How do you remove the tail lights?

[JackWagon]

Hello,
Seems as though there is a cracked trim piece all the way around both my tail lights where a flat head screw driver was used to pry the lenses out. Is that the correct method for removal or are they mounted from the access panel inside?

Both are sporting a good 2" of water inside the lenses and that doesn't seem like a good thing so I'd like to remove the entire assembley, let it dry out, seal up the holes, and replace the bulbs while I'm at it.

[ARCHINSTL]

There are two access panels on each of the two D pillars. Removal of them will provide access to mounting bolts and wiring.
Note - as these panels are 30+/- years old, they are susceptible to breaking the little tabs. I would suggest squirting WD-40 or a silicone spray into the slots. That should aid removal.
Tom M.

[Petros]

Welcome to the forum!

the tail light assemblies are one piece, glued together with solvent adhesive. You can not services them from outside the car, you will damage them by prying on anything on the outside.

the only way to remove them is from the inside access panels that Tom mentions. there are like six 8 mm nuts that have to be unscrewed off studs in the back of the light assembly. Use a 1/4" drive socket and extension, with a universal joint to reach some of them, and the will spin off easy (careful not to drop any, they fall into a very narrow inner body cavity that is impossible to reach).

Once you get the nuts off the whole assembly just pulls off the back, sometimes stuck in place by an old rubber gasket.