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Tools you need for headlight bulb on a 2018-2024 Toyota Camry

Moderate · 20-30 minutes for a high-beam bulb; 1.5-2 hours to remove and replace a full headlight assembly · Updated 2026-09-14
Must-have tools
  1. 10 mm socket, 1/4 in drive
  2. Ratchet with 6 in extension
  3. Plastic trim/panel removal tool set
  4. #2 Phillips screwdriver
  5. Panel clip removal pliers

On the XV70 Camry, the low beam is the part of the headlight you cannot buy a bulb for. Every US-spec 2018-2024 Camry - L, LE, SE, XLE, XSE and both hybrid trims - uses an LED low-beam projector that is sealed into the housing. If one side goes dark, the fix is diagnosing the connector, harness or LED driver, and failing that replacing the whole assembly. Only export-market Camrys with halogen projectors have an H11 low beam you can twist out.

What most people are actually chasing is the high beam. On L/LE/SE and hybrid LE/SE that is a plain 9005/HB3 halogen behind a rubber boot, a ten-minute job from under the hood with nothing more than gloves and a flashlight. XLE, XSE and Bi-LED cars have no serviceable bulb at all. The mistake to avoid: buying a cheap LED 'low beam' kit for a car that already has LED low beams, or pulling the bumper before you have confirmed whether the problem is just a corroded connector.

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Complete tool and parts list

ItemType
Nitrile gloves
Disposable
Skin oil on a halogen 9005 bulb causes early failure; also keeps grease off lenses.
Safetyshop
LED flashlight or headlamp

The rear of the XV70 headlight housing is deep and unlit.
Recommendedshop
Plastic trim removal tool set
Nylon pry set
Pops the radiator-support cover and wheel-liner/bumper edge clips without breaking them.
Requiredshop
Panel clip removal pliers
Clip plier / puller
Removes the push-pin clips along the top of the bumper and inner fender without snapping them.
Recommendedshop
Socket, 10 mm
10 mm 6-point, 1/4 in drive
Nearly all XV70 front-end and headlight mounting bolts are 10 mm hex head.
Requiredshop
Ratchet, 1/4 in drive
With 3 in and 6 in extensions
Drives the 10 mm bolts in the tight space behind the bumper and above the headlight.
Requiredshop
#2 Phillips screwdriver
Stubby and standard length
Bumper-to-fender screws and some wheel-liner screws are Phillips.
Requiredshop
10 mm combination wrench
10 mm
Reaches the inboard headlight bolt when a ratchet will not fit.
Recommendedshop
Torx driver, T20/T25
T20 and T25
Some cowl/liner and aftermarket-replaced fasteners on XV70s use Torx heads.
Recommendedshop
9005 (HB3) halogen bulb
9005 / HB3 65W - high beam, L/LE/SE trims
The only user-replaceable bulb on US LED-low-beam Camrys.
Partsshop
H11 halogen bulb
H11 55W - export/halogen-low-beam markets only
Low-beam bulb on non-LED export Camrys; does not apply to US cars.
Partsshop
Headlight assembly
LH or RH, LED low beam, XV70-specific by trim
Needed if the LED low-beam module or its driver has failed, since the LEDs are not serviceable.
Partsshop
OBD-II scan tool with body coverage
Techstream or equivalent bidirectional tool
Reads headlight/LED driver DTCs and B-codes before you buy a $400-800 assembly.
Recommendedshop
Electrical contact cleaner
Plastic-safe
Cleans a corroded headlight connector, a common cause of a dead LED side.
Consumablesshop
Dielectric grease
Small tube
Protects the bulb and assembly connectors from moisture after reassembly.
Consumablesshop
Assorted bumper push-pin clips
Toyota-style 8 mm push retainers
Original clips often break on bumper removal for an assembly swap.
Consumablesshop
Wheel chocks

Keeps the car secure if you turn the wheels or jack it to reach the liner.
Safetyshop
Phillips-head or flat-blade trim screwdriver
Long shaft
Used to reach the headlight aim adjuster screw after an assembly change.
Recommendedshop

Differences within the 2018-2024 generation

The 2.5 A25A-FKS, 3.5 2GR-FKS and hybrid all use the same headlights and the same 10 mm front-end fasteners, so nothing differs by engine. Access does differ slightly: the 2.5 and hybrid have an intake duct over the driver's-side headlight that is easier to unclip than the 3.5's, and the hybrid has extra HV cabling routed near the front that you should not disturb. Trim matters more than engine - L/LE/SE have a 9005 halogen high beam, while XLE/XSE Bi-LED and adaptive-lamp cars have no replaceable bulbs.

