Tail light or tail lamp is a lighting system, which is a part of the vehicle, mounted on the rear side and always comes in pairs. This group of lights on one mounting has different lights and various functions. The signal light is also considered as the part of the tail light. According to the regulatory standards, the taillights must be in yellow color. These lights are used to indicate whether you are turning towards left or right and hence knowing how to replace the taillight is very essential.
Another part of the tail light is the reverse light and is used for illuminating the rear side when you are backing the vehicle. The reverse is turned automatically when the driver puts the reverse gear. Out of all the lights, these lights have the highest illumination, but it is not bright like the rear light.
Another part of the taillight is the park light and they are used as brake light. This light has the largest part in the tail light assembly, which is automatically turned on when the driver hits the break or if he or she turns on the headlight. The park lights are very essential for alarming a driver that there is a vehicle ahead of him or her in the night. During the rainy and foggy seasons park lights are used as warnings for the vehicles on the rear.
Tail light is the standard light in almost all the vehicles. If there are no taillights then the driver won’t be able to detect the presence of any other vehicle around his or her own car. Replacing the tail light is a very simple process and does not require a lot of time.
Steps to replace taillights :
Things Required:
- Rubber gloves
- Automotive lights bulbs
- Red tape
- Cleaning cloths
- Rags
- Screwdriver sets
Steps:
Removing the taillight
- First, you will have to locate the taillight by looking in the back of your car. The taillights will be situated on every corner of your car. The lenses on the tail light will be plastic and often in three colors red, orange and clear color.
- Look at the lens cover to check if there are any screws on the outside of the lens. If there are, then take a screwdriver and start loosening the screws, remove the lens and then expose the bulb.
- Now you will have to open the trunk of your vehicle and try to find an access panel for the taillights if the lens cover has no screws on the outside. The access panel will be situated on the inside of the trunk in the same place as the taillights. There will be a plastic cover that you will have to open for accessing the bulbs. Sometime it will be hard to find the plastic cover, so look closely inside the trunk carpet.
- Once you find the plastic panel then unscrew it to access the bulbs. You will have to turn the screws in counter clockwise direction for removing it. Now, expose the bulb, start turning it counter clockwise for loosening, and then pull it out straight to remove it.
Replacing the tail light
- Now the first step in replacing the taillight will be unscrewing the bulb. You will have to turn and push it at the same time so that it comes out. Take this same bulb along with you to the nearest auto supply store for finding a similar one to be replaced.
- Now the taillight connection in the car should be cleaned with the help of a wire brush or wipe it with the help of a clean rag if you see any corrosion in that area.
- Now the next step for replacing taillight will be screwing in the new bulb in the empty socket. Once again, you will have to turn and push it at the same time. Now, you will have to line up the tiny raised bumps at the base of the bulb so that you can easily screw it in.
- Now you are done with replacing the taillight and you can replace the lens cover. Test if the new bulb is working or not by hitting the brakes and turning the headlights while a friend watches from behind to make sure that the bulb lights up.
Tips and Warnings:
- If there is a broken taillight, then for a temporary fix you will have to use the red tape.
- Always remember that if the taillight of your vehicle is not working, then the police might give you a ticket for burned out taillight. You will have to pay a lot of money as fine, much more than what it would have taken to replace the taillight. Therefore, it is better to replace the taillight as soon as possible.
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