Hi guys,
I was trying to replace my 2008 ES350 puddle lights to LED tonight and ran into some trouble. After successfully taking out the mirror and taking off the screws, I could not pull down the puddle light to take the housing apart. The whole puddle light is just stuck between the black metal frame. I had no room to twist the housing to take it apart so I couldn't reach the bulb. Could you guys help me please!?

These 2 links are the instructions I followed and it seems like mine looks a bit different than theirs.
https://www.clublexus.com/forums/gs-...light-led.html


I also took some picture of my side mirror.

 

I see nothing different than what the first 30 seconds of that video show. The puddle light is sandwiched in between the front and back cover of the mirror. If you remove the screws and use something like a screwdriver to stick through the inside of the cover to the back and push it should pop right off. The cover is only held on by two locking tabs on the top and bottom of the side that is towards the window and the bottom of the housing.

 

I had both the front and back cover removed as u can see from the pictures I attached. In the video, the guy pulled out the puddle light after removing the front and back cover so he could take the cover apart easily. But I could barely move the cover because the whole puddle light (housing, cover and socket) is stuck between the black metal frame so I had no room to move around the cover to remove it. Thank you so much for replying . Sorry my English isn't so good but I tried my best to describe the situation already lol.

 

The links to your pictures are broken. I cant see what exactly your problem is... if you could reupload them I could get a better idea how to help.

Are you driving a 07-12 es350? I dont remember any frame around the puddle. Its just sandwiched.

 

sorry for the dead links. I fixed them already.

 

Unplug the connector and you should be able to get the puddle off. Press in that middle part and pull up.
That is definitely different than I remember. What year is your ES? I wouldn't think that they would change something like that between years.

 

I tried... but that connector just wouldnt come apart... mine is 2008 ES...

 

You gotta wiggle it a bit!

 

Hm... Thx a lot ! I will go give it a try now lol.. I wonder why mine is different than others ...

 

Well, I had an 07. The whole puddle assembly just kinda hung in there like the video. Those connectors are hard to get off sometimes. You gotta squeeze hard, wiggle and pull from both sides and it should come off. If that doesnt work use something to push the connector while your pulling on it like a phillips head.

 

god... finally I did it!! I tried squeezing it hard but that didn't work. So I used a slotted head to push where it was clipped and finally I was able to pull the connector off. Thank you soooo much xanderES for your help. I couldn't have done it without your fast and useful replies! Thank you!!!

 

No problem. Have fun personalizing your car