HELP! - removing tail lights on a '97 corolla VE (base model)

[dp004i]

I'm trying to replace a burned out stop signal light bulb, but so far haven't been able to remove the tail light assembly. I removed the carpet, undid two screws and removed the bolt, but it wouldn't come off. It's loose and I can move it around a bit, but it appears that there's something else holding it in place somewhere in the area of the turn signal. The only things I found that might be responsible for this are the two black plastic posts, but I have no idea how to remove them without breaking them. Any help will be greatly appreciated.

[ineedhelp]

I've had the same problem before.....

Try lifting the assembly up and pull it out lightly, good luck.

[dp004i]

Got it, thanks. Guess I was too occupied with those tabs and didn't try to simply pull the whole thing out. The scary thing is, bastards at a service station wanted $65 for a $1.50 light bulb and about 2 minutes of work.

[Chris Corolla S]

Nice job

[winks]

Originally Posted by dp004i

Got it, thanks. Guess I was too occupied with those tabs and didn't try to simply pull the whole thing out. The scary thing is, bastards at a service station wanted $65 for a $1.50 light bulb and about 2 minutes of work.

I am having what I think to be EXACTLY the same problem with my 1993. I removed 2 bolts and a nut (as you did) but try as I might, the lens assembly will NOT budge.

Are the 2 plastic posts on the side involved in any way? Can you (or anyone) give me any specify advice on how to remove it with the least chance of breaking anything? Do you lift and pull straight-back (towards the back of the car?).

Steve
(I just realized I am resurrecting this thread from 2 years ago - oh well).

[TaosHum]

since this is the only place on the internet that seems to address this question, I'd like to hit it fully. You remove the 2 screws in front, pull back the paneling inside the trunk and unscrew the bolt inside the trunk directly behind the brake panel. Ok, now there's 2 black posts with these plastic tab type things for bolts which look like they are coming IN from the light assembly. DO NOT try to remove these! These 2 posts are coming in from the outside of the car and the light assemlby actually slides onto them from the outside. So, if you have removed the 2 front screws and the one bolt inside the trunk, you are done unscrewing things and you have to sit there and juggle the light assembly up and down and if it has been awhile, it will take quite a few tries but eventually it gives way and you can lift it up and out of its position and replace your bulbs.

[rakesh15]

Good info.


I have the same problem, and will try now to replace the bulbs for corolla 97 - 1.6L.
However I see only one black bolt from the back trunk, behind the carpet.
and now will not touch it,... after reading these.

I alreday opened those two bolts from the out side, right next to the plastic lens cover. I need to open another nut from in side the trunk which is just behind the lens cover, inside the trunk, behind the carpet.


Too bad, [ go to the hell] that manufacturere book comes with no perfect instructions , [after spending that much money for car, Huh ! ]and
Chilton books also try to cover 10 years of models at the same time,
giving all the false informations, and does never applies to your particular model .

I already broke the plastic tab while trying to remove the higher level stop light lense , in the windows .

Thx to chilton for providing wrong info, with pictures about other models. Basturds !


Shame to the car manufatureres who could not provide a good pictorial book perfectly showing your case of eaxct model, after spending that much money for car.

Both, burn in hell.


Shame to chilton books for providing general material for all 10 years models .

Shame to car manudfactureres for providing that, mini 2 cents of worth book - with all wrong info. ( covering 10 models at the same time ? }

Both are equally hopeless.

Forum and group messages helps in this case. Thx 2 Forum.

[rakesh15]

In fact, In my car - 97 Corolla ,

one tail light bulb is bad, I need to replace.


I removed the two screws on top of the light ( from potside, on side, next to trunk ) from out side.

I also removed the one steel nut from inside the trunk as mentioned above.

I did not touch those those two black plastic riveted screw like fixtures at all, as strongly mentioned above.

and I struggled and zuggled to remove the wholle assembly from outside by lifting and vibrating a little all the way,

IT IS NOT COMING OUT.

Something is still holding it from inside somewhere near to that plastic bolt fixture area.

Whatever mentioned above by a guy is wrong. It''s NOT working out.

