Steps To Changing Your Car Tail Lights

When your tail light is damaged, and you’re a little strapped for cash, do you really need to take your car to a mechanic, or is it a task you can handle yourself? Well, the good news is that changing your tail lights is not all that hard to do, and almost anyone can do it. However, it does take a little know-how and guidance, so if you’re willing to take it upon yourself to change your car tail lights, here’s how you can do it.

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What are tail lights?

The tail lights of your vehicle are also covered by red plastic, so they’re seen as a red light when they are on. However, they have a different function from break lights. Your tail lights have two primary functions. Firstly, they are used at night to allow other drivers to see your car on the road. Normally, when you turn your lights on in the front, the tail lights of your vehicle will turn on automatically.

Their second function is to provide you with light at the rear of your car. Reversing in the dark can be challenging, not to mention dangerous, if you don’t know where you’re going. While tail lights don’t provide you with as much light as your headlights would, they offer you just enough to see where you’re going as you reverse.

How to change your car tail lights

Tail lights get damaged relatively easily, but thankfully, they’re also quite easy to replace. For anyone attempting to replace their car tail lights themselves, you need to remember that all cars will differ slightly, but here are the steps to do it:

Buy your car tail light

Of course, the first step of the process is to buy your replacement tail light. You’ll need to ensure you buy the right tail light for your car’s make and model. You could go to your local auto store and check if they have the right part, but there’s always a risk of it being out of stock, and you need to wait for it to be ordered. My Auto Parts is one of the best online stores to buy your car tail lights from. Ordering online will save you multiple trips.

Have the right tools

For most car models, the only tools you’ll typically need are a spanner (generally 13mm) and a flathead screwdriver. Once you’ve got these two and your replacement light, you should be good to go.

Locate the back of the light

When you’re ready, open the boot and locate the back of the tail light. In some cars, this may require you to pull back the carpet, but others are in plain sight.

Remove the electrical input

Before you can remove the tail light, it’s important to remove the electrical connection. To do this, with most cars, you just need to take your flathead screwdriver, and pry the plug out of the socket gently.

Remove the nuts

Next up, you’ve got to undo the nuts that hold the cover in place. This is where your spanner comes to the rescue, and with a few turns, they should pop right off. Once the nuts are removed, you can pop the tail light off and place the new one on. Make sure to secure the new tail light, tighten the nuts, and reconnect the electrical connection. It’s best to test it out before driving just to ensure everything works.

Can you use the same bulb for brake lights and tail lights?

Again, this typically depends on the specific vehicle you’re driving. To make life easier, you can usually use the same bulb for your brake light and tail light. Some vehicles have the brake and tail lights on the same fitting, which would require one bulb to have a dimmable filament for the tail light and a brighter filament that turns on when the brake is pressed.

Key differences between tail lights and brake lights:

Tail lights are usually dimmer and turn on with the other vehicle lights. Their role is to notify other cars of your position and make reversing at night easier. Brake lights, however, activate every time you brake or when the handbrake is up. Their function is to indicate your intention to slow down to the drivers behind you so they can do the same.

Final Thoughts

While it may seem like a small detail to miss, not knowing the difference between your rear lights could put you in a difficult situation. For example, if your brake light is out and you don’t know the difference, you might neglect to change it, which could cause an accident if someone doesn’t notice you braking. With that in mind, keep an eye on your rear car lights and change them promptly when needed.