TAIL LIGHT.. how do i change it

[samad]

hey folks,

i'm trying to change my bulb for the left tail light and the son of a gun won't come out, any tips? its a '94 prizm btw

theres wires coming thru one little hole but it doesnt allow me to get the bulb out...

desperate for some help,
samad

[smokey041369]

look for some black plastic wing nuts to remove the light assembly then you can change the bulb

[ray with prizm]

Originally Posted by samad

hey folks,

i'm trying to change my bulb for the left tail light and the son of a gun won't come out, any tips? its a '94 prizm btw

theres wires coming thru one little hole but it doesnt allow me to get the bulb out...

desperate for some help,
samad

Just changed one on my 94...here's the secret.

You have two bolts inside the lip of trunk (obvious), then another nut on a 'brass' stud from the lamp assembly that points forward through the body nearer to the side of the car away from the wire hole. Now here's the catch...there is a pin in the lamp assembly that is clipped into a holder on the side of body (to hold the side of the lamp assembly near to the side of the car body)...you have to pull straight back (towards the rear of car) on the lamp assembly to get it to come out...problem may be that the plastic pin holder has become brittle and won't let go of the pin...be careful not to break lamp assembly.
Then you should be inside and the three lamps are simple to half turn their wingnut out and replace bulb...

If you can't get the lamp assembly out, in desperation, you may (as I did) 'gnaw' away at the pin holder which comes through the side of body near the lamp assembly wrap around...kind of a post...then graciously pry the lamp assembly off pulling the remaining screw out of that hole...then reconstruct the pin holder assembly with new bolt and nut to reassemble. Good luck !!

[Aquatarkus]

Good heads-up post Ray,
I found your note just prior to changing my brake light on my 95 Prism.
It was just as you described, and I ran into the same problem where I had
to knaw off the plastic side-clip, then use a new bolt when I finally got the
tail light changed.

It would have took so much longer if I didn't see your post first.
Thanks...

[billan]

One extra tip: Try adding a length of duct tape (leave long enough to grab with your hand) to the curved side of the light to provide some grip. Don't use a screw driver to try and pry the light as this will damange the plastic trim. Make sure to lubricate the pin assembly once the light is off. This will help for future changes.

[SLS-1]

Ray,

You are the undisputed king of Prizm advice! Some clarification: the hidden pin is a metal pin mounted in the taillight lens pointing toward the front of the car. It snaps into a plastic socket mounted on the car. Mine was very stuck and I broke a double loop of duct tape as listed above. I had to carefully pry back on the lens (towards the back of the car as Ray points out) and it finally came free without damage.

SLS