How to Replace Interior Lights with LED Bulbs in Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV?

[Lissa_FireNC]

I recently decided to upgrade the interior lights in my Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV to LED bulbs, but I ran into a bit of a challenge. removing the bulb covers! I didn’t find much detailed info on how to safely take off the covers without damaging anything.

the rear seat reading lights, you’ll notice they have very small covers that can be tricky to remove. I found that using a small, sharp tool worked best to carefully pry them off. You’ll need to be gentle to avoid scratching the surrounding area.

for the main driver's light, you can remove the cover using just your fingertips. this is great because it reduces the risk of damaging the light assembly. make sure you’re careful not to grab the white plastic base underneath the cover, as that part is fixed. The cover simply snaps onto the base, so you only need to lift it gently.

 

[AndyInOz]

Hi there.

You can get small plastic tools called 'spudgers' from places like Amazon that are ideal for this kind of small, fiddly work, where you don't want to scratch anything.

Similarly, you can buy sets of plastic 'trim removal tools' from car supply chain stores.

I recommend having both of these kinds of things in your collection.

(But for interior lights, the trim removal tools may be too big.)

For interior lights, lots of vehicles use a 'squeeze the diffuser' method for getting to the light bulbs. The diffuser is the plastic bit directly over the bulb.

The first thing I always try, is to squeeze the sides towards the centre, and if that fails squeeze the top and bottom towards the centre.

If these things don't release the diffuser, they will often reveal the location of retaining tabs or demonstrate that the sides are an integral part of the diffuser, and you need to find clips associated with the sides/frame of the diffuser.

 

[Phev2016]

I agree the rear light covers can be fiddly. Be very, very careful to remove only the clear lens and DO NOT pull the outer, beige plastic down as it needs the headlining to be partially removed to refit the metal clips!!!! Don't ask how I know.
Also, I found that some cheap LEDs don't work very well as they partially stay on due to (I think) the low voltage CANBAN signals flying around.

 

[PAKMAN72]

I recently decided to upgrade the interior lights in my Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV to LED bulbs, but I ran into a bit of a challenge. removing the bulb covers! I didn’t find much detailed info on how to safely take off the covers without damaging anything.

the rear seat reading lights, you’ll notice they have very small covers that can be tricky to remove. I found that using a small, sharp tool worked best to carefully pry them off. You’ll need to be gentle to avoid scratching the surrounding area.

for the main driver's light, you can remove the cover using just your fingertips. this is great because it reduces the risk of damaging the light assembly. make sure you’re careful not to grab the white plastic base underneath the cover, as that part is fixed. The cover simply snaps onto the base, so you only need to lift it gently.

I am thinking of also replacing the interior light with the much brighter LEDs. Can you post the brand name and source of the LEDs you are installing . Please and Thank You.

 

[Polyian]

I recently decided to upgrade the interior lights in my Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV to LED bulbs, but I ran into a bit of a challenge. removing the bulb covers! I didn’t find much detailed info on how to safely take off the covers without damaging anything.

the rear seat reading lights, you’ll notice they have very small covers that can be tricky to remove. I found that using a small, sharp tool worked best to carefully pry them off. You’ll need to be gentle to avoid scratching the surrounding area.

for the main driver's light, you can remove the cover using just your fingertips. this is great because it reduces the risk of damaging the light assembly. make sure you’re careful not to grab the white plastic base underneath the cover, as that part is fixed. The cover simply snaps onto the base, so you only need to lift it gently.

Bulb numbers would be helpful please...so I can buy the bulbs before taking the covers off.

 

[Phev2016]

They are 31mm 12Volt festoon bulbs. I now have the LED bulb at the tailgate location but went back to standard bulbs for front and rear seat locations as I could not find an LED bulb that did not stay slightly illuminated by the low current that goes through the lights even when the door shuts. It seems to be a problem for other cars too, not just Outlanders.

 

[R Rhodes]

I had a heck of a time. I pulled off the reading lights in the rear (wrong!!, not the whole thing, should have been only the clear cover!! and couldn't get them back on. Luckily , my service manager popped them back in for me for free!). But with the LED's in, when I opened the doors, they did not come on auto. By pushing button for full time on, worked fine.)
I read here that the only way to fix was put back originals, (I did) and remove the neg pole of the 12 V battery in back for a few minutes. Then all works now.
The back door ones worked properly, but I was afraid to screw something up and put originals back too there. Oh well, dull light is better than none when opening the doors.

 

[PAKMAN72]

Tried taking off the lens covers . Failed . Scared of breaking the plastic covers !!!! Could only get off the rear reading light cover , but then could not take out the bulb!!!!!!!!!!!
Is there a special tool to remove the bulbs?? I can not get my fat fingers into the openings !!!!!