1. Attachments are working again! Check out this thread for more details and to report any other bugs.

Replacing a tail Light

Discussion in 'Gen 3 Prius Main Forum' started by rmccarra, Aug 15, 2009.

  1. rmccarra

    rmccarra New Member

    Joined:
    Aug 15, 2009
    6
    0
    0
    Location:
    Frederick
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    IV
    Ok so I had my new car for 4 weeks and someone backed into it breaking a tail light (no note left). Any tips/suggestions on where I can get instructions on how to replace it? Got a new one on order ($400 later).
     
    #1 rmccarra, Aug 15, 2009
  2. Rokeby

    Rokeby Member

    Joined:
    Jan 21, 2008
    3,033
    708
    75
    Location:
    Ballamer, Merlin
    Vehicle:
    2008 Prius
    rmccarra,

    :welcome: to PRIUSchat. :cheer2:

    OUCH!

    Here is a thread with pictures on how to remove/replace the Gen II
    tail light assemblies:

    http://priuschat.com/forums/gen-ii-...423-2007-tail-light-removal-instructions.html

    With luck it is nearly the same for your Gen III.

    Also, the Search Tool is your friend. Using "tail light replacement" as
    the search term will generate a long list of threads on this topic on
    Gen IIs for further reading.

    Hope this helps.
     
    #2 Rokeby, Aug 15, 2009
  3. jsharpe

    jsharpe Member

    Joined:
    Aug 6, 2007
    111
    26
    0
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    V
    My teenage son had a similar experience on his Gen II and the swap was simple enough he did it himself. It basically amounted to two nuts accessed from inside the trunk area and they popped right out. A few minutes and a couple hundred dollars later (Gen II's must be cheaper) he was back to new.
     
    #3 jsharpe, Aug 15, 2009
  4. rmccarra

    rmccarra New Member

    Joined:
    Aug 15, 2009
    6
    0
    0
    Location:
    Frederick
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    IV
    Thanks


    New part comes Tuesday, hope its just as easy !
     
    #4 rmccarra, Aug 16, 2009
  5. nineinchnail1024

    nineinchnail1024 New Member

    Joined:
    May 4, 2009
    280
    40
    0
    Location:
    New Orleans
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    III
    Damn it. I walked outside tonight and someone did the same damn thing to me. In my driveway! I was hoping they weren't too expensive. Oh, well. The hole in my taillight looks about the right height for a bicycle handlebar, and there is black rubber around the broken glass. Punks.
     
    #5 nineinchnail1024, Aug 17, 2009
  6. rmccarra

    rmccarra New Member

    Joined:
    Aug 15, 2009
    6
    0
    0
    Location:
    Frederick
    Vehicle:
    2010 Prius
    Model:
    IV
    I changed it out last night. Took 45 minutes and was a little more involved that the 2009 model info I got. You need to remove a screw in the tail gate door jam, two of the cargo hook brackets, remove the spare tire tray and their is an additional bolt accessable after you lift the tail gate to lossen the bumper.

    This last one is important as the tailight has a bracket at the bottom that hooks behind the bumper. If you do not remove the bumper bolt you will not be able to remove the old taillight and or install the new one.

    Its also a pretty tight fit so removing it and installing the new one takes some finess.

    Good luck !
     
    #6 rmccarra, Aug 19, 2009
(You must log in or sign up to post here.)