Help removing rear tail lights

[ebguitars]

Hello from sunny Spain. Both of my rear tail lights are filled up with dust and sand. You can see the dirt lying everywhere beneath the transparent plastic. I would like to remove the rear lights, open them and give them a proper clean, but I cannot get them out. I remove the top trim and the screws that are located on the top, but it still wont come out. Could anyone please help me out on a step by step guide in order to get these things out? I really appreciate it. Thanks!

[lotusflasherman]

Nylock nuts inside the boot. You'll need to pull the carpet away and remove the plastic shield.

[ebguitars]

Thanks Phil for you quick answer. Inside the boot there are these big black plastic covers. I will remove them also and try to find the screws in the carpet that you mention. I will look again and if I dont find them, I will post a picture so that you can tell me their location. thanks again!

[lotusflasherman]

your "big black plastic covers" = my 'plastic shield'. They protect the bulbs from damage by any stuff in the boot and need removing to change any bulbs - which is done from inside the boot.

2 Nylock nuts towards number plate can be seen without removing the covers, near where the cable goes through the body, but covers off to remove bulbs in bulb holders to get at others...

[ebguitars]

Thanks! Will give it a try this weekend

[ebguitars]

Hello again, so I have tried to remove the rear tail lights and I simply cant. I have removed the black plastic upper curved lip that is outside and that it is being held with 4 screws.
At the back, I have taken out 1 big plastic screw and I have removed the black plastic cover that covers the back of the lights. After this, I am stuck. The light wont come out.
I see these screws that are at the back, do I have to remove these 4 screws that are sticking out? There are 2 at the top and 2 at the bottom. The firs picture shows a bottom screw and the other 2 pics show the top ones. Thanks!

[lotusflasherman]

Yes, see my first reply - "remove the nylock nuts". The light units have 4 screws bonded into the plastic moulding that pass through the body with washer & nylock nut inside the boot to secure them.

Parts Manual exploded diagrams are always a good thing to look at before you start anything... helps show how it's put together..

lightsJPG.JPG

[Brit-Car-Nut]

Cropping doesn't help if you can't see the entire area.

There are FOUR (4) Nuts and washers holding the assembly to the rear bulkhead

Once they are removed, the rubber seal around the rear of the lamp is usually stuck (almost glued) to the body.

Tail-Light.jpg

Gently lever the lamp away from the body.

Was composing while Phil was posting...

[ebguitars]

Thanks! This is really useful for me! I will give it a try this weekend. I want to remove them because they are complety filled with dirt... they need an internal clean. Thanks again

Cropping doesn't help if you can't see the entire area.

There are FOUR (4) Nuts and washers holding the assembly to the rear bulkhead

Once they are removed, the rubber seal around the rear of the lamp is usually stuck (almost glued) to the body.

Tail-Light.jpg

Gently lever the lamp away from the body.

Was composing while Phil was posting...

[TrevorB]

Thanks! This is really useful for me! I will give it a try this weekend. I want to remove them because they are complety filled with dirt... they need an internal clean. Thanks again

I have managed to do this on one of mine as they were in the same state but unfortunately the off side has at some stage been sealed and I'm unable to
remove it despite trying to free it with some heat, hoping to soften any sealant that may be holding it on. Now I have one clean and one dirty. GRRRR

Obviously though don't forget to unplug the connections before removing

Trevor

[GeoffSmith]

Given the rarity of the rear tail lights, I wouldn't remove all the nuts before the seal is broken. I would try loosening the nuts a few mm at a time and then pushing the studs / levering the lights & seal. Once the seal has been broken all the way around then remove the nuts and remove the lights.