One of the tail lights on our '13 ATS is cracked and needs to be replaced. Does anyone know what steps are needed to remove one of the tail lights? (in this case it is the driver's side)
Quite coincidental to my recent experience when my wife reversed and bumped into her car. The body shop has quoted a complete new $500 assembly for this portion of the repair, so I assume the lens is not a separate item. Sorry.
I think Vernon was saying you can't just buy the lens; you have to buy the whole taillight which the OP may already know. He just asked how to remove it.
ah my bad lol.. well that diagra probably gives you a good idea of how to remove it, probably best to start by pulling back the trunk carpet, I know the XTS has a bolt behind it thats visible when the carpets pulled back
that diagra probably gives you a good idea of how to remove it, probably best to start by pulling back the trunk carpet, I know the XTS has a bolt behind it thats visible when the carpets pulled back
Thanks for the replies all. Yup I know the entire tail light has to be replaced.
Stevo.. I had seen that diagram because my dealer quoted me $427 + tax for the part alone so I had searched for other sources. The diagram does give an idea of how it's fastened. I was hoping there was a step by step diy that maybe someone had posted with more details.
Sorry I could't be of more help but I know the XTS has a fastener than its just attached by a little sort of "pop post" that you need to yank on the light and it pops out.
actually... ? or is this "best practice" every other GM i've owned never needed to remove the bumper to get the lights out... dammit caddy (i know this is an old thread but im getting ready to tint my tails and this is a real drag, can someone confirm this is actually the case)
Whitty, how do you get the tail light assembly out without taking off the fascia? It seems that the clip on the bottom of the assembly is only accessible if the fascia is removed. Is there a way to get around that?
I also swapped a tail light without rear bumper removal. Pretty easy actually. Unfortunately I don’t remember the details, but it really just came down to wiggling it out.
I also swapped mine without the rear fascia removal. It took less than 20 minutes. There are just a few nuts holding the tail light in. I PM'd Whitty29 before doing so and below is the info he gave me.
"That clip that you're talking about on the bottom, I just managed to slightly "flex" the bumper , it sounds way scarier than it is, you almost can get it out without even touching the bumper and pulling the light but i wanted to make sure i didn't scratch the paint when the clip came out. so all you have to do is removed the bolts from the back side, and it comes right out. I feel like there was a plastic cover up top as well that pulled off. i did my lights last fall i dont recall having any issues with them but like you i was scared when i was reading about full on bumper removal."
The plastic cover at the top he is referring to is easy to remove. Carefully unsnap the bottom section first and I think you slide the top section towards the front of the car a bit. You don't want to break this piece. I think it costs around $50.
I managed to do it after running the heater against the underneath bumper for a while so that's more flexible for the light to come out. Best of luck!
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