Changing the Third Brake Light Bulbs...
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jan 2000
Posts: 1,159
Likes: 0
From: member since Jan 2000
Re: Changing the Third Brake Light Bulbs... (GoodbyeGirl)
not that hard - just be reeely reeeeely careful about not scratching your paint :eek:
i placed a terry cloth towel between the opposing surfaces (you'll see!)
open the hatch and you'll find two Torx bolts that hold the housing in place.
undo them and whalla.
the bulbs (#891) are kinda fancy with a wee bit of a price tag though :)
i placed a terry cloth towel between the opposing surfaces (you'll see!)
open the hatch and you'll find two Torx bolts that hold the housing in place.
undo them and whalla.
the bulbs (#891) are kinda fancy with a wee bit of a price tag though :)
Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 2,107
Likes: 0
From: Austin TX
Re: Changing the Third Brake Light Bulbs... (GoodbyeGirl)
This is how I changed mine.
- disconnect the rear defrost wires carefully
- pop metal clips off the gas cyl. ball/socket (on the window side).
- have someone hold the hatch and pop off the cylinders (hatch is a bit heavy). This will allow easy access to torx bolts underneath. You can actually flip the hatch vertically and use a power driver with a torx bit to zip the bolts out.
- lift up hatch and remove bolts
- carefully close hatch, disassemble brake light assembly and replace bulb.
If you have a right angle torx, you may be able to do this without removing the gas cylinders.
Good luck!
[Modified by pzoom, 11:20 AM 7/16/2002]
- disconnect the rear defrost wires carefully
- pop metal clips off the gas cyl. ball/socket (on the window side).
- have someone hold the hatch and pop off the cylinders (hatch is a bit heavy). This will allow easy access to torx bolts underneath. You can actually flip the hatch vertically and use a power driver with a torx bit to zip the bolts out.
- lift up hatch and remove bolts
- carefully close hatch, disassemble brake light assembly and replace bulb.
If you have a right angle torx, you may be able to do this without removing the gas cylinders.
Good luck!
[Modified by pzoom, 11:20 AM 7/16/2002]
Team Owner
Joined: Mar 2000
Posts: 83,381
Likes: 87
From: Boston, MA
This is what I do.
-Get torx socket (I think its the same size as the roof one).
-Pop hatch
-Sit in hatch
-Remove 2 Torx bolts
-Close hatch
-Gently pry brake light housing off of hatch
-Remove 2 phillips screws on bottom of light housing
-Seperate housings
-Yank dead bulb with fingers
-Wrap fingers with syran wrap
-Install new bolb
-Reverse for install
Don't touch the new bulb with you fingers. The oil on your hands can easily burn up and cause the new bulb(s) to meltdown.
-Get torx socket (I think its the same size as the roof one).
-Pop hatch
-Sit in hatch
-Remove 2 Torx bolts
-Close hatch
-Gently pry brake light housing off of hatch
-Remove 2 phillips screws on bottom of light housing
-Seperate housings
-Yank dead bulb with fingers
-Wrap fingers with syran wrap
-Install new bolb
-Reverse for install
Don't touch the new bulb with you fingers. The oil on your hands can easily burn up and cause the new bulb(s) to meltdown.
Thread Starter
Safety Car
Joined: Jul 1999
Posts: 4,833
Likes: 1
From: Castle Rock CO
Cruise-In III Veteran
Re: Changing the Third Brake Light Bulbs... (GoodbyeGirl)
As always, you guys are very helpful, thank you! :) I'll give it a whirl this weekend when I have some time.
[Modified by GoodbyeGirl, 9:36 AM 7/16/2002]
[Modified by GoodbyeGirl, 9:36 AM 7/16/2002]
