Replacing Rear Side Marker Lights - HOW TO GUIDE!

[DustinB]

Hey all, my rear driver side marker light is no longer functional. I searched the forums for a few days but couldn't find a write up of anyone having replaced this. I've ordered the replacement part ($70 later) and am waiting for it to arrive. Has anyone replaced one of these that can provide a basic guide? If not I guess I'll be creating a guide on here

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[DustinB]

Alright I replaced the light. It's a pretty easy process, although I did have to remove a portion of the wheel well liner to make it happen. The light is entirely pressure clipped in at the top, but I was unable to get enough space between the fender and the light to pull it out. I had to undo the liner, and then get my fingers in there to push on the top two clips. That gave me enough space to get a tool in there to then leverage the piece out. Photos to help anyone else:

New part:

How the light looks from the back. Plug is on the bottom side of the light.

Remove four plastic clips in the rear well fender and pull the liner out. You can then get your hand back in there to push on the two upper plastic clips.

You will still need a tool to wedge behind the light and fully unclip it.

Picture of the light removed. You can see that the only access you have to the light from the inside are the top two clips and the bottom electrical plug.

Old light removed - definitely not a happy camper. I tried cleaning up the contacts and putting some dielectric grease in there, but sadly still nothing. New one works perfect.

 

[ipca204]

i am guessing you were out of the warranty period?

 

[txaggies07]

Alright I replaced the light. It's a pretty easy process, although I did have to remove a portion of the wheel well liner to make it happen. The light is entirely pressure clipped in at the top, but I was unable to get enough space between the fender and the light to pull it out. I had to undo the liner, and then get my fingers in there to push on the top two clips. That gave me enough space to get a tool in there to then leverage the piece out. Photos to help anyone else:

New part:

How the light looks from the back. Plug is on the bottom side of the light.

Remove four plastic clips in the rear well fender and pull the liner out. You can then get your hand back in there to push on the two upper plastic clips.

You will still need a tool to wedge behind the light and fully unclip it.

Picture of the light removed. You can see that the only access you have to the light from the inside are the top two clips and the bottom electrical plug.

Old light removed - definitely not a happy camper. I tried cleaning up the contacts and putting some dielectric grease in there, but sadly still nothing. New one works perfect.

Thank you for documenting for others that may need it.

 

[DustinB]

i am guessing you were out of the warranty period?

Yes the car was out of warranty unfortunately. It has since been written off in a car accident.

 

[CHILINMATRIX]

Does anyone know how to install these lights on the front?

https://www.ebay.com/itm/3877096273...4orwvnlrpy&var=&widget_ver=artemis&media=COPY

 

[Jeff-NoVA]

Does anyone know how to install these lights on the front?

https://www.ebay.com/itm/3877096273...4orwvnlrpy&var=&widget_ver=artemis&media=COPY

Buy the similar set from EV-Vida. Fronts come with the appropriate harness (you have to wire them up to the headlights since OEM ones are just unpowered reflectors).

 

[teach42]

Any tips or video for popping out the clips in the wheel well? Just put something under it and pry them out? I've broken so many clips on things in the past, I don't want to start prying without knowing if there's some kind of trick LOL

 

[Jeff-NoVA]

Any tips or video for popping out the clips in the wheel well? Just put something under it and pry them out? I've broken so many clips on things in the past, I don't want to start prying without knowing if there's some kind of trick LOL

Just remove a couple of the screws in the wheel well and then gently pull the trim and it should pull out. I did not have to fully remove the fender trim, just pull it enough behind the wheel to get my fingers behind the side marker

Below are a couple of pics I just took of the OEM side marker. As you can see, it is primarily clipped in at the top so if you can just get behind it and give it a little push from the bottom it should pop out.

 

[teach42]

Just remove a couple of the screws in the wheel well and then gently pull the trim and it should pull out. I did not have to fully remove the fender trim, just pull it enough behind the wheel to get my fingers behind the side marker

Below are a couple of pics I just took of the OEM side marker. As you can see, it is primarily clipped in at the top so if you can just get behind it and give it a little push from the bottom it should pop out.

Hmmmm.... I didn't see any screws in the wheel well, rather what looks like plastic rivets. I'll look more closely when I get home. That's the part I was trying ot figure out.

 

[Jeff-NoVA]

Hmmmm.... I didn't see any screws in the wheel well, rather what looks like plastic rivets. I'll look more closely when I get home. That's the part I was trying ot figure out.

You are absolutely right, they are plastic rivets. Was trying to go off a memory before! I only had to remove these two circled in the picture. Just be careful you don’t pull the fender out very far because it’s just plastic.

 

[teach42]

And do they just pop right out if you pry them? Didn't want to break them if possible

 

[Jeff-NoVA]

And do they just pop right out if you pry them? Didn't want to break them if possible

Yes, it pops out quite easily. As long as you remember the tab at the top and don't try to pull or push that out you would be hard pressed (no pun intended) to break it.

 

[teach42]

LOL, I'm feeling really dense right now, but not sure what you mean by "As long as you remember the tab at the top and don't try to pull or push that out."

 

[Jeff-NoVA]

LOL, I'm feeling really dense right now, but not sure what you mean by "As long as you remember the tab at the top and don't try to pull or push that out."

The one place you cannot push or pry it out is as the very top of the marker, because that's where there's a tab locking it into the fender. So push from the bottom or middle (if pushing from behind), or pry it with a trim tool from anywhere but the top.

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