Jump to content

Replacing the rear license bulbs


EXGM

Recommended Posts

Has anyone on here replaced the rear license plate bulbs? I can't figure out how to get the mother *^%$!'s out! I tried a long needle nose pliers and that wasn't going to work.... just wondering if anyone has some tips?

 

Thanks!!

Link to comment
Share on other sites

It is a colossal bitch. The spring clip is on the side closest to the tag. Grab the side closest to the tag and push in as hard as you can and they swing out so to speak towards the corners of the bumpers. You are gonna have to push till you think your fingers are gonna break. They are held in by a spring clip type thing on the inside edge.

Easiest way to do it is to cup it with your hand, put the heal of your palm on the the back side and squeeze in with your whole hand with all your might

Link to comment
Share on other sites

and I'll offer a suggestion, do both of them and put in LED's so you're not in there again anytime soon replacing bulbs. But the LED's you pick matter. A lot of them flat out won't fit inside the tag light housing, or shove up against the lens...and the really cheapo ones crap out, the assembly fails long before the LED device itself could possibly go bad.

 

For an LED that is good quality and very similar in dimensions to a regular 194 bulb, look at the Sylvania LED's you can score at most auto parts stores now. They have one with a small frosted dome and it fits pretty much anywhere a 194 fits. I just put some in the corner lenses on my SS (which is also a size-restricted space) thanks to some really old 4-LED pieces I had that went bad. Not only did they fit, they got rid of the annoying noise my turn signals were making over the AM radio.

 

SYLVANIA_046135330520Primary.jpeg

 

Richard

Edited by someotherguy (see edit history)
Link to comment
Share on other sites

It is a colossal bitch. The spring clip is on the side closest to the tag. Grab the side closest to the tag and push in as hard as you can and they swing out so to speak towards the corners of the bumpers. You are gonna have to push till you think your fingers are gonna break. They are held in by a spring clip type thing on the inside edge.

Easiest way to do it is to cup it with your hand, put the heal of your palm on the the back side and squeeze in with your whole hand with all your might

So you take off the cover from the outside?

Link to comment
Share on other sites

The lights are the same as the regular silverado, but they clip to the bumper cover instead of the steel bar. So the bulb socket is fished though the hole in the steel, and its nearly impossible to get from the back. You might be able to get unplugged, but you'd never get it back on. If you do happen to break the clip, you can pop the painted cover off, and swap it for the back off a black textured one.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

The lights are the same as the regular silverado, but they clip to the bumper cover instead of the steel bar. So the bulb socket is fished though the hole in the steel, and its nearly impossible to get from the back. You might be able to get unplugged, but you'd never get it back on. If you do happen to break the clip, you can pop the painted cover off, and swap it for the back off a black textured one.

Good to know thanks! Yeah I was like if I got this out from the back Ill probably never get it back..... Ill give it a try today. Thanks everyone!!!

and I'll offer a suggestion, do both of them and put in LED's so you're not in there again anytime soon replacing bulbs. But the LED's you pick matter. A lot of them flat out won't fit inside the tag light housing, or shove up against the lens...and the really cheapo ones crap out, the assembly fails long before the LED device itself could possibly go bad.

 

For an LED that is good quality and very similar in dimensions to a regular 194 bulb, look at the Sylvania LED's you can score at most auto parts stores now. They have one with a small frosted dome and it fits pretty much anywhere a 194 fits. I just put some in the corner lenses on my SS (which is also a size-restricted space) thanks to some really old 4-LED pieces I had that went bad. Not only did they fit, they got rid of the annoying noise my turn signals were making over the AM radio.

 

SYLVANIA_046135330520Primary.jpeg

 

Richard

Ha. I bought those exact one so I plan to never do again......

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Maybe letting it sit in the sun or little heat gun action could make them easier? Couldt hurt being warm I guess. Mine were rough as hell too but got it done nervously. I swapped all the 194 style bulbs and it's great. Good recommendation there for sure.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 3 weeks later...

and I'll offer a suggestion, do both of them and put in LED's so you're not in there again anytime soon replacing bulbs. But the LED's you pick matter. A lot of them flat out won't fit inside the tag light housing, or shove up against the lens...and the really cheapo ones crap out, the assembly fails long before the LED device itself could possibly go bad.

 

For an LED that is good quality and very similar in dimensions to a regular 194 bulb, look at the Sylvania LED's you can score at most auto parts stores now. They have one with a small frosted dome and it fits pretty much anywhere a 194 fits. I just put some in the corner lenses on my SS (which is also a size-restricted space) thanks to some really old 4-LED pieces I had that went bad. Not only did they fit, they got rid of the annoying noise my turn signals were making over the AM radio.

 

SYLVANIA_046135330520Primary.jpeg

 

Richard

 

i put the same ones in my denali, they work great.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

When put leds in the lower inside door panels and the puddle lights they look like they have a tiny bit of power going to them and are faintly lit up. Just barley tho. Same brand bulbs and same that are in this thread. I don't drive my SS much so I took them back out for now. Anyone have this issue. No issue with these bulbs in the dome lights, markers or plate lights. Not to well versed in the LEDs enough so figured I'd ask.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 2 weeks later...

When put leds in the lower inside door panels and the puddle lights they look like they have a tiny bit of power going to them and are faintly lit up. Just barley tho. Same brand bulbs and same that are in this thread. I don't drive my SS much so I took them back out for now. Anyone have this issue. No issue with these bulbs in the dome lights, markers or plate lights. Not to well versed in the LEDs enough so figured I'd ask.

Mine does it at the map lights intermittently. It has been that way for a couple of years with no problems.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Paste as plain text instead

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.

Loading...
×
×
  • Create New...