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...and for stupid question of the month.... How do you change the rear tag lights?

3K views 27 replies 19 participants last post by  BuickRMW 
#1 ·
See stupid question above^^^
 
#3 ·
It's a little tricky! This was addressed sometime back, but I guess that post was lost in the crash, a few months ago. I did mine about a year ago, and I forget the exact details, but the interior panel of the gate has to be removed, then as I remember, the whole housing comes off the gate. It's way too much work for a bulb replacement, so put both in while it's apart!
 
#5 ·
Remove the small screw that hold the lamp/lens in place. Then you can with a lot of jiggling and cussing slide it out the bottom. Then with child size fingers r&r the bulb and put it all back together.
 
#7 ·
I just did mine and it was done without removing the interior panel.


There was the fear of breaking it as you say but it didn't happen. I was more worried about the bulb type but that was an easy match as well.


I did the rewinding of the cargo cover the same day, thats hell.
 
#11 ·
Hey I'm glad you asked this question, because I've been wondering how to do this. I tried to wrestle those lenses out once before but I was afraid I was going to break them. I've had a blown out bulb there for several months. Damn the torpedoes, I'll give it another try and hopefully won't shatter the lenses.
 
#12 ·
Didn't break mine, its tight but they will come out. I put led's in them so they should never burn out ever again.
 
#14 ·
It may be intuitively obvious for those with closed minds but its not stupid. Ask away maybe we can help clear the fog.
 
#16 ·
Maybe so we don't look all weird and alien like at the beach?
 
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#20 ·
Basically take the screw out and pry on it to the point that you think it's gonna break and you say "oh **** I'm gonna break it" then they slide right out. Piss poor design, throw some LEDs in there so you won't have to do it again.
 
#25 ·
Sorry for bringing this old one up, but i´m interested in those LED numbers, too.
 
#22 · (Edited)
Oh give me a break. The original question was not only answered, it was answered well several times over.

Besides ^^^that^^^, it was a JOKE you thread assing hypocrites.

Besides ^^^that^^^, I know the answer to the question I friggin asked.

Besides ^^^that^^^, I'd be interested to see what the factory service manuals say to do because - while Steve-O's method may work - and may even work the best, I highly doubt the official GM procedure write up would be to pry on something until you swear.
 
#23 ·
I was curious too, so I checked my GM FSM again. It says:
1) Remove two bolts/screws attaching the lens to molding.
2) Remove lamp from molding.

So apparently that IS the right way. It just would have been nice if the FSM said to pry like hell on it. I was afraid I was going to break mine, so I yelled at the book and never changed the bulb. Guess I'll give it another shot!
 
#24 ·
Ii have some extra lenses if you break one.
 
#27 ·
I have 3 of these wagons plus 2 I have sold but somehow I had never changed license plate bulbs before today. Could not get the darn things out so I naturally came here looking for answers. Ended up cracking both prying them out. One will live. The other will definitely finish breaking the next time it needs to come out. I'd love to know the sequence for putting all that together at the factory. It had to be easier than what I just did, jamming the lenses back in the slot/hole.
 
#28 · (Edited)
LED ungrade

I removed the 4 screws and wiggled the clear plastic housing out. Since both my blubs were out, I decided to upgrade to LEDs. The cheap glue holding the 2 halves of the plastic housing together was brittle. Using a small flat head screw driver, I pried the 2 halves apart. I purchased 4 white 5mm LEDs from Advanced Auto parts for $10 bucks. I have used these in the past for many automotive upgrades with good success. They are already wired for 12v and have about 18" of wire for each blub. I then drill 2 holes into the clear lense. (Note: I drilled the holes in the curve of the lense to angle the LEDs towards the plate.) After installing 2 LEDs into each lense, I ran a bead of hot glue around the base of the blub. The blubs are tight into the holes I drilled, but the glue keeps out moisture and keeps them in place from vibration. I then wired the blubs into the stock harness. After removing the back half of each lense the lenses re-install with easy. I have include day and night photos to show the detail and output of the blubs. I hope this helps others.


_____________________________________________
1993 RMW Blue Woodie wagon- current sled
1992 9c1 Caprice slick top cruiser- sold, big mistake
 

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