I switched out my puddle lights with LEDs and I could not get a piece of the side mirror back in LOL

It was shockingly easy to remove the side mirror housing and get access to the puddle light. I just followed a YouTube video where we didn’t even need to remove the actual mirror itself.

Tips:
1. be warned that the bottom plastic piece adjacent to the door metal body has a tendency to pop out (see pics).

2. If this bottom piece slightly pops out as you pull off the main back housing piece, immediately push that bottom piece back into place. Do not tug on it to make it pop out further. Otherwise, there is a long plastic clip in the middle of the bottom housing that gets caught on something and does not easily pop back into place (I circled in red in the pic).

3. I learned from my lesson, for my other side mirror and did it properly without the bottom piece popping out.

4. I had to take it to the dealer for my regular 5000 mile service and they graciously put it back in for me LOL.

Overall, totally worth it to replace the puddle lights. They were previously so weak, that I had no idea they even existed until I saw videos of complete 4Runner LED replacements in tribute. Now the LED puddle lights are strong enough to illuminate the ground, and more importantly, look like a luxury vehicle.

 

That's different, had my mirrors apart a couple times. Did you pop the mirror glass out to get to the puddles?

 

Nope I just gently tugged the back housing from the inside corner and it came off easily

https://youtu.be/RZocdicY3So

 

looks like that works but video shows the whole housing flexing and twisting, probably why the piece fell off.
The glass pops out in less than 10 seconds and allows you to then release the clips for that cover, that also comes off easily. Just my .02 cents

 

Yeah I’d advise others to try your method first. And then try this non-glass method as a backup.

 

I converted everything in mine recently to LED minus those bulbs, I would find a way to break them.

 

What bulbs did you use for the puddle lights?

 

Auxito T10, a pack of 10 was somewhere around $5 I think.

 

I had the same problem as the OP. I just broke off the tabs and put everything back together. It's been fine for months.

 

I had bought Yorkims last week for the interior bulbs and was looking for something with more output for the puddles. If I remember correctly those were 100 lumens and the Auxitos are 240. Anyway...I bought a pack of the Auxitos from Amazon today they must’ve gone up because they were 15 bucks lol. No biggie when it comes to looking at prices on other sites though.
Thanks for the feedback!

 

Sylvania Zevo 194 is a great bulb for the puddle lights. Available locally.

 

Ebay is usually cheaper for the same stuff. Get two packs of 10 to replace all the T10s in the 4Runner.

 

Maybe this belongs in that continuous mod thread, but I replaced my mirrors with a wider angle with built in sequential led indicators.

much wider field of view with a slight bluish tint that should help with bright lights at night. The led indicators are cool too.