Changing Tail light question...
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 1,118
Likes: 0
From: West Palm Beach Florida
Changing Tail light question...
Hi there. Well, I see my left turn signal isn't working anymore. My outer rear drivers side tail light it out. I hear it's difficult to change. Any advice before I go and do this tomorrow?
Is this correct?: I should remove the license plate assembly (I think) and then remove the inside tail light, and then reach through there and get to the outside taillight?
That's how somebody explained it to me. If there's a better way - or if that's wrong, please let me know.
Thanks
Is this correct?: I should remove the license plate assembly (I think) and then remove the inside tail light, and then reach through there and get to the outside taillight?
That's how somebody explained it to me. If there's a better way - or if that's wrong, please let me know.
Thanks
Melting Slicks
Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 2,793
Likes: 46
From: Elizabeth City, NC
Re: Changing Tail light question... (Sal Collaziano)
Remove the license plate, then remove the reverse light on affected side. Reach in through reverse light hole and remove inner tail light, next reach in that hole and get to outer light.
Not real hard, just tedious.
Not real hard, just tedious.
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 1,118
Likes: 0
From: West Palm Beach Florida
Re: Changing Tail light question... (LPDesRoche)
Man. Thank you very much! Cool.. You're Jennifer's fiance, right? You're one of the guys I'm supposed to be looking to when I have L98 modification questions. I hope ya don't mind!
Melting Slicks
Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 3,388
Likes: 1
From: X
Re: Changing Tail light question... (Sal Collaziano)
Beleave it or not...if you have long arms...you can reach up from under the car and change the outer bulbs...I have done it.
And its my 1500th post...Break out the keg of beer.
[Modified by JonM, 6:11 PM 4/20/2002]
And its my 1500th post...Break out the keg of beer.
[Modified by JonM, 6:11 PM 4/20/2002]
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 1,118
Likes: 0
From: West Palm Beach Florida
Re: Changing Tail light question...
Thanks.. Well. My arms aren't skinny. So, I was out of luck. When the time does come, I will replace all 4 bulbs with something long lasting. I got as far as removing the license plate and the one reverse light - then gave up and put it all back together. Oh, and by the way.. I did hear that you can reach up from underneath to change those outer lights.
Otherwise. I got into my car an hour ago and the bulb is working again. Very strange...
Otherwise. I got into my car an hour ago and the bulb is working again. Very strange...
Le Mans Master
Joined: Feb 2000
Posts: 5,789
Likes: 0
From: Athens Ohio
SE Ohio Event Coordinator
CI-V Car Show Winner
Cruise-In II Veteran
Cruise-In III Veteran
Curise-In V Veteran
Cruise-In VI Veteran
Re: Changing Tail light question... (Sal Collaziano)
The easiest way that I've found is to remove the wheel well liner and reach up to the outer bulb. Once you remove the outer bulb, the inside one is easy to reach.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Feb 2000
Posts: 5,789
Likes: 0
From: Athens Ohio
SE Ohio Event Coordinator
CI-V Car Show Winner
Cruise-In II Veteran
Cruise-In III Veteran
Curise-In V Veteran
Cruise-In VI Veteran
Re: Changing Tail light question... (JonM)
[QUOTE]Beleave it or not...if you have long arms...you can reach up from under the car and change the outer bulbs...I have done it.
And its my 1500th post...Break out the keg of beer.
:cheers: :cheers: :cheers: :cheers:
:seeya
And its my 1500th post...Break out the keg of beer.
:cheers: :cheers: :cheers: :cheers:
:seeya
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
Corvette ZR1X Will Be Pacing the Indy 500, And Could Probably Race, Too!
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Corvettes Coming to Mecum Indy 2026!
Brett Foote
Top 10 C9 Corvette MUST-HAVES to Fix These C8 Generation Flaws!
