Tail light replacement - help please !!!

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

 

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.

 

thanks for adding that jhodge, i forgot to mention that tidbit!!

 

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

 

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

 

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.

 

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

 

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.

 

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.