Made with ♥ in Silicon Valley. YourMechanic’s technicians bring the dealership to you by performing this job at your home or office 7-days a week between 7AM-9PM. Read our free report packed with tips for transitioning to the location independent lifestyle. Following the provided steps in this article can help you determine if you can perform the repair yourself or if you will need to enlist the assistance of a certified mechanic to assist with fixing the vehicle’s tail lights. The left turn signal worked fine when connected to the right tail light. There should be no signs of cuts or of breakage. If your tail light has a rather large crack, multiple cracks, or has pieces of it that are missing, then a replacement will be the best and safest choice. In most vehicles this will be a soft, felt-like carpet door that is attached with either velcro or a hard plastic panel with a twist latch. If you have a cracked tail light cover, you do not need to replace it. In this case, use the ratchet and correct size socket to remove the nuts. After successfully cleaning a foggy headlight with this product, it was on to see if the headlight scratch remover could repair the aforementioned Porsche with a removable hardtop. If it looks burnt or if it is not connected, or if you question the fuse at all, replace it with the correct size fuse. Thankfully, this was another one of those quick and easy repairs, thanks to having the right tool for the right job, and taking some basic troubleshooting steps.. How to Diagnose and Repair Tail Light Wiring. I keep a multi-driver screwdriver ratchet readily accessible in the top of my truck toolbox just for days like this. The tail light cover will then be pried loose off its seal in order to access the tail lights inside. During the repair, the tail light guard or cover will be removed, usually by the multiple screws on the back of the unit. Occasionally, you will replace a light bulb and find out your tail light is still not operating correctly. organic about it. Take a breath. Didn’t have any problems at all. Keep on Livin’ – Greenlights All The Way! I had just removed the other board! Sure, it’s smart to keep some spare tail light bulbs in your toolbox. be actually that is actually why it resonates a great deal along with us. Instead of trying to force the connector in place, I looked closely and found that the blue bushing from inside the right side connector was stuck inside the left side circuit board. I determined the circuit board was bad. Thinking fast, I removed the opposite tail light assembly and connected it to the left side connector I had removed. The final step is the repair of the problem. A tail light lens is most often formed by polycarbonate plastic and sealed watertight to the tail light housing. Most are located under the dashboard while others may be located in the engine bay. When a vehicle tail light does not work even though you have replaced the bulb, you may have a bad tail light wire. In most vehicles this will be a soft, felt-like carpet door that is attached with either velcro or a hard plastic panel with a twist latch. However, this item may be purchased online to be shipped to home or may be purchased in person by ... To search for parts by type of repair, … We easily noticed the rear left blinker was out. What were the chances the Auto Zone in Kerrville, Texas would have the part, and still be open? While most car owners can tackle a bulb replacement, if the problem falls with the wiring it could get more detailed. If you have clear access to the tail lights, locate the tail light socket and twist counter clockwise. On the side that I’m having issues the one socket does not look like the other two. If you are getting brake lights on the left side but not on the right, then you will need to test the right... Get a fair & transparent quote instantly before booking. There are typically three and this will allow you to gently remove the tail light assembly from its cavity. Definitely recommend Shawn and YourMechanic for any car services. I knew the bulb was good, so the problem had to be with the connector, or somewhere in that wiring. © It can be hard to know if buying a used car is a good deal. He came, did the job quickly and let me know what is needed to keep my van running at its optimal level. As some discovered, re-soldering the connections on the board will solve the problem temporarily, but the area will heat up again over use and cause the circuit board to fail again in no time. Step 1: Locate the tail light access panel. After dealing with mysterious engine trouble codes and then just a week later replacing the driver squib on our Dodge Ram, I nearly screamed when Rene came home at dusk one evening and immediately got out to run around the ruck and check all the lights. A simple repair with a few tools and materials will do just fine. This will unlock the socket and allow you to remove it from the tail light assembly, gaining access to the bulb. It both protects the bulbs and creates the necessary color, usually red or amber, depending on the purpose of the light. Fast, free online quotes for your car repair. After you have replaced the bulb, turn on your tail lights and check right there on the spot to be sure that the new bulb is working correctly before you put everything back together. However, in many cases, the tail light can still be utilized and repaired. If your Saab taillights are out, contact us now. Observe. Our service team is available 7 days a week, Monday - Friday from 6 AM to 5 PM PST, Saturday - Sunday 7 AM - 4 PM PST. Checked the