How to Install Emergency Vehicle Lights

The emergency flashers on your car or truck are not difficult to swap out.

Your emergency lights (aka hazard lights) are an essential safety feature on your car or truck. If you break down on the side of the highway or if you have engine trouble while driving, your emergency flashers can alert other drivers of your situation. On most vehicles, the front emergency flashers are housed in the front bumper. The rear emergency flashers are housed in the main taillight assembly, which can either be accessed through your trunk or hatchback if you have a rear-opening sport utility vehicle.

Things You'll Need

• Socket set
• Replacement bulbs

Instructions

1. Turn your ignition on and test your flashers to see which emergency flasher bulbs are actually out.

2. Open the hood of your vehicle and remove the negative battery cable (to prevent shorts while you replace your bulbs).

3. Crawl beneath the front bumper so that you can see the bulb housing on your front bumper if a front emergency flasher is out. Twist the bulb socket out and pull it from the assembly. Pull the old bulb straight out of its socket and slide the new bulb in. Slide the new bulb and its housing back into the assembly and twist it to the right to lock it back into place.

4. Open the trunk or hatchback if a rear emergency flasher is out. If there is a trunk liner in your way, you can pull it up and move it aside until you can access the rear taillight assembly. Your emergency flasher is typically the second bulb from the top inside rear taillight assemblies. Twist the bulb and socket to the left and slide it out. Pull the old bulb out of its socket and slip the new bulb in. Replace the bulb and socket assembly. Also put your trunk liner back in place if you had to move it to access your taillight assembly.

References

• "The Complete Idiot's Guide to Auto Repair"; Vyvann Lynn and Tony Molla; 2007