbelievable tool for do it yourselfers!!!

[@Silentbet1of]

This was amazing dude your concise and to the point !

[@timickes5373]

Thank you. Nicely done, now i am prepared to replace my assy. Mine had become very dim, due to some kind of crystalline corrosion all on the inside. It looked like very delicate hoarfrost under the lid.

[@thumpfinger]

Great video. I’m having trouble tracking down the description or part number for high beam bulbs for a 2007 solara ? Any help would be appreciated. Thanks

[@DeathWestern]

Thank you! You made my life so much easier.

[@pjmoreau]

Awesome thank you, very much a lifesaver! Really appreciate you posting this

[@mikeesquivel4131]

A lot of great information here. Thank you!

[@jaydubpdx]

Is the random headlight dimming due to the HID bulbs, or is it a switch issue (he asked wishfully)? The bulbs seem to be getting some power; the switch seems a much simpler task.

[@LarryB-inFL]

Another video clearly stated that the screw at the bottom of the retainer clip did NOT need to be loosened, and looking at what he did , and its' design, I agree. And that is a difficult/risky step, too.

[@lindalee734]

Great video, Thanks! I have a question...the psngr hdi light on my 07' solara will go out periodically, but if I turn off my lights then turn them back on the hdi will come back on. Pepboys said it is not the light bulb and checked the connections. Have you dealt with this kind of issue before? Any suggestions?

[@joet4806]

Mark, can I install LED bulbs on my 07 Solara, replacing the HID?

[@markmizner87]

Thank you for the video Mark. I recently purchased a 2008 Solara convertible and wanted to update the lighting to the LED's as they are usually a bit brighter. Started with the easy stuff like the interior lights, trunk and license plate bulbs. Was thinking of the headlights but now after your video I think I need to get all three of the bulbs in LED versions before I actually perform your procedure of removing the headlight assembly. That way when I change them, they will all be LED at one time. Did you test the replace bulbs before you totally reassembled the headlight unit? Thanks again for the instructions.

[@rhondawhite4866]

I'm just trying to replace bulbs but although the new bulb does fit to plug on, but the tabs don't seem to align ...any suggestions?

[@JWeb-ve4tw]

thanks for sharing. It was a great help in change the assemblies and cost saving.

[@sajcanter]

So, Linda, just wanted to pass along that the Toshiba bulbs in my wife's Solara have worked perfectly since replacement...going on six weeks now.

[@Rakadeja]

Wrote everything down, now to actually go see how this applies to my 2005 Solara. If I need a 90 degree extender, I'm gonna have to head to the hardware store.

[@keeping-up-with-pg]

Went to change my light bulb thinking it was bad. But obviously one of the previous owners damage the housing for the bulb. Now the light will not seat dead center. Is this fixable or will I need to buy a new unit for $180.00 or so bucks.

[@joet4806]

Mark, some questions Please. Did the bulb flicker on / off causing you to replace it? or did it just go out? where does the ballast fit in? Is this ballast a trouble spot too? what Brand bulbs were removed and you replaced with what Brand? Did you replace both sides at same time? lots to choose from on internet. Thanks Mark

[@markvandamage]

I believe that when we purchase the cheaper bulbs (i.e. on eBay) we get a lower quality bulb vs the extremely expensive bulbs from the dealer. I have had several bulbs burn out over the year, but if you have these lights on all the time as running lights, the hours will definitely add up.

[@markvandamage]

The flickering bulb is a tricky one. Either the bulb is going, or more likely, the ECU for one of the bulbs is going bad. The ECU assembly is a $600+ item!!

[@markvandamage]

I have been unimpressed with the life of these bulbs. You don't need to remove the entire assembly to replace the bulbs, but you will need a 90 degree Phillips screwdriver adapter, or something to help you get to the stupid little retaining screw that keeps the bulbs in. I also use a small mirror to see where the screw is. Toyota nailed us on this, but you can do it- with time and patience...

[@dawngeda1475]

Yes! Thank you! Great video and helped me out a lot!

[@dopesmoker937]

That’s shits crazy. Thanks for making this video! Very helpful!

[@KungFrizzle]

Anybody‘know how to adjust these head lights? 2008 solara and cannot figure this out. No screws or wheels. Stumped.

[@timickes5373]

You can see the white adjusting wheel at 0:49, above and between the 2 main bulbs.

[@mcdonaldla]

Linda My Wife is having the same headlight issue on her 07 Solara...been going on for sometime now. I have voltage all the way to the socket. I am thinking that the socket for the High Intensity Lamp is corroded or defective somehow.and can't keep the voltage up for that HID lamp, but that is just my guess. I am wondering if you found out anything? Have you had any success with fixing yours?

[@masterson0713]

Any luck?

[@lindalee734]

Mark - Thanks again for the video. I am thinking about purchasing my bulbs on ebay but I want to be sure I purchase a good quality bulb. Based off a post here I was looking at Toshiba D4S bulbs. Your thoughts? Any other suggestions? Thanks again!

[@timickes5373]

get your bulbs from Headlight Revolution, they guarantee them.

[@joet4806]

Good video! Thanks

[@lindalee734]

Jody, I have yet to find a solution. I took the car back to Pep Boys this weekend. They want $175 per bulb and $40 for labor. After reading more recent post I think I may purchase the bulb on ebay. I just fear that changing the bulb will not be the solution. One of the mechanics seems to think it could be an electrical problem. Have you heard / found anything else out?

[@mcdonaldla]

No, I have not...I do not think that it is the Bulb either. I have no problem with Bulb replacement on a 7 year old car. It might brighten up the night. lol When the passenger side Headlight goes out, we just turn the lights off, and then back on, and the passenger side light comes right back on, until it goes off again sometime later. I have considered that it might be a thermister type fuse, that opens when the electrical load isn't proper, and heats up. I have seen this type of breaker on audio amplifier outputs. I really have no idea though, and would like very much to get it fixed. I will let you know if I do.

[@joet4806]

did the new bulb solve the problem?

[@lindalee734]

I haven't replaced the bulb. Spoke to the dealer and they want $1100 for 2 new headlight assemblies and installation. The dealer mechanic said he has seen this before and is typically a short. He suggested changing the ballast which would be $281 for each light. ..the kicker is the labor...about another $460...so for a couple hundred more I can have new headlights. I guess To replace the the ballast or entire assembly it is the same process which basically takes off the front bumper. Still not sure what I will do but gotta do something quick.

[@stephenholderfield6488]

Linda, did you find a solution to your problem? My 07 does the same thing.

[@joet4806]

Stephen Holderfield When the D/S HID light goes out on my 07 Solara, I turn the lights OFF and then turn them back on again. When I have time, I want to replace the D/S bulb and then see what happens. If still the same problem, then it must be the ballast ( to be located and replaced)

[@pabloescobedo8941]

Hello Mr Van dam

[@robin6424]

Hi mr van dam

[@mcdonaldla]

I changed bulb and still had problem. We purchased a 2014 Hardtop Convertable...Problem solved !!! lol :-/

[@pervysage4934]

all of this to replace a frikkin lightbulb. wtf

[@gokufighter21]

All of that just to change a bulb...cmon toyota.

[@rkgsd]

Jordan W So they made it harder to change than the previous generation Solaras. Moot point now since it was discontinued.

[@theglobalsurvivor1230]

Stop talking without showing at the same time. I stopped watching after 2 min.