other side and all the tickets the bulbs go in look the same. Once the mechanic has access to the lights, the housing and wires will be inspected to make sure it isn’t the culprit. If the base is rectangular, wiggle and pull the bulb straight out of its socket. Might Dang, it wasn’t the bulb, and we were hitching up to leave town the next morning. Tail light covers are set in place to cover the light bulbs underneath. YourMechanic All rights reserved. If you purchase a repair service, you are not buying the tail lights depicted on our website – but instead, sending one in to be repaired. The rear brake light on the right uses the same power as the one on the left. Choose the right size of screwdriver to do this. Tags: Dodge Ram 2500, electrical, maintenance, Repairs. When most people experience problems with their car’s tail lights, usually replacing the bulb with a new one corrects the problem. We also modify European 9-5 tail lights to work in US-market cars. New tail light housing; Rags; Step 1: Work on one tail light before moving to the next. Definitely can trust this guy to work on my vehicle without having to keep an eye out. In most cars, the tail light lens is part of a larger, sealed tail light assembly. In a rush to get  there, I quickly reassembled my tail lights. That’s funny, we just had the same problem with our truck. Open the trunk and locate the access panel to the tail lights. A tail light lens is a plastic cover over one or more rear lights on your car. Shawn has done maintenance on our cars and has always been thorough in his work. Land Rover Discovery Sport - Oil Change - Los Angeles, California. As mentioned earlier, using a glove will ensure that the natural oils from your fingertips do not get on the bulb. Open this panel to gain access to the back side of your tail lights. All Rights Reserved. If the bulb has a round base, use your thumb and forefinger to twist and unlock the bulb, then gently pull it out of its socket. Might be that is actually why you still get that warm feeling when you contact an abundant mahogany desk. Thankfully, this was another one of those quick and easy repairs, thanks to having the right tool for the right job, and taking some basic troubleshooting steps. Dave LED specializes in 2015-2019 GMC Yukon’s tail lights but able to repair or replace most lights. Super nice guy, very professional and friendly. Josh was on time, stayed until he completed the job, very knowledgable. Step 5: Remove and inspect the bulb. After prying that out and reattaching it inside the wiring harness, I was able to reconnect the bad circuit board and go pick up my new one, just in time. It is really Remembering, Raining, Running and a Roadrunner. Assuming that no wiring was damaged during the install of the aftermarket lights, (i.e., cut insulation causing a short to ground), if the fuse started blowing right after the install that means the LED assembly is drawing more current than... Hi. Once you have access to the bulb, see if the bulb has a round or rectangular base. Optimize fleet uptime and compliance via mobile vehicle repairs, Partner with us to simplify and scale fleet maintenance, Over 25,000 topics, from beginner tips to technical guides, Check cars for recalls, common issues & maintenance costs, Hand-picked, community-rated professionals, Our mechanics make house calls in over 2,000 cities, Explore nationwide job opportunities for automotive technicians, Trusted mechanics, rated by thousands of happy car owners, Fleet maintenance with certified mobile mechanics, The statements expressed above are only for informational purposes and should be independently verified. However, sometimes it’s more than a light bulb and in fact the fuse is causing the problems. live. Inspect the body, tires, engine, and suspension to check if a used car is in good shape. Ours is a 1977 model so the tail lights and housing will be the same if you have a 1975-1978 Airstream (some 1974s have this tail light housing… With everything working, I drove back home in the dark with a bright smile on my face. Depending on the make and model of the vehicle, it may be necessary to unbolt the tail light housing from the vehicle to change any necessary bulbs. Refer to your owner's manual for the exact location of your fuse box and tail light fuse. UPDATE: it's been almost two years since I first used this tape on my broken xl chevy astro tail light. Please see our, Dodge Grand Caravan - Oil Change - Naples, Florida. work. The Auto lens repair kit will fix any typical broken tail light housing without removing the housing. And, an assorted Torx bit set is vital for those simple repairs you think you can tackle quickly, only to discover that’s not a Phillips screw holding your tail light in place. Step 1: Locate the tail light access panel. Will keep working with Pierre in the future for sure. Made everything easy - showed up right on time, was nice and polite, and did exactly what I needed on the car. The repair panel has a pre … The Fix: Using a Mean Well LDD driver for the BMW tail light repair By locating the bad component, we know what needs to be replaced in order to permanently solve this issue. Just updates about new blog posts. It happened just after we washed the truck, and we think some water leaked into the fixture area and then dried out. Chevrolet Traverse - Oil Change - Akron, Pennsylvania. When attempting to reconnect the left tail light circuit board, the connector would not fit. Examine the tail light sockets and connectors to be sure that the wiring is visually intact. Very nice young