richma7175

Does anyone know how to change the licence plate bulb? Both are out on my 94 ES
and I can seem to get at them.

lexusk8

I posted a set of instructions on how to access the license plate light bulbs on a 1st-gen ES long time ago, so here they are again:
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Go to an auto parts store (e.g. Autozone, Advance Auto) and get two (2) Sylvania or similar brand bulbs, type 168. They're about $2 each. Even if you have only one burnt out bulb, it's generally a good idea to change both of them at the same time.

The tools you need here are a set of needle nose pliers and an 8mm socket wrench (the long kind). Pop the trunk, and carefully pull up the plastic trunk sill that runs the width of your car (a little force is needed here). Use your nose pliers to pluck out the (4) plastic peg covers on the side trunk carpet covering, located behind the license plate area. Then pull down the carpet covering to reveal the skeletal frame of your tailights (if the trunk light plastic cover gets in the way, you can pop that out too).

Here, you'll see at least (7) 8mm size bolts (I can't remember the exact #). All of these bolts hold the tailights in place, and tailight removal is necessary in order to get to your license plate light bulbs. I believe you need to unscrew (4) of those bolts to remove the tailights, but unfortunately I don't remember exactly which ones, though the bolts should be symmetric on both tailights. Hopefully someone here in CL can help me out, but in the meantime, you can remove the bolts by trial-and-error. Sorry I can't be more specific.

After you remove the bolts, carefully pull the tailights away from the trunk area and place them on the bumper (you do not need to remove any wiring or cables). With the tailights out, you can easily see the license plate bulbs. Pull the old ones out. Now you need to wear rubber or latex gloves so that no oil or grease gets on the new bulbs. With your gloves on, place each of the new bulbs into its socket (you'll hear a click when it's locked in).

Reverse the previous steps here, and turn on your lights to see your new lights working. That's it.

juan01

ack, all that work just for changing those bulbs?

EGainer

yep, the lights are a BlTCH, definitely glad my audi lights are so much easier sorry

squarehat

I just got the dreaded "taillight out" indicator on my dash last night. I pulled into the garage and both tails and turn signals were fine. Didn't have anybody to step on the brake pedal for me, so it's either a brake light or a license plate bulb (center mount brake light is fine, I could watch that through the mirror). I do remember the pain it was to rip apart the trunk liner to change a bulb, I changed a cracked left taillamp assembly shortly after buying the car.