# How do you change the headlight of a 1990 Toyota Corolla? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [January 10, 2005, 6:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-change-the-headlight-of-a-1990-toyota-corolla/284085 "2005-01-10T18:58:28Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 12\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Anaamika](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Anaamika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anaamika)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2005, 6:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-change-the-headlight-of-a-1990-toyota-corolla/284085/1 "2005-01-10T18:58:28Z")
Is it difficult? Is it complicated? Can I do it myself? I mean, I’m a big girl. I tie my own shoelaces and everything. ---
**Author:** ![Dr\_Paprika](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dr_paprika/32/3042_2.png) [@Dr\_Paprika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr_Paprika)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2005, 7:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-change-the-headlight-of-a-1990-toyota-corolla/284085/2 "2005-01-10T19:54:15Z")
Car repairs are not complicated, in the sense that there are manuals that tell you step-by-step what you need to do to, e.g. replace a headlight. You would want the Chilton 1990 Import Car Repair Manual or a 1990 Toyota Corolla repair manual, possibly available at your local library. The step-by-step, however, is not the tricky part. Mechanics invest thousands of dollars in tools required to do the job – so access to the proper equipment would be very important. Do-it-yourself garages have the equipment; I can’t imagine you’d need anything too complex for a headlight, but who knows what you have access to? Not too pooh-pooh mechanics. There is a lot to be said for practical experience, seeing the job done right first and being able to diagnose the problem in the first place. ---
**Author:** ![nivlac](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/3bc359/32.png) [@nivlac](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nivlac)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2005, 7:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-change-the-headlight-of-a-1990-toyota-corolla/284085/3 "2005-01-10T19:56:25Z")
> [@Anaamika](#): > > Is it difficult? > Is it complicated? > Can I do it myself? Yes, you can do it. Easy job. Read your owner’s manual for the directions. Only problem you might have is with the headlight alignment when it’s done. You want the headlight beam to be aimed correctly. But do it and make adjustments if necessary. ---
**Author:** ![Anaamika](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Anaamika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anaamika)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2005, 8:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-change-the-headlight-of-a-1990-toyota-corolla/284085/4 "2005-01-10T20:02:02Z")
OK, I am going to try it this weekend, when I can do it in the daytime. Luckily, I don’t drive the car much. Mods, you can close this thread if you like! ---
**Author:** ![vetbridge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/b5e925/32.png) [@vetbridge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/vetbridge)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2005, 8:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-change-the-headlight-of-a-1990-toyota-corolla/284085/5 "2005-01-10T20:05:28Z")
> [@nivlac](#): > > Only problem you might have is with the headlight alignment when it’s done. I have replaced many a headlight. I have yet to adjust a headlight. In the best of all possible situations, yes it should be done, but I would rather drive with lights that are poorly aimed than with no lights at all. Go for it \*\* Anaamika\*\*. ---
**Author:** ![vetbridge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/b5e925/32.png) [@vetbridge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/vetbridge)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2005, 8:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-change-the-headlight-of-a-1990-toyota-corolla/284085/6 "2005-01-10T20:08:55Z")
> [@Anaamika](#): > > I mean, I’m a big girl. Oooops. I missed that part. Exactly _how_ big? If your hands are the size of end tables, you may have difficulty with the small screws. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![engineer\_comp\_geek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/engineer_comp_geek/32/504_2.png) [@engineer\_comp\_geek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/engineer_comp_geek)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2005, 10:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-change-the-headlight-of-a-1990-toyota-corolla/284085/7 "2005-01-10T22:17:22Z")
