1. Welcome to Tacoma World!

    You are currently viewing as a guest! To get full-access, you need to register for a FREE account.

    As a registered member, you’ll be able to:
    • Participate in all Tacoma discussion topics
    • Communicate privately with other Tacoma owners from around the world
    • Post your own photos in our Members Gallery
    • Access all special features of the site

Tail light replacement - help please !!!

Discussion in 'Lighting' started by bruff, Jan 17, 2008.

  1. Jan 17, 2008 at 6:22 PM
    #1
    bruff

    bruff [OP] New Member

    Joined:
    Jan 17, 2008
    Member:
    #4306
    Messages:
    4
    Vehicle:
    o5 tacoma prerunner sr5
    I have a 05 Tacoma Prerunner SR5 and the right taillight is burned out.

    I can't figure out how to take off the taillight cover or get to the bulb from the inside...

    Help please..

    Thank you for all help offered

    JBA - Phoenix
     
  2. Jan 17, 2008 at 6:29 PM
    #2
    tacomaman06

    tacomaman06 Carolina Alliance: Enforcer

    Joined:
    May 1, 2007
    Member:
    #1475
    Messages:
    26,212
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Will
    York,South Carolina
    Vehicle:
    '16 Tundra TRD Pro
    getting there....
    there should be two 10mm screws/bolts, top and bottom, remove those and then you have to pull pretty hard straight out, basically the lights are held in by a "friction guide", pin type deal. just pull out carefully once you've removed the screws.
     
  3. Jan 17, 2008 at 7:00 PM
    #3
    The_Hodge

    The_Hodge Volunteer Moderator

    Joined:
    Apr 27, 2007
    Member:
    #1432
    Messages:
    31,629
    Gender:
    Male
    SC
    Vehicle:
    15 Lariat Sport 5.0L
    Seeing the third gen section forced me to get a Ford...
    side note...the screws are inside the bed where the tailgate normally is when its up.
     
  4. Jan 17, 2008 at 7:02 PM
    #4
    tacomaman06

    tacomaman06 Carolina Alliance: Enforcer

    Joined:
    May 1, 2007
    Member:
    #1475
    Messages:
    26,212
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Will
    York,South Carolina
    Vehicle:
    '16 Tundra TRD Pro
    getting there....


    thanks for adding that jhodge, i forgot to mention that tidbit:eek:!!
     
  5. Jan 17, 2008 at 7:08 PM
    #5
    bruff

    bruff [OP] New Member

    Joined:
    Jan 17, 2008
    Member:
    #4306
    Messages:
    4
    Vehicle:
    o5 tacoma prerunner sr5
    I just looked at the plastic taillight cover and ther are no screws to be removed.

    In other trucks I have had, you get at the back of the bulb inside the fender, on my truck, I have the factory installed plastic bed and there does not appear a way to get into the fender in back of the bulb. The only opening in the plastic bed is where the 120 volt outlet is located, maybe I have to go in through that opening..

    There does appear to be two slots at the very edge of the plastic lens cover where a flat bladed screwdriver could be inserted.. I am a little afraid to try prying it off, a new plastic lens cover is probably 100 bucks...

    This really has me stumped, I never ran into something like this before..

    jba - Phoenix
     
  6. Jan 17, 2008 at 7:11 PM
    #6
    The_Hodge

    The_Hodge Volunteer Moderator

    Joined:
    Apr 27, 2007
    Member:
    #1432
    Messages:
    31,629
    Gender:
    Male
    SC
    Vehicle:
    15 Lariat Sport 5.0L
    Seeing the third gen section forced me to get a Ford...

    just drop the tailgate and u should see 2 screws on the inside edges of where the bed/tailgate meet. the screws are like 12" apart. just remove those 2 screws and u can pull the entire lens out
     
  7. Jan 17, 2008 at 7:26 PM
    #7
    bruff

    bruff [OP] New Member

    Joined:
    Jan 17, 2008
    Member:
    #4306
    Messages:
    4
    Vehicle:
    o5 tacoma prerunner sr5
    I am getting closer!!!

    I have 1 bolt at the top and 2 bolts almost in verticial line near the bottom of the opening, 1 slightly closer to the rear than the other... which of the 2 bottom bolts do I remove??

    A thousand thanks to everyone for all the help...

    JBA - Phoenix
     
  8. Jan 17, 2008 at 7:42 PM
    #8
    The_Hodge

    The_Hodge Volunteer Moderator

    Joined:
    Apr 27, 2007
    Member:
    #1432
    Messages:
    31,629
    Gender:
    Male
    SC
    Vehicle:
    15 Lariat Sport 5.0L
    Seeing the third gen section forced me to get a Ford...
    i'm locked in work, so i cant get out there and look...but if both bolts look exactly the same as the first, then try one and see...if not, then try the other...that is if no one else answers
     
  9. Jan 17, 2008 at 8:05 PM
    #9
    sunruner19

    sunruner19 Senior Senile Member

    Joined:
    Dec 22, 2006
    Member:
    #546
    Messages:
    312
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Bill
    Great Sacandaga Lake region Northville NY, South Y
    Vehicle:
    09 Tacoma 4WD
    supercharger, ARE series 2 lid.
    This is a great mystery here as to why there are 3 bolts. Two bolts hold the tailight assembly. The third bolt actually holds nothing that I can see, but it just screws into a welded nut. If you pull all three out, there is no harm done as far as I can see and the taillight should come out. Do not pry on the lens with a screwdriver as the lens itself is glue welded to the body of the tail light assembly. Afterwards, make a mental note as to which bolts hold in the assembly and you will only have to remove two.
     
  10. Jan 19, 2008 at 11:20 AM
    #10
    bruff

    bruff [OP] New Member

    Joined:
    Jan 17, 2008
    Member:
    #4306
    Messages:
    4
    Vehicle:
    o5 tacoma prerunner sr5
    Thank You everyone very much!!!!!

    Just fixed it and your instructions were perfect...

    As was said, that third bolt does nothing, but, I'll bet it has something to do with that gate that you can get that swings out and lays on the tailgate when it is down.. Just a thought...

    It has been a loooong time since I changed a taillight and I had a difficult time getting the bulb out of the socket,,, never saw a flat end on a bulb before.. Like I said, it has been a while..

    Thank again everybody,,, you were great!!

    Jim Andrews - Phoenix
     
  11. Jan 19, 2008 at 12:05 PM
    #11
    sunruner19

    sunruner19 Senior Senile Member

    Joined:
    Dec 22, 2006
    Member:
    #546
    Messages:
    312
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Bill
    Great Sacandaga Lake region Northville NY, South Y
    Vehicle:
    09 Tacoma 4WD
    supercharger, ARE series 2 lid.
    I think Bruff stumbled on something about that mystery 3rd bolt. I believe that is what its used for. So if this is true, then He taught us something.

    I am a former shade tree mechanic now referred to as a rolling computerized, misconglobulating thingamagig designed by engineers who never worked on a car Tech. Give me the old days when, if your car broke down, you could fix it on the side of the road and git goin agin.
     
  12. Jan 19, 2008 at 12:57 PM
    #12
    concrete jedi

    concrete jedi Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Oct 20, 2007
    Member:
    #3142
    Messages:
    2,734
    Rochester N.Y
    Vehicle:
    06 Tacoma 4 door indigo blue
    Broken and scratched tailgate, cracked rear tail light lens, coffee stain in driver seat.
    Funny you should say this, a friend of mine got so fed up with the new stuff on cars and trucks he went backwards, bought a sweet '54 GMC 4x4 and fixed it the way he wanted it, carries a few small parts/tools and away he goes.
     

Products Discussed in

To Top