There is somewhere some place something still holding it.

Any help ??????

[Toumba]

just yank it straight out. There are two clips, opposite of the two bolts that you removed, thats still holding the taillight. Loosen the taillight and just squeeze your fingers into the crack between your taillight and the rear fender of the car and pull from there.

[rakesh15]

^^ You said,...

There are two clips, opposite of the two bolts that you removed, thats still holding the taillight

However, while loosening the light assembly structure, it seems like, those two black plastic fixtures which are on the side, ( as looking from inside the trunck) is still holding the whole assembly.

Assembly itself is of "L " shape. There is nothing seems to be holding behind the two screws in the rear, ( close to the trunk door) that I removed.

It cpearly feels like I can not pull the assembly out without breaking those two plastic black fictures ( in side of the car - of the L shape light assembly structure) , which is holding the assembly from side.



Still confused. Scared of breaking, Coz' then I can not take my car on road without tail lights.

What a pity ! They can't provide a fully particular book for a particular car for a 20K USD price of product !! Pictures in book ( Chilton and Cars' manual) shows something totally different - hinge kind of assembly.

NOTE: My car is a plain Toyota Corolla. NO SE SD VE or any such model letters. It does not have any lights in door, No light on the Dashboard at all. No light in the trunk at all ( think how you take the stuff out at night ) , No viper on rear, No lights on numer plate,...and it's 97 Model. Shame !! Shame!! Shame !!

[trife96]

Originally Posted by TaosHum

since this is the only place on the internet that seems to address this question, I'd like to hit it fully. You remove the 2 screws in front, pull back the paneling inside the trunk and unscrew the bolt inside the trunk directly behind the brake panel. Ok, now there's 2 black posts with these plastic tab type things for bolts which look like they are coming IN from the light assembly. DO NOT try to remove these! These 2 posts are coming in from the outside of the car and the light assemlby actually slides onto them from the outside. So, if you have removed the 2 front screws and the one bolt inside the trunk, you are done unscrewing things and you have to sit there and juggle the light assembly up and down and if it has been awhile, it will take quite a few tries but eventually it gives way and you can lift it up and out of its position and replace your bulbs.

^Exactly, that is confirmed

Originally Posted by rakesh15

it seems like, those two black plastic fixtures which are on the side, ( as looking from inside the trunck) is still holding the whole assembly.

Assembly itself is of "L " shape. There is nothing seems to be holding behind the two screws in the rear, ( close to the trunk door) that I removed.

It clearly feels like I can not pull the assembly out without breaking those two plastic black fictures ( in side of the car - of the L shape light assembly structure) , which is holding the assembly from side.

Those two black posts you see when pulling back the trunk lining are basically allignment pins which help with allignment of the light housing...that's all, they don't hold in the light. Wiggle the housing and pull straight back, you may have to pry slightly. Only two screws on the outside, and either a metal nut or plastic hand nut on the inside hold these lights in....trust me, I have removed them countless times.

[rakesh15]

^^ Thx.

But, I tried a lot.
Juggled a lot and vibrated housing all over.
Took opinion of my son about this reading versus my situation and it clearly seems like,
I can not taking it out without breaking those two plastic fixtures and whatever els is holding the housing.

(

[Piloter]

Two screws, one nut, that's it. I've had these out a fair few times. It takes a lot of pulling straight back--consider carefully using a wide-bladed screwdriver (chisel?) around the trim to pry them initially free.

Edit: At least on the USDM models this is the removal procedure...

[rakesh15]

Yup.

It did workout well, finally.

The keyword here is,...... " Pull the housing straight Back"

Do not try to pull it in an angle or sideways.
Just stand in the rear of the car and pull straight back"

{ Otherwise, you will break the two guide holes )

Goodluck all and thanks for help.

[ok25705]

Our 97 Corolla CE should be the same tail light. I took off the two bolts and the pushed the tail lamp assembly towards the outside of the fender, it slid out sideways. I'll try to post a photo.

TIP - Go ahead and replace all four rear bulbs at the same time, only a couple bucks more!