Changing brake/night light in 2003 Lexus RX300

[ackerberg]

The brake/night light on the tailgate is partially burned out, the brake
light portion is not working. I want to replace it. When I lift the
tailgate, I see there are 2 10mm nuts that easily unscrew but I can not
remove the lense, it is on very tightly. I understand the lens snaps
into place but I do not know how to release the snaps and I am afraid of
cracking the lense. Does anyone know how to use a screwdriver to pry up
the lense so it can be removed? Exactly how do you pry it up.
Thanks.

[Ray O]

Post by ackerberg
The brake/night light on the tailgate is partially burned out, the brake
light portion is not working. I want to replace it. When I lift the
tailgate, I see there are 2 10mm nuts that easily unscrew but I can not
remove the lense, it is on very tightly. I understand the lens snaps into
place but I do not know how to release the snaps and I am afraid of
cracking the lense. Does anyone know how to use a screwdriver to pry up
the lense so it can be removed? Exactly how do you pry it up.
Thanks.

If you remove the nuts from the inside, the entire light fixture should come
off, not just the lens. Try pushing on the studs that the nuts were
attached to.

[ackerberg]

Post by Ray O

Post by ackerberg
The brake/night light on the tailgate is partially burned out, the brake
light portion is not working. I want to replace it. When I lift the
tailgate, I see there are 2 10mm nuts that easily unscrew but I can not
remove the lense, it is on very tightly. I understand the lens snaps into
place but I do not know how to release the snaps and I am afraid of
cracking the lense. Does anyone know how to use a screwdriver to pry up
the lense so it can be removed? Exactly how do you pry it up.
Thanks.

If you remove the nuts from the inside, the entire light fixture should come
off, not just the lens. Try pushing on the studs that the nuts were
attached to.

Pushing on the studs is necessary to clear the holes they are in when
pulling off the fixture, but the fixture has clips that are holding it
to the door. Where are the clips so I can pry the fixture off without
breaking it?

[Ray O]

Post by ackerberg

Post by Ray O

Post by ackerberg
The brake/night light on the tailgate is partially burned out, the brake
light portion is not working. I want to replace it. When I lift the
tailgate, I see there are 2 10mm nuts that easily unscrew but I can not
remove the lense, it is on very tightly. I understand the lens snaps
into place but I do not know how to release the snaps and I am afraid of
cracking the lense. Does anyone know how to use a screwdriver to pry up
the lense so it can be removed? Exactly how do you pry it up.
Thanks.

If you remove the nuts from the inside, the entire light fixture should
come off, not just the lens. Try pushing on the studs that the nuts were
attached to.

Pushing on the studs is necessary to clear the holes they are in when
pulling off the fixture, but the fixture has clips that are holding it to
the door. Where are the clips so I can pry the fixture off without
breaking it?

I'd be surprised if there are any clips to release the light fixture after
the nuts are removed. Try pulling on the fixture from the outboard side of
the exterior of the fixture. The rubber gaskets may just be sticking.
Doesn't the owner's manual have instructions?