Replacing Tail lights bumper

SyK · #1 12-29-2005, 11:50 AM

Anyone know the difficulty level to replace a bumper, tail light for someone who knows nothing about cars. Is there any guides out there on the net for dummys like me that will dumb it down enough for me to understand.

One more thing, does anyone know the reliability of car parts on ebay such as tail lights.

Btw: Some did a hit in run on my car this is why i need to replace.

eclipsed4utoo · #2 12-29-2005, 12:36 PM

the taillights are real easy. in the trunk, you will see a panel that you can pop off right behind the taillight. this will give you access to the nuts on the back of the taillight. i believe they are 10mm. if you can, do the taillights while you have the rear bumper off. alot of guys have dropped the nuts down into the bumper since the hand space is very cramped. with the bumper off, the nuts will fall too the ground and you can pick them up.

SyK · #3 12-29-2005, 01:06 PM

Cool, i checked out the trunk and took the panel off.
Right now I only see 1 bolt, do i have to remove all the plastic in the trunk to get to the rest.
Thanks, again

Sleepr awd · #4 12-29-2005, 04:21 PM

i went ahead and took everything out, because i'm prone to drop things, all the plastic pieces in teh back aren't hard to take out at all, just keep searching around the edges and make sure you remember exactly how they go back in!

Also there are 3 bolts holding the tailight on as well as harnesses

one bolt is close to the opening, another is a mid-way and the last is right next to the edge of the car.

its not hard, but its a but pain if you don't have small or nimble hands

eclipsed4utoo · #5 12-29-2005, 05:27 PM

the other two bolts are pretty hard to get to...thats why alot of people drop the nuts. if you have big hands, forget about it. you will scratch your hands up on the plastic. i didn't remove all of the plastic when i replaced my taillights but i did scratch up the top side of my hands.

cficare68 · #6 12-29-2005, 06:06 PM

I just went ahead and took out all the plastic in trunk. I was going to leave it out anyway because of the stereo that I put in the car should I figured hat it was the easiest route for me.

rodbls · #7 12-29-2005, 06:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cficare68

I just went ahead and took out all the plastic in trunk. I was going to leave it out anyway because of the stereo that I put in the car should I figured hat it was the easiest route for me.

Thats funny because my stereo cant come out...and i cant get the plastic out because of the stereo....so needless to say it was a pain in the ass to get to those far 2 nuts by the rear quarter pannel. If you have a magnetic 10mil wrench it will be easier because you dont have to worry about dropping the nuts.

SyK · #8 12-29-2005, 07:34 PM

Yeh a problem im gonna have is i have a subwoofer box in my small mitsubishi trunk, im going to have to unhook that to be able to get to the plastic.

Thanks for the help so far guys, anyone have any tips about the bumper?

rodbls · #9 12-30-2005, 05:33 AM

Yeah...from what I have heard, other cars can do a good job of getting those off...so, if you see any....brush up against one and it might fall off. JK. I havent tried to take mine off so i wouldnt know.

Sleepr awd · #10 12-30-2005, 06:45 PM

you don't NEED to do the bumper... just be careful and have a spare car in case you need to run to napa for bolts you lose, to be honest, i'm the most accident prone person ever and i didn't lose a nut doing this, make sure you have a hand underneath where your getting it off of and don't move it b/c as soon as you do, you will drop it... it happens...

eclipsed4utoo · #11 01-01-2006, 10:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Elchicoloco86

you don't NEED to do the bumper... just be careful and have a spare car in case you need to run to napa for bolts you lose, to be honest, i'm the most accident prone person ever and i didn't lose a nut doing this, make sure you have a hand underneath where your getting it off of and don't move it b/c as soon as you do, you will drop it... it happens...

but he has to replace the bumper anyway. so he might as well just do the taillights while the bumper is off.

SyK · #12 01-01-2006, 11:12 PM

Yea basically i got in accident and they wont inspect my car becuase the bumper is smashed into my tail light.

I got another question, will a 2001 gt eclipse bumper fit on a 2000 eclipse GS

rodbls · #13 01-02-2006, 01:25 AM

It should...i think body wise all the models are the same....especially for the first 2 years.

Sleepr awd · #14 01-02-2006, 02:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by eclipsed4utoo

but he has to replace the bumper anyway. so he might as well just do the taillights while the bumper is off.

sorry musta read over that part...

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