I just got in my new tail lights and want to install them. I can't figure out how to remove the origial lights. Are there screws somewhere or do I need to take some of the panneling off the back to do it?

 

They remove really easily with a 10mm ratchet wrench or a small socket wrench. Just pop the little vented panels in the hatch (pretty much touching the tails) and reach in to locate the big wire harness. Squeeze that off and push it out of the way.

Then locate the two nuts, pretty much the only ones there. When they get loose, FINISH WITH YOUR FINGERS. If you drop the nut, it goes someplace really mysterious and never comes out

DONE!

 

Thank yee....I had a feelign it was those nuts I was looking at. Now I gotta go buy a 10mm socket cause all I got is as high as a 6!

 

i did a dyi Click Here

 

I changed my taillights. As said earlier, there are two (if I remember right) of those 10mm bolts per light. You must unhook the electrical connector to each light too. If I remember right those are connected to the center bulb.

As a hint, don't remove any of the three bulbs untill you remove the old lights. Then switch the bulbs between the old and new taillight housings. Install new taillights, then bolt back in. You also need a rachet that will fit easily behind the access panel.

This was a little difficult for me to do because I have big hands. I did this 2 months ago. So I'm operating from memory.

Good luck.

 

I am so ____ed!

I was installing the new lights and I somehow tore a little peice of the paper stuff and now my red lights arn't workign!

I guess the paper backing has somthing to do with making contact between the lights because I had to put my original tailights back on and the bulb works so its not the bulb blown.

http://photos.imageevent.com/aquakee...e/MVC-012F.JPG
http://photos.imageevent.com/aquakee...e/MVC-013F.JPG

Any ideas?
Damnit!

 

It looks like it's circuit foil so you probably severed the connection. Just think of it as one big flat wire. When you rip one piece off, there's no more continuity for the current to flow. If this really was the case then you probably just need to solder a wire to jumper both of the contact surfaces together to make a connection. No biggie really. Try it, and see if it works.

 

I've got a left tail I dropped and cracked the lens. I'm going to experiment on painting them, and If it fails, I will gladly donate my circuit board to you. L or R. Who made your new lights? have you compared it with the stock circuit board to see if they can be swapped?

 

I was waiting for a thread like this to come along. I was wondering the same thing, those bolts are so hard to get at. I dont have any midget didgets working in my favor. As far as the nuts falling into the hole. I laid a towel down and stuffed up all the possible cracks. Works real well.

That website sucks...no nekid ladies.

 

Ah yo, it's a major pain in the ___ to take those bolts off.

 

cuz your not looking hard enough!

 

The lights are made by JDM and I messed up the passenger side light. The ones that came off the stock lights look fairly similiar to the ones on the new lights. I contimplated taking the film off and trying it but figured if I did that and it didn't work then Id be out of both lights and couldn't be drinving around with no brake lights.

Any idea of JDM sells a replacement circuit strip or somthing. I did a search but found nothing on replacement parts.

 

i bought the jdm altezza as well. my passenger backup does not work.will be returning for an exchange..by the way. make sure to turn the all the bulbs as far as they go, at first i was not making the proper contact.

the TYC looks like a different setup for the lights.gonna reconsidder buying them..to dam expensive dough..does anybody know a good place for a discount?

 

Im sure it has somthing to do with that tiny peice of paper that tore of the top of the circuit....I got no ideas how to fit it and make it last too.

I can't find anyone selling a replacement circuit strip either!

Would hate to see $90 down the drain because of a rip in the back-side of a cheap paper circuit strip!

 

have you tried tinfoil?

 

Yeah, those things are usually custom made so getting a replacement is pretty much next to impossible. The only thing I would try is to solder either a jumper wire to connect both sides of the circuit foil, or solder a wire to the bulb contact and then splice it with another appropriate wire. You really only need the housing to hold your bulbs anyway. You can always get creative in how you want to power your bulbs. :D

 

Just so you know, "JDM" isn't a company, it's an adjective. It means "Japanese Domestic Market," which just means something's japanese.

 

hmm so you think changing the tail lights is a pain in the ___ because you have such a small space to work in. um relatively young but i used to think ____ like that was a royal pain in the ___... since then i joined the USAF and started workin on helicopters. i would appreciate a job as easy as changing the tail on my xb, only because ive had to remove some nuts and bolts, and work in the most twisted up, screwed up, places upside down and backwards without seeing what im doing. thats what i call fun!!

 

sorry i just thought of one more thing....

for example... ive been at work since 11pm, it is now 5:45 am and i am home on my lunch break. From the time i got there, till now, me and 2, yes 2 other guys have been working to get 2 bolts into the nutplates on a heater.

i know that provokes you to say that we are just plain retarted. well actually no, some ____ just sucks like that. awesome

 

To me the dyi was pretty easy.
hope everyone used a socket extension which made it easier.