Ok. This is embarassing to ask, but it's not obvious to me... I need to replace my headlights on my 86 4Runner. I can't tell how to remove the headlamp bezels without removing the entire grille.

Any guidance or pics would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks!

 

Cant remember exactly but I remember using a long skinny phillips screwdriver….I may have removed the grille its not hard to do...

 

Thanks Jeets! Anyone else have any more info?

 

http://www.ncttora.com/FSM/ start reading........

 

I've always removed the entire grill...

 

remove entire grill (honestly not that hard) as soon as the grill is removed, its obvious how to get headlight out

 

Only catch is that my grille seems a bit brittle, a couple of the tabs are barely holding on. We'll see if I can get it off then without breakage.

 

yea, thats true, a few of my tabs are broken...i think there are only 4 that are actually not broken and holding the grill on...

black zip ties

 

This would be a GREAT TIME to replace the sealed beam junk with Autopal housings and some H4 bulbs (i like the Sylvania Ultras but I'm sure others have their preferrences). That way you don't ever have to remove the housings again.....unless you break one......the Autopals & Sylvanias on eBay cost me about the same as a pair of good sealed's with WAY better light!

 

There's going to be two spots on the grill that are attached by Phillips screws. The rest you want to gently press a long screw driver in to release the clips. None should break if you do it correctly.

 

Yeah - I'm putting in IPF H4s. The PO went with some cheap H4s and they're rusted on the inside. I can barely see at night.

Thanks for the tip! Where are the screws located?

 

you should be able to see the holes looking straight at your grill.
i cant remember exactly where the screws are. ones somewhere near the middle on the bottom row. and maybe top left? grab a flashlight and you'll be set.

 

It takes about 5 minutes to get the grille off. Be gentle with it and it will come. One of the screws is in the middle at the bottom of the grille. I don't remember a 2nd one....
Just support the grille while you are popping the clips out and you should befine. Just stick a flat screwdriver in and turn 90 degrees, they will pop right out.

 

Well I dug into the headlights today. I was able to get some of the clips on the grille free, but not enough to remove it. This meant that I had to do a lot of careful bending and tweaking of grille without breaking it. It made it pretty tough to get the lights out.

I had a little surprise discovery during the project: I found the pass side headlight plug was melted pretty seriously. I presume that the lack of a chassis ground during the time of my purchase may have contributed to it.

Dorman makes some nice replacement pigtails and I was able to pick up a set even though it was a holiday today.

Here are some progress pics:

Burned Headlight Plug:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/72188695@N05/7059042059/
New Headlight (left) vs Old Headlight (right):
http://www.flickr.com/photos/72188695@N05/6912958842/
Finished Install:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/72188695@N05/7059041975/
Close Up:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/72188695@N05/6912968868/
Thanks everyone for your input!

 

Nice, looks better already!
What turn signals are you running?

 

Thanks! I'm running Super Bright LED's 6 inch oval turn signals. They snap right into the factory holes with no cutting or drilling. Had to put inline resistors in to make them blink properly.

They look awesome at night.