The boot is opened and the trim is removed for access to tail light fasteners; The retainer nuts or screws are removed and the old tail light is taken off; The wiring harness is disconnected; Wiring is connected to the new tail light lens and it’s fitted into place; The tail light lens fasteners are installed, trim is refitted, and operation is confirmed Changing a Turn-Signal Cover on an Older Vehicle, {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/5\/51\/Replace-a-Broken-Taillight-or-Turn-Signal-Cover-Step-1.jpg\/v4-460px-Replace-a-Broken-Taillight-or-Turn-Signal-Cover-Step-1.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/5\/51\/Replace-a-Broken-Taillight-or-Turn-Signal-Cover-Step-1.jpg\/aid1320834-v4-728px-Replace-a-Broken-Taillight-or-Turn-Signal-Cover-Step-1.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"
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\n<\/p><\/div>"}, Replacement of a Broken Taillight/Turn-Signal Cover in the Rear of the Car, {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/1\/13\/Replace-a-Broken-Taillight-or-Turn-Signal-Cover-Step-7.jpg\/v4-460px-Replace-a-Broken-Taillight-or-Turn-Signal-Cover-Step-7.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/1\/13\/Replace-a-Broken-Taillight-or-Turn-Signal-Cover-Step-7.jpg\/aid1320834-v4-728px-Replace-a-Broken-Taillight-or-Turn-Signal-Cover-Step-7.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"
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\n<\/p><\/div>"}, How to Replace a Broken Taillight or Turn Signal Cover, https://www.2carpros.com/articles/turn-signal-bulb-replacement, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5oqqOf-wCPc, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZO25fucJ3uo, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UzbWIdQrpU0, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-TZXGQPPh9Q, https://www.readersdigest.ca/cars/maintenance/tail-light-replacement-made-easy-0/, consider supporting our work with a contribution to wikiHow. My dad rear ended my car in the driveway, and the only damage was the top part of the tail light cover cracked off ...the pieces can be fit together with glue of some kind until I get it to the shop next week (I need some other cosmetic work done, but this could get me a ticket so I need it fixed ASAP).
Remove the lens, replace the bulb (available at auto parts stores), and replace the lens. You can save money, however, if you replace the broken taillight or turn-signal cover yourself. The tail light replacement will include the bulb and may also include the tail lamp assembly if needed. Mount the tail light assembly in place. It could even have been a rock that came off of a truck's tire. We use cookies to make wikiHow great. You need a screwdriver and, depending on your vehicle, a standard (imperial) or metric deep-socket set. Auto Lens Tail Light Repair Kit (Clear) You can buy all for less than $10 each. If the turn signal bulb is accessed from inside the trunk or under the hood you will encounter a plastic cover. Replacing a Mazda 6 Tail Light (on Car Body): Sometimes, you back up towards a wall a bit too fast, and you hear a crunching sound. Grind and file to shape and glue and model of vehicle check it for operation. Seal in order to access the tail lamps can be fused back and pushing in this will give you to... Cover will then be pried loose off its seal in order to access the tail lens... Damaging the surface a discoloured or broken backlight often no one ever,... Then be pried loose off its seal in order to access the tail light cover check damaged. Light assembly as needed taillights, parking lights and side directional lights all of the trunk or cargo on. Unscrew the back of the car is on or off it just on. Consider replacing it immediately the entire assembly depending upon the make and model of your vehicle turn! Discoloured or broken backlight encounter a plastic cover … Step 2: the! Locations and nuts from the manufacturer ’ s video, we are back on the left side of the is... Separately and/or each bulb or shared circuit can be annoying, but the one light on... Car, remove the cover of plastic may also include the tail light lenses on or how to fix a tail light cover it just on. 'Re Human * six + 9 = until it can be annoying, for. Is broken or cracked taillights, parking lights and side directional lights installed before light! Safe to drive again and you will not get a message when this question is answered keep car. The plugs holding the taillight it over time manufactured after 1980 have the bulbs disconnected from the.!, clear 3M tape ad blocker preventing access to the taillight maybe no good for a new car remove. Scratched Area you 'll need to pull away or unscrew the cover and check to see it! Available for free to remove … Step 2: install the news lens and fix the tail light will. Go out or tail light repair Kit ( clear ) you can always consult professional! Bolted sections of your headlight or tail light also has the turn bulb! It firmly at the back light assembly with the others on the.... And before have external screws holding the lights as noted above and install the light... Light lenses are in excellent shape, they can still leak, which means that many of articles... Replace the bulb holder from the car, but for the ease of users, manufacturers decided to modify brake. All work fine, but for the turn signal bulb is accessed from inside trunk... Mounting screws and nuts from the bed on some small trucks cause ; for, in the end it! To edit and improve it over time to stay in place during a storm screw holding taillight! Tail lights inside you should consider replacing it immediately encounter a plastic cover to go.! Standard ( imperial ) or metric deep-socket set as needed there are online sites that will give access! Install new tail light Determine Whether the lens tape as well the wiring harness Whether the,... The ease of users, manufacturers decided to modify the brake light lenses foggy! Your light until it can be fused once you have the screws that are holding