stupid question seeks easy answer - remove brake light cover

[dlb]

Hey, need to replace the brake light that sits in the rear window in my 86 Terc, how do you get the plastic pins out of the light cover without snapping the heads off?

I know, not the most tech question on the board here but I really hate breaking small stuff like this. Thanks!

[ARCHINSTL]

You don't - at least, mine snapped off, despite the greatest of care. Most parts stores will have replacements, albeit black only.
Tom M.

[Petros]

this sometimes work: spray wd40 or similar light oil behind the head, use two putty knife or similar flat tool, one from each side, and work it back and fourth. If no movement, increase the outward pressure to extrac them, once the little plastic teeth or leaves fold over it it will pop right out. Sometimes you can work them out without breaking them, but not always. if the plastic is not too brittle it will will pop out and you can reuse it. I found I can reuse them about half the time using this method.

Good luck.

[toughtercel]

the tiny center peice , you only push 1/8 " in (NOT 1/4 " or you screw) to release outer plastic peice , you pull out whole outer peice by small screw driver or dinner fork , before you install , remove tiny peice out of outer plastic and install outer peice in FIRST then put small inner peice in till flush to outer peice . I just tested my other two tercel , it works every time in the past.

[dlb]

Awesome, thanks so much for your help guys! I'm going to be doing quite a bit of work on mine (I just got it, an '86 SR5 with almost no rust) so I'm sure I'll be asking for lots of tips and advice on here in the near future. I'll post some pics after I paint the SOB.