How to Replace Tail Lights 2010-14 Volkswagen GTI
Created on: 2018-04-25
How to install, repair, fix, change or replace a broken, damaged, burned out, cracked, faded, cloudy or chipped tail light / brake light on 10, 11, 12, 13, 14 Volkswagen GTI.
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step 1 :Removing the Tail Light
- Open the rear hatch
- Pull off the trim piece behind the tail light by hand
- Remove the plastic retainer from the hatch carpet
- Pull back the hatch carpet
- Unplug the tail light electrical connector
- Hold the tail light from the outside of the hatch
- Unscrew the plastic tail light retainer by hand
- Pull the tail light off the vehicle
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step 2 :Installing the Tail Light
- Put the tail light into place, using the locating tab
- Hold the tail light from the outside of the hatch
- Install the plastic tail light retainer by hand
- Plug in the tail light electrical connector
- Put the hatch carpet into place
- Push the plastic retainer into the carpet
- Push on the hatch trim piece behind the tail light
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step 3 :Removing the Deck Lid Light
- Pry open the deck lid light trim panel with a flat blade screwdriver
- Unplug the deck lid light electrical connector
- Remove the two 8mm nuts from the light
- Push the light out of the hatch from inside the hatch
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step 4 :Installing the Deck Lid Light
- Put the deck lid light into place, threading the wiring through the hatch
- Fasten the two 8mm nuts onto the light
- Plug in the deck lid light electrical connector
- Clip on the trim panel behind the light
- Close the hatch
Tools needed
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Gloves
Socket Extensions
Flat Blade Screwdriver
8mm Socket
Ratchet
Hi. I'm Mike from 1AAuto. We've been selling auto parts for over 30 years!
You open the trunk. You've got to get in behind the tail light. We have to pull this piece of trim up first. On normal vehicles, there should be a little retainer there, holding the carpet in, but on this one it's missing.
Pull back on the carpet. We're going to disconnect the electrical connector here. There's two tabs you push down. And pull it up. And we're going to disconnect this retainer that holds the light in. Need to unscrew it. Make sure you hold the light from the outside, so it does not fall. Pull that out. Now we're going to pull on the tail light, and it's going to come right out.
On this assembly, there's a little tab that's going to go into that, and then you're going to feed in the connector, when installing. Make sure that lines up. There you go. While holding the outside of the tail light, we're going to reinstall the retainer. Then we're going to reconnect the connector. There's two tabs on the bottom of the connector that line up with the other connector. Then click them into place.
Now we're going to reinstall the carpet. Lining it all up. If you had that retainer, you would stick that back in. Then push this trim piece back on.
To access the rear light on the deck lid, we're going to use a flat straight screwdriver. You're going to enter it in here. Pull this cover off. Cover comes off. All right, we're going to take the light assembly out. First we're going to disconnect the wires right here. You're going to push thee two tabs. Pull that to disconnect. These nuts are 8 millimeter. I'm using a socket extension and ratchet. So, what you need to do is you're going to push up in the center of the tail light, move it over, and then pull it straight out.
You want to make sure this lines up on the outside here. You're going to fish the wires through. Have it tilted up. Pull it down flush. You're going to reinstall the nuts, using the socket and extension. You're going to reinstall the trim panel. There's these two retainer clips that slide in up top. Then you push up, and it should snap. The passenger side is the same as the driver's.
Thanks for watching. Visit us at 1AAuto.com for quality auto parts, fast and free shipping, and the best customer service in the industry.
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