1996 Camry - How do you replace the brake light bulbs

[camry1996]

Both of my brake lights went out and im at work right now. Is there anyway to replace the brake light bulbs without tools?

[Bear95]

Originally Posted by camry1996

Both of my brake lights went out and im at work right now. Is there anyway to replace the brake light bulbs without tools?

Did the third light go out as well?
Bear95

[camry1996]

Originally Posted by Bear95

Did the third light go out as well?
Bear95

yup Well first the passanger side went out, then the 3rd brake light went out, then today i notice the driver side went out also.

[eddie926]

If you need to change the bulbs in the tail lights, open the trunk. Opposite the tail lights inside the trunk there are fabric covers covering the trunk wall. Carefully remove the christmas tree clips that hold the fabric covers in place. Peel back the fabric and you'll see some bolts that come through the wall with nuts on them. Remove the nuts. That will free up the tail light assembly. Gently work the tail light assembly out.

The bolts that I metioned free up the part of the assembly that's facing to the rear. Around the corner of the car, the side of the light has pin of sorts that goes into a socket instead of a bolt that goes thru to the trunk. So you have to kind of gently work that loose. Once you've got it away from the car, then you can remove the light socket that plugs into the assembly.

Reinstalling is self explanatory after you've taken it off.

Hope that helps.

[camry1996]

i guess have to do this when i get home

[eddie926]

I just changed my rear passenger side bulb. It took 5 minutes. Not hard. You'll need a wrench or pliers to loosen the nuts inside the trunk that hold the assembly in, but that's the only tool you'll need. If you have the new bulbs in hand it's a very quick change.

[Bear95]

Originally Posted by eddie926

If you need to change the bulbs in the tail lights, open the trunk. Opposite the tail lights inside the trunk there are fabric covers covering the trunk wall. Carefully remove the christmas tree clips that hold the fabric covers in place. Peel back the fabric and you'll see some bolts that come through the wall with nuts on them. Remove the nuts. That will free up the tail light assembly. Gently work the tail light assembly out.

The bolts that I metioned free up the part of the assembly that's facing to the rear. Around the corner of the car, the side of the light has pin of sorts that goes into a socket instead of a bolt that goes thru to the trunk. So you have to kind of gently work that loose. Once you've got it away from the car, then you can remove the light socket that plugs into the assembly.

Reinstalling is self explanatory after you've taken it off.

Hope that helps.

Yep, that is a good explantion....Just be careful when you are taking out the light assembly so you don't scratch your paint or break the lens. The OP asked about tool use and yes you will need something to remove the nuts that hold the ass. in place.
Bear95

[maestro123]

thanks for the write up on this. i followed the instructions to the T, and it was very easy. Pretty easy do-it-yourself and cheap. Parts are only 4 or 5 bucks for the 2 brake light bulbs.

[xtremeskier97]

That's strange. The only thing I needed to do was remove 2 screws on the side of the light to remove my left tail light and replace the bulb yesterday. Didnt need to pull up carpet or remove bolts/nuts.

[Zviator]

Screwing off is easy, removing the tailight assemble is the tricky part ... When I first did it, I had a hard time deciding wheather to push or to pull, lol.

[Stevie_Z]

Originally Posted by xtremeskier97

That's strange. The only thing I needed to do was remove 2 screws on the side of the light to remove my left tail light and replace the bulb yesterday. Didnt need to pull up carpet or remove bolts/nuts.

My Camry has the same assembly. No need to pull back the carpet or remove the nuts on mine either. Step 1- remove the 2 screws on the tail light assembly that are toward the middle of the car. This will free up the inside- toward the middle of the car- part of the assembly.

Part 2---- very very very important---- after where the assembly curves around to the (driver or passenger) side of the car, there are 2 posts that fit snugly into plastic sockets and these are what's holding the tail light assembly in place. You want to gently work a screwdriver or something in and slowly and carefully pry the posts out of their retaining clips.

Once the assembly is clear, it's pretty obvious where the bulbs go.

Just FYI, for the front parking lights, it's a similar procedure. Remove the 1 screw (you need a small "star" screwdriver to remove it) and then pop out the other side.

[tekno9000]

Originally Posted by eddie926

If you need to change the bulbs in the tail lights, open the trunk. Opposite the tail lights inside the trunk there are fabric covers covering the trunk wall. Carefully remove the christmas tree clips that hold the fabric covers in place. Peel back the fabric and you'll see some bolts that come through the wall with nuts on them. Remove the nuts. That will free up the tail light assembly. Gently work the tail light assembly out.

The bolts that I metioned free up the part of the assembly that's facing to the rear. Around the corner of the car, the side of the light has pin of sorts that goes into a socket instead of a bolt that goes thru to the trunk. So you have to kind of gently work that loose. Once you've got it away from the car, then you can remove the light socket that plugs into the assembly.

Reinstalling is self explanatory after you've taken it off.

Hope that helps.

Sorry for the dumb question, but how do u remove the christmas tree clips? I already broke one.

[dz63]

There may be a better way, but I use a pair of side cutters to get in behind the plastic plug and then carefully pry it out of the hole. This method works pretty good.

[tekno9000]

Thanks, DZ. I pried open with a screwdriver using some WD40. Would like to add that after removing the two 8 mm nuts, remove a clip (White, in my car) by pressing and then pull the headlight out sideways.

Thanks all TN members.

[mistersink]

Originally Posted by Bear95

Did the third light go out as well?
Bear95

On mine, the two side brake lights went out, but the center light in the cab did not. Both side lights went out at the same time, is this a bulb issue?