C4 Tech/Performance L98 Corvette and LT1 Corvette Technical Info, Internal Engine, External Engine

tail light bulb

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Old Nov 5, 2006 | 01:48 PM
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Default tail light bulb

anyone know how to get to the tail light bulb?: my arm is to fat to get inbetween the bumper..
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Old Nov 5, 2006 | 01:56 PM
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What car is it? Your profile says you have an 81 and a 97. If so you are in the wrong forum.

If you have an 84 to 96, we can help but it is a PITA!
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Old Nov 5, 2006 | 02:06 PM
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its my friends 86
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Old Nov 5, 2006 | 02:09 PM
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It's a PIA, I get my 87 up on ramps and reach up...and I don't have skinny arms...very tight. I've heard removing the license plate is another way to get at them but I've never tried that.
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Old Nov 5, 2006 | 02:35 PM
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Remove the rear license plate then remove the backup light assemblies.

Reach in through the plate opening and remove the two 10mm screws that hold the inboard lamp housing to the rear facia. Small hands and arms help a bunch here!!

The bulb holder has two small clips that you have to push in and then turn the holder to release it. After may years, there is a lot of dirt that collects around the gasket so it may be hard to turn.

Once the inboard housing is out, then you can reach the outboard housing.

I would recommend replacing all 4 lights at the same time. The factory used a dielectric grease on the bulb base and that will have hardened over the years. The chances are good that you will snap the glass bulb from the base so wear gloves and have some needle-nose pliers on hand.

Scrape the old gunk from the housing and the contacts to insure a good connection. Get some Sylvania LL (long life) bulbs in the correct type (1157??) and install them using some new dilelectric grease and reassemble everything.

The lamp housings are plastic so you can put some spapy water in them and use a thin 1/2" paint brush to clean the inside.
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Old Nov 5, 2006 | 02:38 PM
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Remove the license plate and frame. Reach in and remove inboard light from the back. If that is the one with the bad bulb, you can stop there. If not, reach the outboard light through the hole for the inboard light. Don't remember what the size of the heads on the screws are.

Best thing is to replace all 4 bulbs while you are at it.
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Old Nov 5, 2006 | 05:13 PM
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St. Jude Donor '11-'12-'13
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Originally Posted by lefoy84
Remove the license plate and frame. Reach in and remove inboard light from the back. If that is the one with the bad bulb, you can stop there. If not, reach the outboard light through the hole for the inboard light. Don't remember what the size of the heads on the screws are.

Best thing is to replace all 4 bulbs while you are at it.
They sure did make it a PITA.
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Old Nov 5, 2006 | 05:15 PM
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Have your bud put one of these on his vette -- this is the tail of my "84" bulb changes are a snap-
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Old Nov 6, 2006 | 02:18 AM
  #9  
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St. Jude Donor '11-'12-'13
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Originally Posted by RICEKILA
Have your bud put one of these on his vette -- this is the tail of my "84" bulb changes are a snap-
84? Did you change the rear clip?
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Old Nov 6, 2006 | 06:35 PM
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Yep-- "89" fenders, sub-frame and tank with "91" glass rear.
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Old Nov 6, 2006 | 11:44 PM
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St. Jude Donor '11-'12-'13
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looks good
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