DIY JDM Tail Lights install
I received some JDM tails + the center garnish recently for my 97 GT. I couldn’t find I nice DIY for installing them so I gave it shot. The install of the JDM lights is easy. The un-install of the factory set is challenging if you are doing it solo.
Things you’ll need:
• Heat Gun
• Philips screwdriver
• 8mm 1/4” deep socket
• 10mm socket
• Socket wrench
• Pliers
• Bike tire iron
• Knife
I started with the center garnish piece. Remove the interior body panels on your trunk/boot lid. It is easy to take out, remove all the pins and yank it out.
There are 12 nuts you need to unscrew to take the garnish piece off. Most of them are fairly easy to find. Refer to your JDM piece for reference. Unscrew the visible nuts with your 8mm socket.
There are two that are hidden behind your wiper motor if you have BK/BG. A tall one and a short one
These ones require you to remove three bolts using your 10mm socket. After that there are 6 screws on the plate covering the motor gears, removing this makes it kinda easy to unscrew the nuts.
Make sure you remove the plug for the lights. After all the nuts are off it should be simple to pry the garnish piece off. If you are anything like me you know what to do if you see this under there.
The garnish is a direct bolt on, so just slap it in. I used the bike tire iron to get the weather stripping on top on the garnish.
When it is fully in, attach the plug for the lights and test them out. Secure all the nuts, hand tighten all of them first, and then fully tighten them with your 8mm.
I did the driver side light next. The sidelights were little more difficult. There are four nuts, two of which are hidden, to remove. There is a nut under a vinyl sheet in the “car jack” compartment. I just cut a slit in it to expose the nut. The other one was under the rear tower trim.
After all four nuts are removed remove the light plug. Then take your heat gun (works best) or hair dryer and heat around the seams of the light. Good spots to heat is the gap closest to the bumper and the light, the gap where the black plastic opens up off the body work, and from the inside from a distance.
The light should pull out easy when the glue is hot. Again the JDM light is a direct bolt on. It will help the installation if you heat the glue on the JDM light. Put the JDM light in after the black glue becomes shiny from heating.
Plug in the lights and test them out. Hand tighten the nuts when every things checks out and then fully tighten with the 8mm.
The passenger side was a little more difficult. The same two nuts are hidden but the one closest to the front of your car is very hidden.
You have to remove the interior trim and the plastic storage compartment. Two screws hold the plastic compartment in place. My sub box prevented me from fully removing the trim so I had to pull it back and cut the slit in the vinyl to expose the nut.
After that it is the process is the same to get the factory light out and the JDM light in.
Hopefully there were no major hitches and they turned out good.
Originally Posted by Abe Lincoln
Reply With Quote