Headlights are easy. They come in two basic flavors. The first type you have to change the entire light out. This usually involves unscrewing a few screws that remove the small cover around the outside of the light, then the light comes out the front. The electrical connector on the back just unplugs, and you just reverse the whole process to put the new one in. There are also usually a couple of screws that are used to adjust the beam. Make sure you don’t turn those at all or the light will be out of alignment. The only tricky thing I ever had with this type of light is that the screws weren’t normal screws, but were torx head screws. 3 bucks for a special screwdriver that I only ever used once. The second type is like a flashlight. You don’t change out the entire light, just the bulb part, and it comes out the back. Unplug the electrical plug first. Generally there is a big twisty knob around the outside of the electircal connector, and you just spin it. It either unscrews, or just rotates far enough to release the tabs that hold the bulb in, and the bulb comes out the back. Put the new bulb in, screw the knobby thing back in to hold it, plug the wires back in, and you’re done. I’ve never seen Toyota headlights, but most modern cars have this type. As long as you don’t mess with the alignment screws, you shouldn’t have to re-align the headlights in either case. Make sure you take the old bulb with you to the auto parts store. The last time I changed a bulb they sold me one that looked the same but had the high and low beams reversed. I had just told them what vehical I had, and hadn’t bothered to check that the bulb numbers matched. If I had taken the old bulb with me and checked the numbers I would have saved myself a second trip to the auto parts store. ---
**Author:** ![Myglaren](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f1d935/32.png) [@Myglaren](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Myglaren)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2005, 10:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-change-the-headlight-of-a-1990-toyota-corolla/284085/8 "2005-01-10T22:28:20Z")
Unless you drive a VW > [@](#): > > The £500 VW Golf headlamp > > It cost £93 for a VW dealer near my home to replace the front nearside sidelight bulb on my 2001 Golf Mk4. It appears that to replace the bulb you have to remove the entire front end of the car, and then remove the headlamp unit to get at the bulb holder. > > Last year a flying stone cracked the offside front light glass on the same car. That cracked glass cost more than £500 to fix because, although the rest of the unit was perfect, a replacement glass is not listed as a spare part. > > You have also told us that the new Golf is overpriced, and you are right. The dealer wanted £21,330 to replace my diesel Golf with the more shoddily trimmed Mk5 model. This is after 30 years of experience designing and making the Golf. > > Have they learned nothing about building a car to sell at a reasonable price, about ease of repair and having a customer-friendly spare parts policy after all those years? Or is it sheer greed and profiteering on the part of the maker and dealers? Quote from [BBC Top Gear](http://www.topgear.com/content/my_topgear/write_turns/2004_08/29/) ---
**Author:** ![Omphaloskeptic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/bcef8e/32.png) [@Omphaloskeptic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Omphaloskeptic)\ **Post date:** [January 10, 2005, 10:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-change-the-headlight-of-a-1990-toyota-corolla/284085/9 "2005-01-10T22:40:17Z")
Some headlights are easy. Others are harder. I’m not sure about the Corolla, but on an early-1990s Cressida, replacing the passenger-side headlight requires (I think) removing the air filter to get room to pull the headlight (bulb+reflector). On the driver’s side you have to move the battery. Does anyone know about the Corolla specifically? Here’s a view of a [1989 Corolla](http://www.angelfire.com/nj4/corolla1989/89_Corolla_DX_LightBrown_Engine.jpg); someone who knows more about cars than I do might be able to interpret the picture. ---
**Author:** ![Carnac\_the\_Magnificent](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ccd318/32.png) [@Carnac\_the\_Magnificent](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Carnac_the_Magnificent)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2005, 2:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-change-the-headlight-of-a-1990-toyota-corolla/284085/10 "2005-01-11T02:56:45Z")
> [@Omphaloskeptic](#): > > Does anyone know about the Corolla specifically? I helped my cousin’s BF change the headlight to his, IIRC, 1989 Corolla. Changing the halogen bulb is simple. Just unplug the electrical connection, screw off mounting unit, replace old bulb with new, and replace mounting unit. Remember not to place your bare hand on the new bulb, as the trace oil could reduce bulb longevity. Changing out the entire headlight lens–that is, the glass face plate–would be more of a pain, but still straightforward. ---
**Author:** ![Valgard](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/7feea3/32.png) [@Valgard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Valgard)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2005, 3:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-change-the-headlight-of-a-1990-toyota-corolla/284085/11 "2005-01-11T03:02:07Z")
I used to have a 1989 Celica and the headlights were of the “enclosed unit” model, that is, you replace the whole assembly rather than just the bulb. Get a Chiltons or Hanes book for your car and it’ll show you how to do it. IIRC I needed a couple screwdrivers and that was about it. First light took a while, second one took 15 minutes. They were only $20 apiece at Kragen although that was…1996…8 years ago? OMG I’m gettin’ old. ---
**Author:** ![Ethilrist](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ethilrist/32/4604_2.png) [@Ethilrist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ethilrist)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2005, 1:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-you-change-the-headlight-of-a-1990-toyota-corolla/284085/12 "2005-01-11T13:27:55Z")
So, any updates? How’d it go? Are you still driving a padiddle? Any injuries? Did you replace both bulbs, or just the one that went out? If just one, is it noticeably brighter than the other?