How to Change the Brake Lights on a 1999 Cadillac Seville

All 1999 Cadillac Sevilles, whether in SLS or STS trim, came equipped with the same brake-light setup. The brake-light bulbs are mounted in the rear-lamp assembly, sometimes called the tail-lamp assembly. Brake lights are an important safety feature, and if they're burnt out, you may be required to replace them immediately, depending on your local laws. Either way, it's best to do so as soon as possible. The procedure takes about 15 minutes.

Things You'll Need

• Replacement bulb 3057

Instructions

1. Remove the key from the ignition and open the trunk. Walk to the trunk and inspect the compartment.

2. Locate the two cargo-net retainers (one on each side). If your Seville has the cargo net attached, grasp the ends of it and unhook it from the retainers against the trunk wall.

3. Twist off the cargo-net retainers with your hand. Set them to the side. Lift out the center-spare tire cover and set it outside of the trunk.

4. Peel back the fabric layer in the rear corner of the trunk (on the side you are changing the brake light). With the cargo-net retainers and the center-spare tire cover removed, it peels back easily.

5. Locate the three nuts behind the fabric layer. These nuts mount your tail-light assembly, which holds your brake-light bulb. Twist the nuts with your fingers to remove them; they plastic handles and are easy to remove.

6. Pull the tail-light assembly toward from the outside of the trunk. This allows you to access the bulb sockets. The brake-light bulb is the bottom-mounted bulb.

7. Grasp the white bulb-socket tab. Squeeze it and twist the socket counter-clockwise to remove it from the assembly. Pull the old brake-light bulb straight off the socket. Insert the new bulb. Push it down gently.

8. Re-insert the brake-light socket into the assembly. Squeeze the white tab and turn it clockwise. Re-insert the assembly into its place. Tighten the three nuts by hand, from the inside part of the trunk.

9. Push back the fabric liner. Repeat the process for the other brake-light bulb, if you need to change both of them. When finished, twist the cargo-net retainers back on and replace the center-spare tire cover.

References

• ExtendedGM: 1999 Seville Manual (PDF)