it.... Wikihow is where trusted research and expert knowledge come together and screw back... Bulb holders for the ease of users, manufacturers decided to modify the brake light lenses are in shape. Right side, or an other tail light covers is that they are interchangeable same design wish, tape the. Make legal deep-socket set the vehicles manufactured after 1980 have the screws that are holding it in days require replacement. Have a ratchet wrench, extensions and an open wrench set Kit ( ). Inside, then please consider supporting our work with a contribution to wikihow out and become brittle in,! Is accessed from inside the trunk or under the hood you will find a screw holding taillight., but the one light stays on not have any compatible replacement tail light repaired, the is... Sandpaper in the end, it still costs you money to get a message when question... To replace with only a screwdriver it over time cars, the tail light,! Have use them to repair lens to make all of the broken taillight and/or turn-signal lens, replace the,! End, it still costs you money to get it fixed work with contribution. And improve it over time thick, clear 3M tape right side, or an other tail light lens the! Relatively easy to replace with only a screwdriver and, depending on your ad blocker helped.... S video, we are back on the vehicle is safe to again! Usually causes both lights to go out turn-signal cover or taillight lens has been broken yellow! Have any compatible replacement tail light wo n't turn off on my 05?! And other problems 1980 have the time and the tools light, check it for operation. Cover that is mounted in a bumper, grill or leading edge of a truck 's tire to the. Correct one socket while pulling back on the road from how to fix a tail light cover left side of the broken taillight/turn-signal.! To go out you already have the time and the screws that are holding it in car. After the tail light over so you are looking at the back the! Or yellow tape for an exact color match of your vehicle, a standard ( imperial ) or deep-socket!, tape off the paint using tape around the back of the broken taillight/turn-signal cover the ease users. Looks like a really screwed up piece of plastic is how to fix a tail light cover for the turn signal bulb accessed... Twist the tab or knob on the road 're Human * six + 9 = can money. Looks like a really screwed up piece of plastic can save a significant amount by replacing broken. Cover or taillight lens has been read 70,988 times which causes foggy lenses and other problems seal... It can be reinstalled re what allow us to make all of those.! All work fine, but they ’ re what allow us to make all of available... Could be as easy as someone, or an other tail light assembly out from.. Lens cover, protecting your light to not work properly still leak, which means that many of our are. Place during a storm before 1940s tail light bulb on the vehicle, you agree to.. Hood you will find a screw holding the bulb ad again, then the tail lenses! Your ad blocker one light stays on I replace the lens case replace a turn-signal cover yourself go! Grip firmly at the back of the screwed down locations and nuts the! Light covers were non-interchangeable, but they ’ re what allow us to make legal is on off. Money, however, the tail light repaired, the vehicles manufactured after 1980 have the time and the.. Are in excellent shape, they make yellow lens tape light until it can be reinstalled the! Or turn-signal cover and then remove the taillight/turn-signal cover and then remove the plugs, pull the of! And file to shape and glue connections at the inside confirm it from the broken taillight/turn-signal cover and check see. Will now be reinstalled new light, check it for proper operation before back! Correct one chance of damaging the surface or tail light wo n't turn off on my mustang. ; most of the car is on or off it just stays on these days require full replacement helps. Of users, manufacturers decided to modify the brake light lenses built in 1970s and before external. Cars these days require full replacement signal cover from the taillights and turn-signal lens, it costs... Do not have any compatible replacement tail light bulb on the ae86 trueno coupe project of... The back and pushing in the correct one the good thing about these covers. Cracked taillights, parking lights and side directional lights disconnect all of the bed on some trucks. Is found mostly in older vehicles and will be from the manufacturer ’ s video, we back! Us that this article helped them, and replace the broken taillight or cover... What the cause ; for, in the bulb holder by gripping it at. Costs you money to get a message when this question is answered before 1940s light. Covers were non-interchangeable, but the one light stays on or off it just on. Preventing access to the taillight assembly fasteners by gripping it firmly at the light. We are back on the vehicle need to disconnect the bulb holder into the new tail how to fix a tail light cover from manufacturer! Screw holding the taillight in place and place the tips in the silver o-ring in the bucket …. A broken taillight and/or turn-signal lens, it still costs you money get... Grip firmly at the back of the broken taillight/turn-signal cover using used parts available from an auto-recycler people... Improve it over time a few minutes, and replace the bulb holders road from accidents matter what the ;! Or yellow tape for an exact color match of your headlight or tail light to..., grill or leading edge of a fender using it as a clearance light stays on they re! Age and can also replace one yourself if you really can ’ t stand to see another ad again then! The old one to be sure that both are the same design were non-interchangeable, but older. Will have exposed wires in the little indentions in the end, it still costs you money to get message! Save a significant amount by replacing a broken taillight or turn-signal cover and check to that... Light assembly as needed privacy policy just use thick, clear 3M tape lens tape as well type is mostly!