Headlight replacement - 2016 SR5

Hey all. Bought my first truck and it had to be a tundra. It feels like a tank driving it. I'm trying to do some rather inexpensive upgrades and one is replacing the headlight bulbs with some LED high/low lights. I've been on boobtube to watch videos on how to replace the lights, but I keep having 1 question: how are the clips going to fare with multiple days/years of the desert heat?

to pop the grill, does anyone have any suggestions on a better way of pulling the grill off? I only ask this as this truck has seen multiple Oven type summers with temps between 110 and 120, so it makes me question, if I try to pull the grill as a lot of these videos say, I could be left without any clips to attach my grill with, when I put it back on.

 

Honestly I'd be more worried about the grill clips snapping in cooler weather like I have here. For me pushing on the clips for grill removal and in fact worried they would snap, but didn't, especially having to do it twice in one summer due to defective NAPA bulbs.. Think you'll be OK

 

does anyone really pull their grill off anymore?

manual states otherwise.
https://www.tundras.com/threads/replace-tundra-headlight-bulb-by-removing-fender-liner.52305/

 

I could not get my big hand in there..

 

Yeah, I RTFM and ran into the issue of my hand was almost too big for the space to work with. I'll prob try again given my concern, but appreciate the feedback none the less.

 

Pull the grill and replace the housings with ones designed to handle LEDs. On a 2016 your housings are probably cloudy. If you just put LED bulbs in current housings you will get some nice white light but not much more.

 

Convert to OE LED headlights? Wrap in 3M polyurethane film to protect against elements and UV.

 

Exactly what I did!!

 

So the dealership de-hazed my light housings...so that's awesome to know. I will get some 3m poly to cover them. I didn't know that. Ty!

 

I would suggest the Auxito 9003 bulbs available on Amazon for $60. They are a great improvement over the stock halogen bulbs and have a good beam pattern for both low and high beam. Some have suggested complete headlight replacements which is a good option but be prepared to spend $500 plus dollars.

 

Lol. I bought these based on reviews and a previous tundra forums post. I'm super eager to get these in. At some point I will move to true LEDs, but to your point, a good pair of headlamps will be expensive. I'd rather sink that money into a bumper for now as I feel that would be a better choice, but I do wanna find a bumper that will allow for the bsm. Uugg. #trucklife. Lmao so many options, so little money

 

I've been running them for 6 months and have no desire to go full led headlights and I live in a rural area. You'll be happy with them.

 

Thank you for that info. I can't wait to get them installed.

 

When you take the gill off, remove the clips and two screws at the top the tilt the grill forward slightly. Look down between the grill and headlight at the bottom (left and right side). Your will see a large tab that holds the grill in. Use a long flat head screwdriver to push the tab downward as you pull on the lower part of the grill and it will pop off. Use some masking tape on the plastic under the bumper to protect it from scratches.