3rd Brake Light Removal?

[Hughzie]

My 3rd light has stopped working today so stuck my 2 fingers in the hole on the inside to try and remove the bulb and SNAP!!!! I now have a smashed broken bulb!

So How do I remove the light to gain proper access? I've undone the 2 nuts but there appears to still be something holding it in?

[3rensho]

I took the liberty of removing your second identical post. Are you referring to the small bulb that sits just at the top of the tailgate window? If so, mine went about 5 months ago and I put some sticky tape in the end of a stick and removed it that way. Didn't trust my big fingers with the delicate task.

[andylobb]

As it happens, i have the manual open, it says to unscrew the two nuts - push the pins, disconnect the connector to remove the lamp, then change bulb.
Obviously not that simple. Could be the sealing ring has stuck to the paint?

[Hughzie]

I took the liberty of removing your second identical post.  Are you referring to the small bulb that sits just at the top of the tailgate window?  If so, mine went about 5 months ago and I put some sticky tape in the end of a stick and removed it that way.  Didn't trust my big fingers with the delicate task.

Thanks for the delete, My Ipad has a habit of doing that!

Yes its the top dead centre one. Is it supposed to twist a little then pull out or just pull out?
Once I get my fingers in I can see what its doing.

[Hughzie]

As it happens, i have the manual open, it says to unscrew the two nuts - push the pins, disconnect the connector to remove the lamp, then change bulb.
Obviously not that simple. Could be the sealing ring has stuck to the paint?

Thanks Andy, One pin has a little movement but the other is solid. Its either stuck as you said or maybe pinched on the threads of the bolt. If theres no mention of any clips I think I might have to get brave and give it a very gentle tap with something.

[Hughzie]

There is clips! Just as well I stuck a torch in the hole first. Once you remove the nuts you need to stick your finger in the hole and push 2 clips on the bottom of the light in and it pops right out.

[Image: CL4_zpsssjyqhmj.jpg]

[Image: CL5_zpsy25nv5t9.jpg]

Once out you get full access to the bulb holder which can be unclipped from the fitting.

[Image: 2016-10-06%2018.51.46_zpshtvagzyd.jpg]

For some reason my bulb holder is looking rather fried and the plastic is now very brittle, Is that normal?
Can't work out if theres an issue that caused the bulb to go or whether its just the heat off the bulb working as they do touch each other and the plastic is not that strong.

[Image: CL2_zpsvyxtangd.jpg]

[Image: CL1%201_zpsx0pu8jib.jpg]

New bulb is now in and its working again. Hopefully it should last longer as I've bought a heavy duty bulb instead of the standard one.

[davehughes5898]

As it happens, i have the manual open, it says to unscrew the two nuts - push the pins, disconnect the connector to remove the lamp, then change bulb.
Obviously not that simple. Could be the sealing ring has stuck to the paint?

There are 2 tabs along each side of the plastic housing which hold it in place to the bodywork, you can see the 2 facing you when looking through the hole that the rubber bung was in.
I used a piece of timber 200x20x5mm and levered each tab while pressing the timber against the edge of the hole
 and pushing against the pins at the same time.

[Sol]

Talk about raising the dead! This thread has been dormant for 7 years. Last post 2016. Why do people post on old dead threads without looking at the date. I'm closing this thread now to prevent further replies.