How to remove / change your tail lights

[stingrayj]

As indicated in a previous thread, I got some new tail lights in the mail.


So here's how you install them...

First, you pop the hatch. On the side of the existing lights you will see two pins.


Use a flat head screw driver to pop the pins up.


Then pull both pins out.




Next, you need to remove the "vented" panel on the inside of the cargo area. Just push the side of the panel closest to you towards the side of the car. The panel will flex and then pop out.






Now pull back the insulation flap to expose the wing nut that holds the tail light to the car.


The space is a bit tight, especially for those of us with larger sized hands. But, all you have to do is reach in and unscrew the nut. This can be a bit of a chore depending on how tight the nut is. Just be careful not to drop that nut! More on that later!

Once the wing nut is off, push on the thread stud and the light should pop out.


Pull the light the rest of the way out and you will see all the light connections. These are all just standard fasteners so just turn and pull.


Now just reverse the whole process to install the new light and you're done!


I had a bit on an alignment issue on the driver's side light, so I used this tip from chance6384...

Nice write up... I just changed mine out to some similar... I found that a metric open end or a socket and small rachet will do the trick with the wing nut... the latter works well because it actually holds onto the nut after it disengages....

Nice

As it turns out, that metric socket is 11 mm and really helped to tighten that nut. Apparently, due to the tight space I was not able to hand tighten it well enough. But, now with the help of the ratchet it sits better and is much more secure. Thanks for the idea!


So everything went well with the driver's side light, but when I was installing the new light on the passenger's side, I had an "oh sh!t" moment. I dropped the wing nut. The cavity that it fell into looked to be impossible to access. After a few futile attempts to go chase it down the hole, I decided to start tearing things apart and praying that I could access the nut from below. Well, it worked so here's what you need to do.

First, take out the folding load floor. Then take out the floor that covers the spare tire. You will need to pull up all of the velcro behind the seats to get it out.


Now, take out the two anchor clips (if that's what they are called).


Now take out the two screws on the inside of the panel on either side of the latch.


Now you can take out this panel completely. As a side note, I found that this panel was not atached with anything at the bottom and only had foam on one side. Ever since I installed my BB kit, I have been getting a vibration from the rear. Turns out it was this panel. I put some foam double stick tape on the contact points and the vibration is finally gone!

Back to work... There is a little thin clip along the bottom edge, underneath the panel that you just took out. Pull that up out of its hole. This is the only pic that I had that actually shows the part I am talking about. It's the forked end sticking up in the air at the bottom of the pic.


Next, remove the screw in the hook area for the cargo cover.


Now grab ahold of the panel like so, and pull.


There are two clips at the edge that will pop out. I had a few more that popped out on the other side of the access hole.


With this panel pulled back somewhat, you can see a large, flat, black push pin fastener that is holding the insulation on. Use a flat head screw driver to carefully pull that pin out.


Pull the insulation back and you will see a wire leading to access hole that seems to be put there just for this purpose!


Inside this hole is where I found my wing nut. I had already removed it before I took the picture, though.


I recommend that you put the wing nut on the tail light at this point just incase you drop it again. That way you don't have to tear all of this apart a second time! Once you got that nut on, just reverse all of the steps to put it all back together.

Stand back and enjoy!

[Ga_SXT]

I likey!!! Looks nice!!

[Steves05RT]

They look great! The black ones look good on the darker colored cars. I'm lookin' at the exact same lights only in the smoke color.

[corys35]

Looks good man nice write up too, was wondering how hard it was take off the tails... def gonna black em out this weekend.

[Demon]

Awesome write up and even better about the access to the lost nut problem. Beans for you!

[Shaggin]

Nice tails! and a great write up. beans my friend

[GreenKing]

helluva write-up man!!

[Fireman2118]

Nice "Recovery" how to.

[Matsuuraman]

Nice write ip, looks good.

[jayalbertcars]

great write up well done and i love the new lights

[MadDad]

Good work --- and remember if you stuff a rag into the "chasm" before you remove the wing nut from the light it won't disappear if you do drop it.

[chance6384]

Nice write up... I just changed mine out to some similar... I found that a metric open end or a socket and small rachet will do the trick with the wing nut... the latter works well because it actually holds onto the nut after it disengages....

Nice

[spinnercj8]

Nice tails! I have the same ones in smoked red. Like Doug said I stick a rag in the hole before I take the nut off

[stingrayj]

Thanks everyone! And that's a good tip MadDad! Would have saved me a lot of time. Live and learn, I guess...

I really like the look of these tail lights, but I'm on the fence right now as to whether or not I want to tint them with some VHT for an even darker look. I did notice that the back-up lights are not as bright as the stock tail lights. I am guessing that is because the reflector in the OEMs is much more polished and I'm sure that the angles in the reflector are not the same. It's not bad, but it is noticeable.

If I don't tint them, I'm thinking about painting the back side of the lense that is over hanging the housing black. It's been raining the last two days here and moisture build up in this area makes the lights look like they have a white/gray border. The paint should prevent that and give the lights a little sharper definition at the edges.

[Radglenn]

Nice Tail lights Jason!!! they look kinda familiar!!! Also, I used a speed wrench on the inside wing nut.....easier on the paws and harder to drop it....

NICE WRITE UP!!