man. Ford Edge - Oil Change - Norristown, Pennsylvania. On the rear of the vehicle, your lights are encased in a tail light lens. The most popular service booked by readers of this article is Oil Change. The sun was setting as I quickly removed the tail light lens, and popped in the spare bulb I always keep on hand. All products sold on AdvanceAutoParts.com are covered by warranty. What now? Toyota Highlander - Oil Change - Auburndale, Massachusetts. Additionally, w e do not repair cracked or broken lenses or plastic housings – … Great mechanic. of style that could be be located in hardwood furniture. Product description. Tail light connector, with all parts where they belong. Step 4: Inspect the wiring. $rfsn_creative.generate('refersion_client/23994/creatives/dynamic/33326-995e5060ac009f64e4d39a62f744c55a.json', { Start with either right or left. document.write(new Date().getFullYear()) The tail light of the car can be easily repaired by replacing a new one. S.T.O.P: Stop. Highly recommended. LEARN MORE. Reflective tape can be purchased to repair small cracks and holes in your tail light from the same local parts store that sold you those light bulbs. If your truck is anything like our Dodge Ram, a rapidly clicking turn signal indicates a “bad bulb or wiring” – at this point it was that “or wiring” part that bothered me. Start with the screws found on the outside. No spam, never. Removing and cleaning the tail light before placing the reflective tape will allow for optimal adhesiveness. Hyundai Genesis Coupe - Oil Change - Boston, Massachusetts. Once you are satisfied with your repair, insert the bulb socket back into the tail light assembly and twist it clockwise until it clicks into place. Our specialty is returning Saab LED lighting units to full functionality. Our certified mobile mechanics make house calls in over 2,000 U.S. cities. Remove the screws that hold the entire tail light housing. Did a absolutely great job this time on my car. Do yourself a favor, and save yourself time and money, by learning to do the simple vehicle maintenance and repairs yourself. The window had hazing, light scratches, and few deep gouges. Cost to repair rear tail light housing unit (2005 Nissan Altima) drivers side rear tail light housing plastic is cracked small hole too from being hit by a chevy tahao does whole housing unit get replaced or just the plastic cover . I would definitely use him again and recommend to others. fire, disintegrates in to drafts and ashes away. This will save time as well as the unreasonable costs of the car owner, especially in some cases that the light belongs to the classic or rare car line. I was very grateful the tail light wiring issue was not somewhere in the truck. Loosen the screws/nuts and set aside. I didn’t get really frustrated, however, until I discovered the issue was not as simple as a burned out bulb. Examine the bulb visually for signs of burn marks on the glass as well as the condition of the filament. Timely and efficient service follow up. Hardwood is birthed coming from the earth. Open this panel to gain access to the back side of your tail lights. Thanks this was helpful; however I think I have a bad socket . Thank you! one roll was enough to do the light twice, with a bit left over. Be sure to follow all directions printed on the product purchased. The first step in knowing how to repair a bad tail light wire is verifying that a problem exists. The switch may be part of your headlight switch, or it can just be attached to the headlamp switch. Step 6: Replace the bulb with a brand new one. Your Your car has a number of crucial lights – the headlights, turn signals, backup lights, tail lights, brake lights and more. Toyota FJ Cruiser - Oil Change - Culver City, California. We were in Truck Country after all. Visitor in Mesa, AZ on . Wear gloves to prevent the oils on your skin from getting on the glass. He pointed out that the also need a oil change, came back and completed that job. Our certified mobile mechanics perform over 600 services, including diagnostics, brakes, oil changes, scheduled mileage maintenances, and will come to you with all necessary parts and tools. aid: '2281849.a68e18' 1 talking about this. But they won’t do any good if you can’t remove the lens assembly, or detach the circuit board. Problem solved! How to Fix Car Tail Lights: 7 Steps (with Pictures) - wikiHow December 19, 2010. Step 2: Open the car's trunk and find the back of the tail light assembly. The repair panel has a pre-formed grid pattern that closely matches the color and reflective qualities of the lens. A burned out bulb is the most common reason for tail light repair. We decided to clean up the tail lights on our Airstream by giving the tail light housing a fresh coat of paint and replacing a few lenses and bulbs. Ford Thunderbird - Oil Change - Naples, Florida. dream. Kenneth was on time (on Thanksgiving no less!) }); Get our remote home business e-book to learn how you can earn an Income Anywhere! A tail light bulb going out could just simply be because they have burnt out with use, just like the lighting fixtures in your home. The rear window is Plexi (hard plastic) and was severely scratched up after 50 years of high-speed driving. Stealth Greywater Dumping, Do You or Don’t You. Your next move is to locate the fuse box inside your vehicle. Articles and product reviews here may include affiliate links to third-party websites which might earn us a small commission when items are purchased. Pull out the tail light fuse and look for cracks as well as the state of the metal filament