How To Replace A Taillight
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Whether you’ve been on the road a number of years or are just getting started driving, you’ll probably run into tail light malfunction at some point or another. It may seem difficult or intimidating, and your first instinct might be to run to a mechanic, but don’t fret! It’s actually much easier to replace a tail light than most people expect. While it’s vital that you drive with working tail lights at all times, it’s absolutely a procedure you can do yourself. That’s why CoPilot is here to walk you through how to replace a tail light in five simple steps!
How to Know When It’s Time
It’s really easy to tell when you need to change out your tail lights. Simply put, just look at how well they’re working. If your tail lights just outright don’t work, it’s clearly time to change them. However, sometimes they can be finicky and only work sometimes. Maybe they blink off and on every once in a while or only work some of the time.
Driving without functioning tail lights presents a safety hazard as well as a legal one. You want to avoid causing an accident or getting a ticket for something that’s easily fixable! Even though they’re still somewhat functional, you should replace them.
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What You’ll Need to Get Started
Thankfully, it really doesn’t take much to replace a tail light. All you need is a handful of simple materials, a few of which you may already have. With that being said, to change your tail light safely and quickly, make sure you have these materials on hand:
- Taillight bulbs (specific to your vehicle, so research what your car needs beforehand!)
- Safety goggles
- Gloves (nitrile is excellent if you can find some)
- Screwdriver or ratchet
- Bulb grease
Let’s change those taillights.
1. Safety first!
Just like with any other garage project you’d take on, safety comes first. Before you start:
- Ensure you have all the equipment we’ve listed above.
- Wear your nitrile gloves and safety goggles during the entire process so that you can prevent cuts, debris from getting into your eye, and oils being transferred from your skin onto the bulbs.
- Turn off the vehicle before beginning and disconnect the battery to ensure your safety and prevent electrical shock.
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2. Access the tail light
Now that we’ve gotten that out of the way let’s get into how to replace a tail light. The tail light is located in the trunk or rear hatch, depending on the type of vehicle you have. Either way, you must remove whatever stands between you and that tail light.
Certain vehicles, like pickup trucks, might have one more step here: removing the outside assembly to gain access to the tail light. For some cars, it might be an extra bit of padding, and others might even go as far as having a removable panel that you’ll need a screwdriver to take off. Whatever it may be, get through to the tail light itself to begin the next step.
3. Remove the bulb holders and replace the bulbs
Once you’re able to access the tail light, the following steps are to remove the bulb holders and then the bulbs themselves. You can find the bulb holders towards the back of the lamp and unscrew them by turning them clockwise, allowing you to touch the bulbs. Make sure you’re still wearing your nitrile gloves while doing this because you want to avoid interfering with the new bulbs’ functionality by getting them all oily or cut your hands while doing the work.
The cleaner the new bulbs are, the longer they’ll last and the more effective they’ll be. Remove the dead bulbs and use bulb grease on the new ones to make this step easier. Bulb grease will also help prevent corrosion over time, which is another plus. Now, you’ll install your new bulbs. Slide them into their socket by aligning the nodes on the bulbs with the nodes on the socket. This should be an easy step because tail light bulbs can only be inserted one way.
4. Remove and replace the tail light assembly
After replacing the bulbs, you’ll want to install your new tail light assembly. There should be a series of nuts that attach the tail light to the vehicle itself, which you’ll unscrew to take off the assembly. If needed, apply oils to the nuts to make them easier to remove. Age, weather, and general wear-and-tear on a vehicle can make these difficult to remove, so you’ll want to have some lubricant handy as an option. Once you’ve taken the nuts out, the entire tail light assembly should easily slide on out as well.
Next, take your new tail light assembly and slip it into the slot, doing the reverse of what you just did with the old assembly. Tighten the nuts to the vehicle with a ratchet, but be very careful: too tight, and you can cause the plastic that houses the piece to crack, potentially leading to significant issues down the road. Be cautious with the connectors as well, as they can be very fragile and break if mishandled.
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5. Finishing up
You’re almost done learning how to replace a tail light! To finish up the rest of the process, you’ll basically just repeat steps 1-3 in reverse order. Replace the bulb holders into their original positions, and then reassemble any fabric coverings or removable panels that you had to take off to get to the tail light in step 2. Reconnect the car battery, and you’re all set!
Congratulations, you now know how to replace a tail light. In order to ensure it works, you should turn your car back on and check out how the taillights, turn signal lights, and brake lights are working. If they look good, you should be ready to go!
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Can you replace a taillight by yourself?
Yes, as demonstrated by the guide provided above. Replacing a tail light bulb is generally a straightforward task that can be completed in a matter of minutes. However, some models may require you to remove the boot or boot lid to complete the replacement.
Q: How much can I save if I replace the taillight bulbs by myself?
Aftermarket tail light bulbs have a price range between $3 to $1,300. The brand, series, type, and vehicle model primarily dictate the price. For example, LED tail lights are generally more expensive than halogen bulbs because the former is more energy-efficient. Meanwhile, the labor cost to replace broken tail lights can range between $70 to $100, depending on the service location.
Q: Should I replace my broken taillights immediately?
Absolutely! If your tail light is not working, the other motorists will have trouble spotting your car, especially when it’s dark. Plus, driving with a broken tail light is illegal, and you can be fined up to $500. The best course of action is to replace the broken bulb immediately, otherwise, it’s just a matter of time before you get into an accident.
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