Torque specs

Headlight assembly mounting bolts (M6, 10 mm head)verify in the service manual (low, roughly hand-snug; do not overtighten into plastic)
Front bumper cover bolts/screwsverify in the service manual
Front wheel-arch liner fastenersverify in the service manual

How the job goes

  1. Identify your setup first: look at the low-beam projector with the light on. If the low beam is LED (all US-spec 2018-2024 Camry trims, hybrid included), there is no low-beam bulb - skip to step 8. If it is a yellow-white halogen low beam (export markets), continue at step 6.
  2. Turn the ignition fully off and let the lights cool for a few minutes.
  3. Open the hood. For the high beam (9005/HB3): on the driver's side, move or unclip the air intake duct/resonator for clearance; on the passenger's side, work around the washer bottle neck.
  4. Reach behind the headlight housing, twist the rubber dust boot or the bulb retainer counterclockwise about a quarter turn, and pull the bulb and socket straight out.
  5. Unclip the connector, fit the new 9005 bulb without touching the glass, seat the tab keyways fully, twist clockwise to lock, reinstall the boot, and test high beam before reassembling anything.
  6. Halogen low-beam (export) cars only: repeat the same procedure at the larger inboard H11 bulb - same twist-lock, same no-touch rule.
  7. Reinstall the intake duct or any moved components and check that the dust boot is fully seated so water cannot enter.
  8. Dead LED low beam: with the headlight switch on, unplug and inspect the main headlight connector for corrosion or melted pins; clean with contact cleaner and retest. Scan for body/lighting DTCs - a failed LED driver or a chafed harness is common and much cheaper than a housing.
  9. If the assembly must come out: remove the wheel-arch liner front screws and clips, then the bumper-to-fender bolts/screws, the upper radiator-support push clips, and pull the bumper corner outward to free the hidden outboard headlight bolt.
  10. Remove the three to four 10 mm headlight mounting bolts, unplug the harness, and lift the assembly out - support it, the lens scratches easily.
  11. Transfer any brackets, fit the new assembly, start all bolts before tightening, reconnect the harness, and reinstall the bumper clips (replace broken ones).
  12. Check aim on a flat wall about 25 ft away and adjust with the vertical aim screw so the cutoff is level and slightly below headlamp centre height.

Watch out

I am confident the XV70 uses 10 mm bolts throughout the front end, that US trims all use LED low beams, and that the serviceable high beam on L/LE/SE is a 9005/HB3 - confirm your bulb type against the owner's manual bulb chart or the marking on the old bulb, especially on export/halogen-equipped cars.

Frequently asked

What low-beam bulb does a 2018-2024 Toyota Camry use?

US-market XV70 Camrys do not use a low-beam bulb at all - the low beam is a sealed LED projector. Export halogen versions use an H11. If your low beam is out on a US car, suspect the connector, harness or LED driver, then the assembly.

What bulb is the high beam on a 2018-2024 Camry LE or SE?

A 9005 (HB3) 65 W halogen. It twists out from behind the housing under the hood in about ten minutes, no bumper removal required.

Do I have to remove the bumper to change a Camry headlight assembly?

Yes - one headlight mounting bolt sits behind the bumper corner, so you need to release the wheel-arch liner and the bumper-to-fender fasteners and pull the corner outward. Budget 1.5-2 hours and expect to break a few push-pin clips.

Can I put LED bulbs in the 9005 high beam of my Camry?

You can physically fit them, but the reflector is designed for a halogen filament, so beam pattern and glare suffer and some cars flag a bulb-out fault. Sticking with a quality 9005 halogen is the better result.

Other jobs on the 2018-2024 Toyota Camry

Oil ChangeFront Brake Pads and RotorsRear Brake Pads and RotorsBattery ReplacementSpark Plug ReplacementAlternator ReplacementStarter ReplacementCoolant FlushSerpentine Belt ReplacementTire RotationWiper Blade ReplacementThermostat ReplacementFront Strut ReplacementCabin Air Filter ReplacementEngine Air Filter ReplacementTransmission Fluid ChangeFront Wheel Bearing ReplacementOxygen Sensor ReplacementWater Pump Replacement

Headlight Bulb Replacement on other vehicles

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