SolaraGuy.com

I spent most of tonight figuring this out...

1) pop off black surround, 4 super-toyota clips, pull hard
2) unscrew one philips head screw at top left, you cant miss it
3) now you'll notice the front of the shiftgate is loose and can come up only 1/2 inch or so when you lift it
4) using either your hands or a flathead screwdriver for leverage, pry up the bottom half of the shiftgate to release it from really tough clips (this part had me stuck for the longest time)
5) shiftgate should be free now, unscrew the socket sticking out of the bottom and, viola! Mr. 194 shows its ugly mug.

http://www.aircargodispatch.com/paul/1.jpg

- Paul

finished product

http://www.aircargodispatch.com/paul/shifter1.jpg
http://www.aircargodispatch.com/paul/shifter2.jpg

- Paul

Thread resurrection, but a good one

Man, I tried for 3 hours today to get that thing out.

I thought it was a 2721/74...I guess I gotta buy some 194s now.

I should have figured that when you dont see any screws, you need brute force

Tomorrow, I conquer.

did you put led there?

The above pictures show a red sharpie-colored bulb: a placeholder until I get my replacement bulbs in the mail.

- Paul

I know I was concerned about the green strip too (which i think is impossible to remove). It looks red on mine, and I'm using an old 194 with one coat of red sharpie. What kinda led's are you using flash?

- Paul

YES I finally got it earlier today. I hadda take off the whole rear center console so I would have somewhere to pry though. (Its 2 screws, and 2 bolts. Two screws in the front of the rear center console after you take off that black surrounding the shiftgate, and two bolts in the console storage area after you take out the carpet peice.) I tried to pry gently and it didnt work. Then I pried like I was trying to break it and then it snapped out. Then I saw that bulb.

I put a Blue LED with the oval lens (supposide 100 degree lighting), and it lit up only the N, D, and 2 well. The rest were pretty dim, but its a nice blue. I might try one of them 5 or 6 LED 194's, just to see if it works (I got one for my trunk already). If that doesnt work, then im going to just put a regular 194 red bulb in and call it a day. (Blue non-LED bulbs = teh suck)

Jon11582 wrote:I hadda take off the whole rear center console so I would have somewhere to pry though. (Its 2 screws, and 2 bolts. Two screws in the front of the rear center console after you take off that black surrounding the shiftgate, and two bolts in the console storage area after you take out the carpet peice.)

Completely unnecessary work! The black plastic surround comes out with your hands. Youll see it takes the felt thing under the ash tray and the accessory plug out with it. Unplug that and set aside. Now with the surround off you see this There is only one screw you need to take out and its marked by the green arrow. When this is unscrewed the front half of the shiftgate will be loose but the back is still held down by two clips (which you cant easily see, but trust me they are there) Use the red arrows as your prying points and gently go at it with a flathead screwdriver. The whole assembly pops straight up so you can access the bulb.

any questions, ask away

- Paul

I didnt think I could get enough leverage to pry without taking the rear console out. Basically, I didnt have a spot to put the blade to start prying up. Maybe I didnt look hard enough, but Ive taking out the rear console before so it wasnt a big deal for me.

This is definately resurrection of a dead thread, but I'm working on the same thing myself with my 02 Solara and thought I'd share what I found.

First off, here's a site I found which has anything you can imagine for lighting - and with plenty of colored LED alternatives.

Autolumination.com

Second, here's the information I could find regarding the bulbs (thank you, Sylvania):

2002 TOYOTA Solara

Low beam headlamp
9006

High beam headlamp
9005

Parking light
1157A

Front turn signal
1157A

Rear turn signal
3156

Tail light
3157

Stop light
3157

High mount stop light
921 (Same as 906)

Fog/Driving light
9006

License plate
168 (Same as 194)

Back up light
921 (Same as 906)

Front sidemarker
1157A

Glove box
37 (Same as 74)

Dome light
DE3175 (31mm / 1.25")

Step/Courtesy light
194

Trunk/Cargo area
194

OK, those are the ones I want blue. Anyone know what number they are??

kronos98 wrote:the A/C and defrost lights are not 2721. They are a weird screw bulb (very tiny).

As for the air intake switch or knob, i assume you're talking about the thing you slide left and right for climate control air intake. that's is just illuminated by the lights that illuminate all the other HVAC controls, which would be 2721.

If anyone is interested the Sylvania website is WRONG about the dome light bulb in the '04 Solara.
It is NOT the DE3175 as they indicate but instead uses a 212-2, (1.75", 44mm) 10 Watt bulb. (I know because I followed the Sylvania websites info, bought a "hyperwhite" DE3175 only to find it was TOO SMALL (lengthwise) to fit.
The 212-2 is the CORRECT bulb for the dome light in the '04.