How to Replace a Broken Taillight or Turn-Signal Cover

Parallel parking and city living mean that taillights and turn-signal covers get damaged or cracked with some regularity. There's no reason to spend time and money at the shop when you can easily replace these plastic covers. The following steps work for standard covers, but in some new cars the cover is part of an assembly and you'll have to replace the whole thing.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• New Taillight Or Turn-signal Cover
• Phillips Screwdriver Or Socket And Ratchet

1. Purchase a new light cover at your auto dealer or an auto-salvage yard. Call ahead to ensure they have it in stock. Remember to specify your car's make and model and exactly which light cover you are purchasing (front or rear, left or right).

2. Remove the screws that secure the broken or cracked light cover. Usually this requires just a Phillips screwdriver and can be done quite easily. On some cars, you may need a socket and ratchet. Take care not to misplace the screws.

3. Insert the new light cover and tighten the screws.

Tips & Warnings

• To avoid getting a fix-it ticket, you can temporarily fix a broken light cover with red or orange tape made specifically for this purpose and sold at auto-parts stores.

Who Can Help Sponsored

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[Fike]

on 5/6/2008 It turned out that it took about half an hour to change my tail light unit. It was a little more complicated than I anticipated it being from your article, but I got the job done. One good tip: within the housing (at least, on a 2004 Taurus, not only do you have to undo all the screws (six), but it's also good to know that you simply twist the brake light and the tail light sockets separately in order to remove them. It's kind of unusual for most people, since I don't think most people do this themselves. But all's well that ends well! Thanks again. -Larry

[Fike]

on 5/6/2008 According to my attorney, technically, at least in California, even if you cover a broken tail-light with the "appropriate" red tape, you *can* be ticketed. Not only that, but it legally gives the police "probable cause" to pull you over. Trust me: it's happened to me six times, and I wound up going to court over it. Thanks for the article, but these are important reasons to do that fix-it job right away! Thanks to you, I'm off to do that right this minute. -Larry Fike, http://www.ustream.tv/larryfike