Replacing Third Brake Light

So I bought some smoked LED tail lights and third brake light off ebay. The tail lights were a breeze to install, but when I got to the third brake light, I realized that I'm probably gonna have to take the headliner down and remove the nuts to the light from the inside. Correct me if I'm wrong, but I would like to know the best way to install this thing. Pics will be up as soon as I get a chance.

 

nope, no need to take down headliner. just take the screws out and pull the lens off. those 2 screws go into 2 anchors, the spreading kind like for drywall. they are square and white. after you take the lens off, pop those 2 square white anchors out with some needlenose or a screwdriver. thats the only hardware that holds it on. there is also some serious adhesive stuff around the back of it. when i did mine i used a putty knife, razor blade, and screwdrivers to carefully cut through the adhesive/ pry the plastic off. just be careful not to scratch anything that your new lens won't cover. i did more slow prying than cutting.

 

Update: i just looked at my pictures, and you dont need to take the anchors out first. you need to pry the silver plastic off first, then you can take out the anchors. heres a picture from my mod to help. You can see that one anchor is still in, one has been popped out.



EDIT: i just noticed that youre first gen. i'm sorry if all this is irrelevant.

 

Yea I really appreciate your help but unfortunately they are made completely different. Once I take the red lens off, there are two bolts that appear to be going through the cab? I have saw other 1st gens on here that have replaced them so hopefully they will chime in. Thanks anyway dude.

 

Yup,
There are nuts on the inside, I peeled my headliner back to remove the light assembly.

The adhesive was pretty strong, it took a bit of work to get it off.
I notched mine at the top to run my sattelite radio antenna wire out the top and onto the roof.

Good luck!

 

What is the easiest way to take the headliner down enough to get to the nuts? I want to take the least amount down necessary. Also, do I need to get some headliner adhesive to put it back up, or will it go right back up?

 

I just started in the back corner, pulling off trim to get enough room to reach the nuts, trying not to crease it while pulling. It is a cardboard headliner, so it will go back up fine.

Good luck.

 

Alright sounds easy enough. Thanks a lot for all your help dude.

 

Remove the screws and pull/pry as stated. You'll have to be very careful as to not scratch or damage the paint. Its a pain in the ass, but can most definitely be done.

 

why didn't you run the antenna wire around the windsheild and in through the passenger side like the installation instructions state ...way easier...

 

Man that 3rd brake light was a PITA when I routed my Sirius antenna there. Good luck.

 

I got the third brake light in this weekend when I got home from work. Working on the road sucks at times, not having time to do anything. It was really easy to do. All I had to do was pull the plastic back over the rear seat belts, then pull the headliner from behind the rubber gasket around the rear window. Oh yea you have to pull the two plugs that are in the headliner. This gave me enough room to reach back in there with a deep well socket and remove the nuts. I'll get pics up in a few

 

Here are some pics of the smoked LED tails and 3rd brake light installed. I also put in a pioneer double din head unit and pioneer 6X8 in all doors. I also did the deck plate mod this weekend along with a K&N filter. It has killed my MPG since I wanna stomp it to hear it now. Haha

 

Pics didn't upload

 

Do you have a specific seller name or link from where you got these from?

 

I am also interested in where you got the tail lights from. Also, have you smoked the headlights yet?

 

Delete this post.

 

That's what I did. Just drop a little bit of the headliner.

 

What size socket did you use?

 

10mm I believe, deep socket