Accessing Rear Bulbs

[PearlJam]

Afternoon all

I was cleaning my car earlier and while I had the boot open I had a look to see how to get at the bulbs if and when I decide to upgrade or replace.

It's not very clear to me how to get access to the bulbs. Do I need to remove some of the carpet to be able to unscrew the unit ?

Thanks in advance for any help.

[Jan van de Wouw]

It's in the manual as it's quite cumbersome...

You need to remove the inner plastic bit nxt to the parcelshelf,

unscrew the taillight, unplug it, remove the entire unit from the outside,

then unclip the inner bit from the lens and remove the bulbs...

I've made some screendumps of my anual:

Removal of the taillight of an Aygo

Removal and replacement of the clip-thingy near the seatback of the rear seat

[PearlJam]

I must apologise - I didn't even think to look at the manual !!!!!!!!!!

Thanks Jan

[BadBoyVTEC]

You don't need to take the car apart inside. Just look for the single bolt inside the boot behind the light and after undoing it the whole light comes out.

[PearlJam]

I've just taken another look at the unit and boy is it an awkward one !!

As far as I can tell, if you do it as in the manual and as the pictures Jan van de Wouw has posted, there is quite a bit of plastic to remove, right up to the roof. I tried it and stopped before something got broken.

Doing what BadBoyVTEC suggests isn't even that easy. Picture 2 in the manual would lead you to believe there's a wingnut that can be unscrewed - as far as I can tell it's a screw that needs a spanner to loosen it and you'd need a child-size hand to get in there and do it.

All in all a right nuisance if you want/need to change a bulb.

Has anyone done it successfully and can you share your wisdom ??

Cheers

[BadBoyVTEC]

Yeah. Someone smashed my rear light so I have changed one already. You can pull the rubber from the edge of the boot I think and then push back the fabric. You should then see a bolt. Don't remember what size but this will have to be undone with a socket.

[Zaaro]

yea just had a look, pretty tricky <_< hopefully never have to replace one

[Raistlin]

PearlJam

I took mine apart to put in some LED bulbs that light up 30% brighter and 50% quicker.

Once you have done the first one the second is a walk in the park.

The hardest part is pulling/ splitting the plastic cover off to release the bulbs.

Just pull them apart with even pressure and do it on a table not by the car so when they do pop apart you don't drop part of it like I did.

Still no damage as I got my foot under it in time.

Replacing the pod just takes minutes.

Good luck

Raistlin

[Jan van de Wouw]

What kind of LED-bulbs did you use? And are they street-legal???

[PearlJam]

Thanks for the replies, folks.

I took mine apart to put in some LED bulbs that light up 30% brighter and 50% quicker.

So how did you remove yours - by taking off loads of the plastic interior or squeezing your hand in and using a spanner ?

[Raistlin]

I pulled down the top of the side panel then as I pulled it away from the side I braced it with about a 3 inche gap then used a small socket set to undo the pods retaining bolts

[Raistlin]

What kind of LED-bulbs did you use? And are they street-legal???

Jan

I got these, I have been advised by a friend in the force that they are legal in the UK

http://www.superbrightleds.com/specs/1157-x24.htm

Raistlin