How to change a Toyota brake light

Sep 16, 2023

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Save yourself a lot of money this season by changing your brake light on a Toyota. Also, saving money from avoiding that ticket or even a possible accident – let's avoid that. Our experts at Toyota of Clermont are giving you the best tips on how to change a brake light on a Toyota.

These lights turn on – or even in some cars, flash – when you press your brakes, you can see them in the rear of your car. You see them all the time when you are in heavy traffic, they shine red at night and are called brake lights. Not only do they help alert you that the car in front of you is making a stop, but they alert the car, behind you, to brake.

Before you change a brake light by yourself

Let's dive into everything you need to know about how to replace a brake light on your Clermont Toyota.

The tools you need to replace your Toyota brake light:

1. Buy the bulb for your car model

Definitely check your Toyota's owner's manual to make sure you are selecting the appropriate bulb when you check out. If you are all out of bulbs, you can buy one from our parts store and one of our Clermont parts specialists can get you the right bulb quickly.

2. Go to your trunk area and pull back the cover and expose the brake light

The back cover will look a little different in every Toyota model. However, it will be located in your trunk area and will be towards the corners with a square cover area. You are going to remove the cover once you find access to the Toyota brake light bulb socket.

3. Find the brake light

When you find access to the Toyota brake light bulb socket the next step is to look for the upper tan-colored socket. Once you find that, that is going to be your brake light.

4. Once you find the brake light, go ahead and twist it 1/4 counterclockwise on the base to remove the old bulb

Once you grab the socket you only turn it ¼ counterclockwise. Then, pull it out of the tail light. After you remove the old bulb, you are ready to install the new bulb.

5. Go ahead and install the new bulb and insert the socket back into the tail light by turning the new bulb ¼ clockwise.

When you install the new bulb make sure that when you insert the new bulb turn it ¼ clockwise into the socket. Then, test the bulb to make sure it's working!

6. Put the square cover area back and there you have it.

Once you test the bulb and it works, you can now put the square cover area and enjoy the good fruits of your labor.

Have questions? Need brake service or repairs? Toyota of Clermont is here to help. Call our Clermont auto service center at (352) 404-7001 or stop by and see us at 16851 State Road 50, just west of the Florida Turnpike.

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