Michael S. Palmer
10 Revolutionary 'Corvette Firsts' Most People Don't Know
Joe Kucinski
5 Reasons to Upgrade to an LS6-Powered Corvette; 5 Reasons to Stay LT2
Michael S. Palmer
2027 Corvette vs The World: Every C8 vs Its Closest Competitor
Joe Kucinski
10 Most Common Corvette Problems of the Last 20 Years!
Joe Kucinski
5 MOST and 5 LEAST Popular Corvette Model Years in History!
Joe Kucinski
2027 Corvette Buyer's Guide: Everything You Need to Know!
Joe Kucinski
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 1,118
Likes: 0
From: West Palm Beach Florida
Re: Changing Tail light question... (Mark 84ltblu)
Mark. Could it really be that easy? This sounds so much easier than going into the light through the license plate area and taking out the inner lens to get to the outer light..
Plus.. I have a bit more of a problem. It seems that the light is working sometimes and not working other times. Why would this be? I could use some more suggestions.. I have a feeling I can now get to the bulb by using Mark's suggestion - but the bulb itself is no longer the problem. Now it's something to do with the connection.
Am I going to have to remove the whole rear fascia?
Plus.. I have a bit more of a problem. It seems that the light is working sometimes and not working other times. Why would this be? I could use some more suggestions.. I have a feeling I can now get to the bulb by using Mark's suggestion - but the bulb itself is no longer the problem. Now it's something to do with the connection.
Am I going to have to remove the whole rear fascia?
Drifting
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 1,477
Likes: 0
Re: Changing Tail light question... (Sal Collaziano)
that is the way. Vette mag had an article on it in the march 2000 issue.
I do not have a scanner or I would put it here for you.
The other way is to pull of the rear skin (this is what the shop manual stataes, ugh!)
I do not have a scanner or I would put it here for you.
The other way is to pull of the rear skin (this is what the shop manual stataes, ugh!)
Drifting
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 1,477
Likes: 0
Re: Changing Tail light question... (Lv2Driv)
I forgot to mention, my car has the same intermmittent problem on the driver side...Hmmmm
hit a bump and it will go out hit another and it will go on. not even consistent with the bumps though. just an intermittent thing. my father and i are going to tackle this in the next few weekends, test the connections first.
let you know how it went.
hit a bump and it will go out hit another and it will go on. not even consistent with the bumps though. just an intermittent thing. my father and i are going to tackle this in the next few weekends, test the connections first.
let you know how it went.
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 1,118
Likes: 0
From: West Palm Beach Florida
Re: Changing Tail light question... (Lv2Driv)
Your car is exactly my car. Z52, G96, 1987.. Maybe it's something with our year. Whatever you find out, please let me know. I'll probably spend a fortune at my mechanic to fix it. It wont be long before I get pulled over like this...
Drifting
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 1,477
Likes: 0
Re: Changing Tail light question... (Sal Collaziano)
if you get pulled over then just tell him it was working when you left the house. if you are kind to them they usually will be understanding. of course if he is pulling you over for some other violation then you may have to show him your legs. :jester
Le Mans Master
Joined: Feb 2000
Posts: 5,789
Likes: 0
From: Athens Ohio
SE Ohio Event Coordinator
CI-V Car Show Winner
Cruise-In II Veteran
Cruise-In III Veteran
Curise-In V Veteran
Cruise-In VI Veteran
Re: Changing Tail light question... (Lv2Driv)
Sal:
It really is that easy. I almost tore the skin off my arms before I found this method. Once the liner is off, you can reach all the bolts holding the outer light in place. After removing the outer light, you simply reach through the hole and remove the 10mm bolts holding the inner light. I would check your connections to the socket. It sounds like you have a loose or poorly grounded wire.
Good Luck !
:seeya
It really is that easy. I almost tore the skin off my arms before I found this method. Once the liner is off, you can reach all the bolts holding the outer light in place. After removing the outer light, you simply reach through the hole and remove the 10mm bolts holding the inner light. I would check your connections to the socket. It sounds like you have a loose or poorly grounded wire.
Good Luck !
:seeya
Safety Car
Joined: Dec 1999
Posts: 4,691
Likes: 1
From: Framingham MA
Re: Changing Tail light question... (Lv2Driv)
I have done mine through the liscense plate as suggested above. I would also recomend remove the 2 lower bolts on the bottom of the bumper cover, by the spare tire. This buys you a little extra room and doesn't take all that long.