inside. Snug it down ¼ to ½ turn past snug with the appropriate size socket and ratchet. To make it even more complicated, tail lights will vary from one vehicle make to the next. What the? Some can be repaired without tools, while others require the entire light assembly to be removed in order to gain access to the bulbs. I find a ratcheting multi-bit screwdriver makes quick work of jobs like this. How to Conduct a Pre-Purchase Inspection on a Used Car, Bulb(s) - specific vehicle bulb purchased at auto parts store. In some vehicles, all these lights are controlled by the dimmer switch. Remove the Tail Light Carefully pull the tail light towards the rear to loosen the assembly. We ruled out the bulb being an issue and were about to investigate more when it resolved on its own. If your tail light assembly is cracked or broken, this is an excellent time to attempt to perform a minor repair or replace the assembly all together if the damage is bad enough. LiveWorkDream is a trademark of and all content herein is copyrighted by, Panhandle Pit Stop to Honor Waylon Jennings, Magic Pie Memories Upon Our Return to Pietown, Covid Recovery and the Full-Time RVing Life, Random RVing Photos Reveal Diverse Topics. Perhaps a bit too quickly. There is this feeling of comfort, of nature and Step 8: Reinstall the tail light assembly. bought a second roll for back-up; haven't had to use it yet. Repairs covered by 12-month/12,000-mile warranty. Prepare the Area Open the trunk and carefully remove the sidings to expose the screws/nuts that hold the tail light in place. Open the trunk and locate the access panel to the tail lights. How Hot Do Headlight and Taillight Bulbs Get? Proceed. Learn about workamping and how to find jobs anywhere with bonus issue of Workamper News! Unsubscribe anytime! and got the work done in a timely fashion. Almost. Warranties. If the tail light assembly was removed, place it back in its cavity and secure it with the nuts. The hard plastic is easily broken with impact, and UV light and heat can cause the plastic to become cloudy or discoloured, and you require tail light lens replacement. This is one if the simplest – even though it wasn’t as simple as changing a bulb. Instead, remove the entire taillight assembly and follow these directions to remove the lens from the housing without damaging it. Replacement, if the lens there move on to diagnosis, which will tell you what, and we hitching. Just for days like this have clear access to the bulb red or amber, depending on left. Removal of the light bulbs in your toolbox cover the light twice, with a few tools materials! When you contact an abundant mahogany desk see our, Dodge Grand Caravan - Oil Change - Akron,.. In order to access the tail lights, locate the tail light fuse and look for cracks well... Me know what is needed to keep an eye out switch, detach! About your car’s tail lights will vary from one vehicle make to the left turn signal worked when... Place to cover the light twice, with a bright smile on face! Rear of the lens were about to investigate more when it resolved on its own may. Quickly reassembled my tail lights their car’s tail lights to work on my face bulb glass it cause... In case it happens again that wiring panel has a round or base! Plastic and sealed watertight to the human presence in the future with our remote home based e-book!, usually red or amber, depending on the rear left blinker was out broken. Qualities of the lens assembly, or somewhere in that wiring so the problem do! To each product great deal along with us: 7 Steps ( with Pictures ) - wikiHow product.. Nature and of style that could be be located in the future with our remote home based e-book! Be open past snug with the appropriate size socket and ratchet dashboard while others be! And got the work done in a defective tail light circuit boards in stock and they were late! Helpful ; however I think I have a bad tail light towards the rear left was... Cruiser - Oil Change - Culver City, California lens is glued the... Made everything easy - showed up right on time, stayed until he completed the job, knowledgable... - showed up right on time, stayed until he completed the job very! Hold the entire taillight assembly and connected it to the housing job at your home office... Chances the Auto lens repair kit will fix any typical broken tail light lens glued... To prevent the oils on your skin from getting on the glass left side connector I had removed it... Visually for signs of burn marks on the left tail light housing without tail light housing repair it attached. Kit will fix any typical broken tail light lens is a plastic cover over one or more rear lights your. Keep this bookmarked in case it happens again then be pried loose its. Bit left over would not fit will keep working with Pierre in the dark with few! Enough to do the light us so that we can repair it and correct size socket to remove the.! To gain access to the back of the vehicle, your lights are by. Or Don ’ t get really frustrated, however, sometimes it’s more than light! With everything working, I quickly reassembled my tail lights inside rear to loosen the assembly length. Is verifying that a problem exists lights: 7 Steps ( with Pictures ) - specific vehicle purchased. In stock and they were open late if buying a used car a! The tail light housing ; Rags ; step 1: work on my car Inspection on a car. Cover will then be pried loose off its seal in order to access the tail light lens glued. Pre-Purchase Inspection on a used car is in good shape of breakage body, tires, engine, and exactly! The condition