removing rear lights
removing rear lights
My reverse light bulb is out - can anyone give me some pointers on how to replace that light bulb - i tried to take the rear light cover off - i removed the 2 screws at the top and took of a plastic piece - which revealed another screw close to the trunk lock - i removed that too - but after that i am stuck - i dont know what else to do to get it off. Any help is greatly appreciated. Thanks
After the 3 screws, you need to lever the whole light fitting off - its just held in with some clips. Basically starting from the lock end you need to pull it outwards in an arc towards the outside of the car. Its a bit scary first time as it feels like its not going to come off. But it will. You may need to use a big screwdriver as a lever.
“You’ll find, that the only thing you can do easily is be wrong, and that’s hardly worth the effort.”
Another thing that might be helpful is to wear a pair of gloves or at the very least, when you do push on the taillight assembly, try to do exert your force with closed fists instead of an open hand. The thing is that these taillight assemblies haven't been budged in years, and over that time, dirt has gotten into all the little nicks and crannies and make it difficult for the tails to pop out of their locking tabs that they're clicked into. When I took mine off the first time, I smoked the end of my thumbnail against the inside corner of the body chassis where the top plastic covers of the tails get screwed on and pretty much peeled back half my thumbnail and separated it from my thumb. Hurt like a b---- for the next few days.
Anyways, like Grants said, it's kind of an arc motion towards the outside of the car. Start by using one hand to push down on the top of the taillight and start banging away with your other hand at the end of the "inner part" of the taillight (the end closest to the center of the rear) towards the side of the car. Eventually, it'll pop out of those locking clips that's holding them in place, and when it does, it'll sound pretty violent (almost tricks you thinking like it sounded as if you broke something) cuz the taillight just flies out of the socket and rattles against the bumper when it falls out, but don't worry about it falling out onto the ground - the wiring for the bulbs will keep it from falling off. After that, just give the bulb sockets a twist and they come right out of the taillight housing and you just have to unscrew the bulb. Good luck and watch your fingers from being smoked against the body on the follow through.
Anyways, like Grants said, it's kind of an arc motion towards the outside of the car. Start by using one hand to push down on the top of the taillight and start banging away with your other hand at the end of the "inner part" of the taillight (the end closest to the center of the rear) towards the side of the car. Eventually, it'll pop out of those locking clips that's holding them in place, and when it does, it'll sound pretty violent (almost tricks you thinking like it sounded as if you broke something) cuz the taillight just flies out of the socket and rattles against the bumper when it falls out, but don't worry about it falling out onto the ground - the wiring for the bulbs will keep it from falling off. After that, just give the bulb sockets a twist and they come right out of the taillight housing and you just have to unscrew the bulb. Good luck and watch your fingers from being smoked against the body on the follow through.
What I drive: A Cybertronian disguised in the form of a Creek Blue Mica 95 MX-3 GS. 
Long term goal: Fabricating a new transformation cog!
Long term goal: Fabricating a new transformation cog!
Ouch!pretty much peeled back half my thumbnail and separated it from my thumb. Hurt like a beech for the next few days.
But yes the first time was the worst for me - I've had them out a couple of times since and it was much easier.
“You’ll find, that the only thing you can do easily is be wrong, and that’s hardly worth the effort.”