dumb move; smashed tail light assembly - help. Is it difficult to put a new one in??

[bongoyvr]

dumb move; smashed tail light assembly - help. i was backing in and did not see a pole - the passenger side vibe tail light assembly is smashed.I see on ebay they sell them for about $100...is it difficult to install? Can someone give me a link or walk me through how to replace the tail light assembly please...THANKS

[northvibe]

shouldnt be, should unbolt from right inside the tailgate.

[keithvibe]

the hardest part will be to remove the inner trim panel with out breaking any of those stupid plastic clips that hold it on. Once you have the inner panel off, I believe there are only three bolts that hold it on.

[bongoyvr]

"inner trim panel with out breaking any of those stupid plastic clips that hold it on."thanks...anyone have tips on how to not break them off..cool techniques??...if you do break them off..what can you do? use duct tape to hold it in?

[scherry2]

can you reach all the bolts thru the little access panel?

[joatmon]

you can take out the tail light assembly without removing interior trim. Well, there is that little cover designed to come off, gives access to the back of the tail lights, but I wouldn't call that removing trim..Take the cover off and reach in. You have to give the two light sockets a quarter turn t get them out, then there are three nuts to unscrew. I can't rememberr hwat size they are. Here is a pic of the backside of the tail light assembly and the hole it leaves, shows you where the three nuts will be when you reach in there to undo them.I saw in another thread you said you had an 05 AWD. The pic is from an 03, should be the same. I don't know about the 09's though.