Hey Folks,

I am in the process of replacing the tail lights on my 1985.

Got everything off and then discovered that the connectors for the lights are inside the car and not accessible from the outside. The rear quarter trim panels have to come out at least partially to get access to the connectors.

I pulled out all the screws I could find but there is definately a trick to this that I am unaware of.

Could someone with experience doing this enlighten me and maybe even toss a couple of pics my way?

Really appreciate it as I dont want to break anything.

Cheers
Bernie

 

If you've removed all the screws, then it should slide aft and come out.

I pulled my panels for a speaker replacement, and had no issues. Granted, it wasn't easy, but it was still fairly straight forward. You may have a couple of screws still in that you've not noticed.

 

What exactly are you intending to remove and replace? Bulbs, lense or fixture?


The rear bumper cover must be removed in order to liberate the light fixtures.
I can snap some pictures if needed.
The taillight fixtures actually bolt to the cover from inside the cover.
Two 8mm nylocs on top, two on bottom of each fixture.
And the fixtures are fragile where the studs are molded into the taillights.
There is no way to remove them without removing the bumper cover.


The light bulbs, though, can be accessed via removing the tail light lenses.

That is a bit of a delicate operation. After the four philips head screws for each lense , each with a tiny nylon washer, are removed, the lenses can be worked loose. They actually slide a bit to the center of the rear bumper cover as they lift off the fixtures. Prying them will often break the lenses.

 

No, no,

I am replacing the entire assemblies not the bulbs..................
Imagine what an idiot I would be if I removed the entire rear bumper cover to change a bulb.........LMAO.

I've already got the entire bumper cover off. I only need to get to the tail light connectors behind the interior trim panels.

Guess I will search again for screws but I believe I got them all.
IIRC there were 2-3 at the rear, the coat hanger and 1 more at the front. Then there was one going into the bottom of the hatch.

Pics of one removed would be spectacular.

Cheers
Bernie

 

There are a couple of flat brackets that extend inboard under the carpeted area that you may have overlooked.

 

The rear seat foam needs to come out (gets glued back in later). Rear seat back, too. And the side panels that hook in place. There are several screws under the seat foam that hold the interior panel. Seat belt surround has a pair of hidden screws.

Then, I think 3 or 4 plastic push pins, attached to the top edge of the panel, that pass into the body above the quarter window.

Has this not been described before here? I would think it has, but don't know. Should be a clean procedure in WSM as well.

After all screws are out, you pop the plastic pins out at the top edge and work the panel towards the front of the car, and out, simultaneously.

 

Here`s a composite pic of the screws holding the rear quarter on my `88 S4 - sorry about the poor quality



You can see how some are obscured by the seat and the small panel at the front as already noted by Landseer.

 

Rear seatbacks need to be removed. Look fopr all the fasteners so excellently highlighted above. Pull interior panels inward toward each other, and forward. The window "frame" can hook, so keep an eyue on that. Be aware of those little flat pieces by the window on the flattish horizontalish part.

 

^^^ Those are key points.

So you don't struggle with the seat back hex --- With seatback flat, down, release the lever catch. Then, push the seatback down a bit more, further than horizontal. That gives access to the hard-to-reach allen head, with less struggle.

 

Thanx for the help guys!

Will take another look at it here today.

Appreciate it.

Cheers
Bernie

 

Give me a shout if you need an extra set of hands, Bern.