A busted taillight can be a significant annoyance, and it can even lead to "fix-it tickets" from the local police. If your car has a broken taillight, it's best to replace it sooner rather than later. Luckily, this is a straightforward and inexpensive fix. And, if you're willing to look for a replacement taillight at junkyards in Fort Myers, FL, you can get a perfectly good replacement taillight for just a couple of bucks. Here are some instructions for finding and pulling a salvage taillight, as well as how to install it in your car.
If you want to find an adequate replacement, your best bet is to find the same make and model vehicle on the salvage lot. This way, you can feel confident that the taillight will fit and work properly. Many people choose to disconnect the broken taillight from their vehicle and bring it with them to the salvage yard so that they can compare taillights. Just make sure to have anything you get into a salvage yard marked by the employees before entering, so you're not charged for it on the way out.
Examine any taillight you're considering to make sure it's in good condition. Foggy light covers can be cleaned, and the bulb can be replaced, but you don't want anything that's cracked or seems to have loose connections.
There are generally two techniques for installing taillights on vehicles. The first is to attach them with threaded studs embedded in the taillights and attached to the vehicle's sheet metal. These studs are accessible from inside the trunk of the car after the side paneling has been removed. Just remove the studs with a deep socket and ratchet, and the taillight will come right off.
The second method is the captive stud method. You'll find screws (or screw covers) near the edge of the trunk or lift-gate once you've opened it. Unscrew these with a Phillips head screwdriver and pry the plastic stud out of the socket while pulling back on the taillight assembly to pop it out. You'll want to use a wooden or plastic tool to pry it out to avoid damaging the light.
Disconnect the wires, and the taillight is ready to go.
Once you've removed the taillight from the salvage car and inspected it to ensure it's in good condition, it's time to install it on your vehicle. Repeat the steps provided above to remove your car's taillight (if you didn't already remove it to bring it to junkyards in Fort Myers, FL, with you). Then, reverse the steps to install the new taillight: Connect the wires, pop it into place, and put the screws or studs back into place. Test out your taillight, and you're ready to get back on the road!