Replacing tail light assembly

Check this very helpful video by a PC member:

Be very careful with removal and replacement of the hold-down nuts.

Gravity helps them find their way into places from which they cannot easily be recovered.

 

I have the same problem. Did you find it was just like the video when replace the light assembly.

 

Thank you. The video was very helpful. I used this to change the tail light for my 2013 Prius V - Trim 5. I did drop the top most hold down nut while fastening as I was not able to hold on to it but I'm hoping the new light will be secure with just 2 nuts.

BROKEN LIGHT --->

Ordered light from Amazon $105.96

 

When working in situations like this, I stuff some rags into the area where the fasteners are likely to drop to if I were to lose my hold. It's saved me a couple of times over the years! Thanks for the video link!

 

For the top-most nut, I found that it was easier if I held the nut in my hand and installed it with it behind my back -- it sort of looks like the stance when you are about to bowl a bowling ball and have the ball behind you.

 

This is super helpful. But does anyone have a link to the replacement taillight assembly he is installing?

 

I just ordered a set from this ebay seller:

Toyota Prius V Wagon Full LED Tail Lamp | eBay

 

Handy tip for getting the topmost nut started. I sprayed my index finger tip with a little 3M spray adhesive and let it get tacky. Stick the nut to it and point it up to get it onto the stud.

Of course, the geniuses at Toyota might have thought to make that access cover a little larger?

 

Smaller hands in the design department...

 

The trickiest part for me was getting the old unit free after removing the three nuts. There's a slot that slips over a trim button, plus a locater pin. Look at the replacement to see where and in which direction to pull. What finally got it free was very carefully prying between the front point and the bodywork while wiggling it back and forth from the rear. A plastic pry bar would make it a little less nerve-wracking about dinging the paint.

Now, what to do with the old one? All of the lights worked fine, and just the clear shield was broken. The very first parallel parking after buying it, in front of a restaurant with a sidewalk dining area guarded by a steel pipe railing that actually stuck out into the marked curbside space by more than a foot. Just beyond the field of view for the backup camera. I plan to super-glue the broken bits back as well as possible, then put it on Craigslist. I'd even give it away to someone on a tight budget with a seriously destroyed unit. I really, really hate to send something like that to the landfill.