mrag

The dashboard indicator light on my 1992 ES300 shows a rear bulb is out. The bad bulb seems to be on the driver's side of the "High Mounted Stoplight" (the stop light on the rear window ledge and I assume there are two bulbs in there). The manual says it is Bulb No. 921 and 18 watts. I wouldn't know for sure because I can't figure how to get to the bulbs! It doesn't seem you can get to them from inside the trunk. I read elsewhere that on the 400 model, while kneeling on the rear seat, you "karate chop" the housing to the left (passenger side) about 1/2" and then lift it up and out.

Does anyone know for sure what you do with the ES300? TIA

kyledye25

you should be able to get to it via the trunk. There are nuts you will need to take off and the tail light itself will come loose. Pull it out then you will have access to the bulbs. There are I think 5 smaller nuts that will need to be taken off. But that will give you access to the bulbs. Took me all of maybe 10 min to change out both my license plate lights on my 93. But make sure when your all done the tail light is in correctly and everything it tight....but of course dont over tighten anything. lol. Good luck with it.

mrag

Thanks for the feedback, but it is NOT a tail light problem, it is the light in the middle of the back seat ledge under the rear window and between the two rear speakers. The Lexus manual refers to it as the High Mounted Stoplight. It would appear it has two bulbs (left and right) and in my case, one of them has burned out. There is NO access from the trunk.

Lexucan

The high mounted brake light housing pulls forward (toward the front of the car) and is held in place by friction clips. It can be a struggle to get the housing to move, but it is possible. I used a small metal rod with a hook on the end to slide under the corner of the housing and pull it forward, first a bit on one side, and then the other. It finally came loose but I had to do a lot of tugging. Maybe yours will come loose more easily. Once you replace the bulbs (do both so you don't have to do this again for a long time) then slide and snap the housing back into place. GL.

mrag

Thanks (including replacing both bulbs). I will give it a try shortly. In reading elsewhere, it seems the later Lexus models need the housing "karate chopped sideways" towards the passenger side about 1/2" and then lifted up. Obviously makes a difference with a 1992.

As luck would have it, tonight when I drove the car, the dashboard warning went off and I could see both bulbs working again. I can't see that working for very long. Thanks again.

acc

I have a third led brakelight on my 2nd gen es300 and it looks bad ***.

Lexucan

HERE is a link to a DIY thread which pretty much covers the subject.