I've got most of the trunk torn apart lol but I can't seem to see an easy way to get to the taillight assembly. Someone graciously sent me instruction on changing a '90 but I found that my '97 is quite a bit different.

 

On the '97, the lid lights are accessible via flipping the cover aside and using a #2 Phillips head to unscrew the light plate.

For the outside corner lights, access is from the outside not inside the trunk. Open the trunk lid and there will be two plastic covers on the inside edge of the lights. (Hint, this is normally covered by the lid lights.) Pry those about 10mm sized covers off and the Phillips head will be seen. Easy as unscrewing them and gently prying the lights out and off. The bulbs are in a holder and are twist off so don't try to unhook the wiring harness or you risk breaking the plastic clip. Just twist the whole base and there ya go.

 

Thanks a lot, bro!

The bulb I am changing is an outside corner light and not on the trunk lid itself. Here's a pic of where I got to through the trunk but it looks like that wasn't necessary.

 

All my past Toyota's were trunk accessible for light bulb changes. My first timewith the LS, I went tearing through the trunk liner and was shocked to not find an access point. While staring blankly at the light assembly cursing the change from past Toyota's, I noticed the little covers for the corner lights. Dooh!

One advantage is that we will not have to worry about water leaks from the tail lights.

 

I don't think a '97 is far from a first gen. You have to remove the whole signal housing to change the bulbs. Yeah, the second gen is slightly different but the fundamental design is the same. You undo a couple of bolts and the signal assembly comes off. Now, I don't have a 97 but it looks like you should try unbolting the two circled in the pic.

 

Its much easier than that, Earl. You don't go from the inside, the light pops literally outwards and the bulbs are right there. 2 philips head screws and that's it. Thanks again, RA.

 

 

Of course after all that I have the wrong bulb thought I needed 1157...

 

Lights are easy.

 

-er on most other cars.

 

Thanks for posting those pics ACF, they were very handy and helpful. I had the top left brakelight bulb go out on my LS400 a couple of weeks ago and I've been avoiding fixing it... the GS bulbs are much harder to get to (got to take off much more stuff) and when I saw your pic I went right out and did it in 5 minutes. Got rid of that annoying 'tail light out' warning on the display screen and red light.

Happened to have the right kind of dual filament bulb in the garage. Easy pop in and out!

 

Glad I could give back a little where I take so much.

 

This post helped me a bunch this morning changing a brake lamp in wife's '98 LS. Thanks!

 

I needed this post too. Sticky?