So I removed the two little screws on the OEM brake light on the rear hatchback wing. However, for some reason the brake light just won't come out of the wing. Is there something obvious that I'm missing? I was assuming that removing those two screws and everything would fall right out. Is there a clip or some special technique to getting the wing brake light out?

 

I imagine a few things may contribute to it being stuck. Is it old? The foam/rubber gasket may be "holding on" to the plastic and might need a jiggle. The wiring for the light may be somewhat tight combined with a rubber grommet that may be snugged up on the wiring.

It might be worth removing the bolts that hold the wing on so you can get a look behind it and see what's going on.

 

Wing is off the car. Even by pushing it from the back I cannot get the light assembly to come out. It will slide out a little, but that's it.

 

If you're certain that all screws have been removed I would suspect the gasket may just be holding it in place. Firm pressure should work it loose.

Is it a used unit? Someone may have goobered it up with silicone or some kind of glue?

 

Might be a gasket holding it but on a 25 year old part, I don't want to push too hard as you just can't buy that stuff new anymore. Just seems odd that it's stuck. It wiggles around just fine but no amount of pressure will make it slide out.

And I know no one has jimmied with it because I knew the original owner of the car back when I bought it 15 years ago.

Also afraid to pop the black plastic part off the bottom as there are not only screws holding it, but also clips. I don't want to break any clips.

 

There are clips that hold it in place and yup...they are delicate. I broke one of mine.

 

tailgate:



brakelight:



For the life of me I cannot see any reason why the light should be "stuck" in the wing itself.

 

I've pulled a bunch of the 3rd brake lights out in the past. They do get "stuck" in the frame. I just get a small thin flat head screwdriver and pry it out. Very simple operation. I don't think I have broken any tabs or anything.

 

Maybe there is crust in there holding it in. seriously.

 

As long as there aren't any tabs holding the brakelight itself in, I'll work at it a little harder. I can see the tabs on the plastic pieces that make up the bottom half of the wing and those look like they'd break easy so I want to avoid those at all costs.

 

Attacked it again tonight with a bit more confidence. Took a small plastic rod and pushed firmly from the back/under the plastic and wiggled the light from the front. Heard a "pop" and the light then slid out. Nothing broken...was just tight from 25 years having never been removed.

Made sure to clean everything while in there. Successfully replaced the original (now almost black) bulb with a more modern LED bulb.

 

For future reference if anyone finds this.