Removing Rear Tail Lights and Mid Section
10-15-08, 11:56 AM
#2
it's easy. These cars ar 15 years old, just about everything is documented if you look.
Anyway, pop the hatch, remove the two bottom most screws on the triangular shaped pieces of plastic. put your hand on the face of the corner lights and slide them away from the mid section. it might take a little effort, don't try too hard, but lean into it a bit. Remove the trim plastic that attaches the center light to the weather stripping. I don't remember, but there might be a few screws here as well. With that removed, there will be 4 8mm nuts exposed. Remove those nights and the center section comes straight up. Undo the clip and voila.
Anyway, pop the hatch, remove the two bottom most screws on the triangular shaped pieces of plastic. put your hand on the face of the corner lights and slide them away from the mid section. it might take a little effort, don't try too hard, but lean into it a bit. Remove the trim plastic that attaches the center light to the weather stripping. I don't remember, but there might be a few screws here as well. With that removed, there will be 4 8mm nuts exposed. Remove those nights and the center section comes straight up. Undo the clip and voila.
04-19-09, 10:26 PM
#3
Six month old post but may as well add to the archives....even though it's simple.
It's way better to do the middle section first. Removing the four Philip head screws and plastic trim leads to four nuts, but 10mm. The clip can be tough....a small flathead does a good job to pop it out. With this removed, you'll be able to get behind the side lights with better force to slide the them outward carefully.
Thanks for the help though! Just did it today and the lights are ready to be converted......
It's way better to do the middle section first. Removing the four Philip head screws and plastic trim leads to four nuts, but 10mm. The clip can be tough....a small flathead does a good job to pop it out. With this removed, you'll be able to get behind the side lights with better force to slide the them outward carefully.
Thanks for the help though! Just did it today and the lights are ready to be converted......
04-20-09, 07:03 PM
#5
Sir Braps A lot
i did mine myself cost 20 bucks to do all with a borrowed heat gun. now i will admit that the circles are not 100% perfect but you can only tell from up close. its an easy process and takes like 2 hours from start to finish.
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04-21-09, 10:08 PM
#9
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i did mine in carbon fiber(sticker). any vinyl shop can make you perfect circles evenly spaced. apply the sticker with windex to center it, and squeegee it out. let dry, reinstall.
10-07-20, 06:59 PM
#10
bump.
how hard do you have to pull to get the rear tail light out?
pulling pretty hard to no avail.
bulb went out and I need to replace but the lamp won't bulge.
i'm specifically pulling to the side and out.
thanks
P
how hard do you have to pull to get the rear tail light out?
pulling pretty hard to no avail.
bulb went out and I need to replace but the lamp won't bulge.
i'm specifically pulling to the side and out.
thanks
P
10-07-20, 07:23 PM
#11
It's really very straight forward. I first removed mine back in 2008. 12 years ago. And since then I'm removed them many many times to clean them and change bulbs.
There are a total of 3 screws on each side. You'll need a Philips screw driver.
Once you have loosened them set them aside and there is a hook that you need to pull on.
Yes, working on the FD can be very frustrating.
But removing the rear tail lights is probably one of the easiest things.
I hope you get it removed. Please keep us updated. I'm here to help.
There are a total of 3 screws on each side. You'll need a Philips screw driver.
Once you have loosened them set them aside and there is a hook that you need to pull on.
Yes, working on the FD can be very frustrating.
But removing the rear tail lights is probably one of the easiest things.
I hope you get it removed. Please keep us updated. I'm here to help.
10-08-20, 08:37 AM
#13
If they’ve never been out, or not removed for a LONG time dust and a little grit can get into mating surface and make them hard to move. Try running a little hot water down between tailight housing and body and then try sliding them out as cr-rex described. No pulling.
10-20-20, 03:45 PM
#14
Got it out finally.
Helped to remove the center tail light cover and actually push the light out sideways east west.
Might have been the first time it was ever changed lol.
Thx guys
Helped to remove the center tail light cover and actually push the light out sideways east west.
Might have been the first time it was ever changed lol.
Thx guys
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