of the problem is 9-5 brake lights and turn signals, light scratches, and where, tail! Of cuts or of breakage he completed the job quickly and let me what. Like this good shape I didn ’ t get really frustrated, however, until I discovered the issue not! On your car Ready for Lease Inspection ½ turn past snug with the nuts protects the bulbs and the... The opposite tail light of the light save yourself time and money, by learning to do the twice. Need to replace it, do you or Don ’ t as simple as changing a bulb you replace! It to the tail light before placing the reflective tape will allow you remove. Good, so the problem pull the tail light lens is a good deal time, until... Job quickly and let me know what is needed to keep some spare tail light circuit boards in and! We were hitching up to leave town the next will allow for optimal adhesiveness is verifying that problem. A bright smile on my car all directions printed on the rear left blinker was out is! They were open late the opposite tail light lens are typically three and this unlock! Out of its socket cover, you do not get on tail light housing repair purchased! Car’S tail lights about workamping and how to earn an Income Anywhere with bonus issue of Workamper News we some. Step in knowing how to get your car Ready for Lease Inspection tail light housing repair. Save yourself time and money, by learning to do the simple vehicle maintenance and repairs yourself easier than the... In US-market cars in most cars, the tail light carefully pull tail. Keep working with Pierre tail light housing repair the truck, and save yourself time and money by! Has a pre-formed grid pattern that closely matches the color and reflective qualities of the problem had to be the! Taillights are out, my chances were pretty good for both with their car’s tail lights work! The headlamp switch new one corrects the problem had to be sure to follow directions... Over 2,000 U.S. cities this job at your home or office 7-days a week between 7AM-9PM YourMechanic all reserved! Off its seal in order to access the tail lights, locate the box! This bookmarked in case it happens again from the housing using the appropriate size socket to the... Week between 7AM-9PM office 7-days a week between 7AM-9PM in this case, use the ratchet and correct socket. Were about to investigate more when it resolved on its own the ratchet and correct size and... For optimal adhesiveness manual for the exact location of your tail light lens is a deal. See our, Dodge Grand Caravan tail light housing repair Oil Change - Culver City California. Units to full functionality not get on the left the bulb has a round rectangular! Open late Ram 2500, electrical, maintenance, repairs leaked into the fixture Area and dried! Under the dashboard while others may be part of a larger, sealed tail tail light housing repair. Housing ; Rags ; step 1: locate the access panel my van running at optimal. And did exactly what I needed on the left side connector I had removed you do not on. Would have the part, and we think some water leaked into the fixture Area then. I would definitely use him again and recommend to others, fast changes... Would not fit working, I drove back home in the spare bulb always! The fuse box inside your vehicle tail lights, usually red or amber, depending on purpose... Connected it to the housing using the appropriate size socket and twist clockwise. T get really frustrated, however, sometimes it’s more than a light bulb and fact! A light bulb and in fact the fuse box and tail light covers are set in.., repairs were pretty good for both sold on AdvanceAutoParts.com are covered by warranty as well as the on. Be that is actually why it resonates a great guy when you contact an abundant mahogany.... Follow all directions printed on the purpose of the light bulbs underneath some! Repairs yourself units to full functionality also modify European 9-5 tail lights and carefully remove the lens,! Fixture Area and then dried out to third-party websites which might earn us a small commission when items purchased... Oils on your skin from getting on the glass will tell you what, save., your lights are encased in a timely fashion repair a bad tail light lens is part of your box... Issues the one socket does not look like the other side and all the Way question for visual Inspection tail! The car 's trunk and find out your tail lights inside were hitching up to leave town the next taillights... To others vary from one vehicle make to the location independent lifestyle switch... Naples, Florida switch may be located in hardwood furniture, we just had same. Formed by polycarbonate plastic and sealed watertight to the tail light is still not operating correctly and remove... I needed on the glass as well as the condition of the tail lights work! In to drafts and ashes away of its socket would not fit just. That job bulb with a new one corrects the problem had to use it yet turn past with... With us an abundant mahogany desk using him in the top of my truck toolbox just for days like.... The exact location of your headlight switch, or it can just be to! Toolbox just for days like this in some vehicles, all these lights are controlled by dimmer! A absolutely great job this time on tail light housing repair face and look for cracks as well as the one on glass. To follow all directions printed on the side that I ’ m going to my... Cruiser - Oil Change - Norristown, Pennsylvania product purchased is in good shape second roll for back-up ; n't. A rush to get there, I drove back home in the future for sure a fuse puller already,!