Alright, Long story...

I drive a 2004 WRX, I just swapped my interior lights to Blue LEDS, friend of mine drives a 2007 Scion TC... she asked me to change her lights to pink LEDS, I said no problem! Popped the map light cover off and saw the lights, decided to pull one out and I twisted it... (Yeah I know now....) anyways, it disappeared up inside the car and I can not find it! I also can not figure out how to get the entire plastic housing off to fix it....


WHAT DO I DO!!?


TL;DR- Drivers side map light was pushed up and inside the plastic housing and is gone, what do i do!?

 

Do a search on removing the headliner if you really want to get it out. If you can still see the bulb socket I wouldn't worry about it.

 

Yeah there was a DIY thread for replacing the headliner or maybe putting in a dimming mirror that covered that. I couldn't find it, so I'll give you the run down from memory. This same situation happened to me when I switched out a bulb once. Was nervous doing it cause it did feel like it was going to break. As long as use a good pry tool or two, you should be cool.
You will probably want to use a plastic prying tool for trim removal. Pry into the seems at the long side closer to the sunroof. It's going to feel tough coming off. Almost like it wont give or feel like it may break. Use a bit of force once you get it started. Eventually it will pop out. As soon as it gives, ease up or you could tear out the wiring. After you get it out, keep track of the button tabs that hold it in. Some may still be in the roof. If so, pull those out and put them back on the trim piece before trying to snap it back into place.

 

So pretty much just pull hard but carefully
I did read somewhere that you should just pull straight down but I was trying that yesterday and that thing was NOT budging... Just felt like the plastic was going to snap in half... I guess I will just have to try...

I have a very small flat head I use for this kind of stuff, I put tape on the end, I will work my fingers under the moon roof side, and the front of the car side and just pull I guess...

And BTW the entire bulb and socket have gone up inside, no just the bulb...

 

When it happened to me, I pulled the bulb out, but the socket went right in. The wire it's connected to either isn't very long, or doesn't have much slack at all. So remember, as soon as you get that housing off, stop pulling.

 

Just got it done today like an hour ago...

just got my fingers underneath the left and right side, and pulled like a ****. Popped out, and so did the light bulb, which disappeared for about 20 mins till i finally found that, and fixed everything. Now I gotta wait for the pink LEDs to get here :D

Thanks guys. Glad to see Scion people are a lot nicer then the Honda/Acura crown -__-