Replace a Headlight Bulb

A blown headlight bulb on the Toyota Yaris XP130 is an MOT failure and easy to miss until someone flashes you. On cars with halogen reflector headlights you can change the bulb yourself from under the hood in a few minutes.

Which bulb your Yaris takes

It depends on the headlight type fitted:

• Halogen reflector headlights (most trims) use a single H4 bulb for both dipped and main beam.
• Projector headlights (higher trims) use an HIR2 bulb for the beam.
• Front fog lights, where fitted, use an H16 bulb.

Check the wattage and type printed on the old bulb before you buy, and don’t touch the glass of the new one — skin oil creates a hot spot that shortens its life.

What you’ll need

• A new H4 (reflector) or HIR2 (projector) bulb, or H16 for a fog light.
• Clean gloves or a tissue to hold the new bulb by its metal base.

Replace a halogen reflector (H4) headlight bulb

1. Switch the lights and ignition off and open the hood.
2. Unplug the wiring connector from the back of the bulb holder.
3. Pull off the rubber weather cover behind the headlight.
4. Press the metal retaining spring to release it from its hook and swing it clear.
5. Lift out the old bulb.
6. Fit the new bulb, aligning its tabs with the cut-outs in the mounting hole so it seats only one way — hold it by the base, not the glass.
7. Clip the retaining spring back over the bulb, refit the rubber cover, and reconnect the plug.
8. Test dipped and main beam before closing the hood.

Good to know

• Replace bulbs in pairs — when one halogen fails the other is usually near the end of its life, and matched bulbs keep the beam even.
• Use genuine or equivalent bulbs. Some circuits are designed to prevent overload and may reject non-standard bulbs.
• If a new bulb still doesn’t light, check the relevant fuse before assuming the bulb or wiring is at fault.
• Projector (HIR2) and some rear clusters are more awkward — if access is tight, a garage can swap them quickly.

Frequently asked questions

Does the Yaris Mk3 use H4 or H7 headlight bulbs?
Reflector headlights use a single H4 (combined dip/main), not H7. Projector-type headlights use HIR2. Confirm by reading the old bulb — the type is stamped on its base.

Can I fit LED bulbs instead of halogen?
Retrofit LED “upgrade” bulbs are not road-legal for headlights in the EU/UK and can trigger a bulb-failure warning or dazzle oncoming drivers. Stick with the specified halogen type.

Why did my new bulb blow quickly?
Almost always fingerprints on the glass. Handle the bulb by its base; if you touch the glass, wipe it with alcohol before fitting.

One headlight is dimmer/yellower than the other — is the bulb failing?
Yes, a halogen bulb dims and yellows as it ages. Replace both sides together so the beams match.

If a bulb-out or lighting warning won’t clear, look it up at autodtcs.com.