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Nissan Pathfinder Tail Light Bulbs Replacement Guide
How to change a burnt out brake, turn signal, reverse or side marker light bulb in a 2013-2016 Nissan Pathfinder.

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2016 Pathfinder Tail Light
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Open Tailgate Door
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Pry Off Plastic Trim Cover
This automotive maintenance tutorial was specifically written to assist owners of the fourth generation (2013, 2014, 2015, 2016 and probably also the revised 2017 model year) Nissan Pathfinder SUV in changing a burnt out brake, rear turn signal, reverse or side marker bulb in the tail light assemblies.

Owners of other Nissan or Infiniti vehicles such as the Versa, Maxima, Juke, Rogue, Altima, Xterra, Sentra, Murano, Cube, Armada, Leaf, Quest, Frontier, Teana, 370Z, GT-R, Titan, G25, G37, M35, QX56, QX60 and M37 may also find these DIY instructions to be helpful.

The compatible replacement light bulb part numbers are as follows: Brake # 7443, Rear Turn Signal # 7440A, Reverse # 921 and Side Marker # 2825.

The tools needed to access and replace the tail light bulbs include a plastic pry bar tool, a 10mm socket and a 1/4" drive ratchet.



 
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Trim Panel Removed
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Two Bolts Exposed
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Loosen Counterclockwise
The first two steps are to open the tailgate door and then move to the side of the SUV with the burnt out tail light bulb.

Gently pry off the rectangular shaped black trim cover located on the inner edge of the tail light housing with a plastic automotive pry bar tool.

Set the trim panel aside in a safe place.

Loosen the two bolts that were hidden under the trim cover by turning them counterclockwise with a 10mm socket and a 1/4" drive ratcheting wrench.

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Remove 2nd Bolt
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Two 10mm Bolts Removed
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Gently Pry Outer Edge
Set the two 10mm bolts aside in a safe place.

The tail light housing is still held in place to the rear corner of the vehicle by two metal pegs or "spikes" inserted in to plastic grommets on the outer edge of the car.

Use the plastic pry bar tool to very gently pry along the outer edge of the tail light housing (the part that points towards the front of the car).

You may need to re-insert the pry bar tool in several locations around the outer edge of the tail light housing to disengage the two friction fasteners from their grommets.

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Pegs & Grommets
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Lower Friction Fastener
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Turn Over Light Housing
Turn over the tail light assembly to access the bulb sockets.
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1/4 Turn Counterclockwise
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Side Marker Bulb Socket
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Pull Out Old Light Bulb
The rear side marker bulb socket is located at the outer edge of the housing.

Rotate the small grey plastic bulb socket 1/4 turn counterclockwise before pulling it straight out of the housing.

Pull the old light bulb straight out of the socket.

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Push In New 2825 Bulb
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1/4 Turn Clockwise - Lock
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Brake Light Bulb Socket
Push a new number 2825 light bulb in to the socket.

You can also upgrade the side marker bulb to a brighter LED unit.

Re-insert the socket in to the housing and rotate it 1/4 turn clockwise to secure it in place.

The large brake light bulb socket is located at the top of the housing.

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1/4 Turn Counterclockwise
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Pull Out Old Light Bulb
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Push In New 7443 Bulb
Rotate the brake light bulb socket 1/4 turn counterclockwise and pull it straight out of the housing.

Push a new # 7443 light bulb in to the socket.

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1/4 Turn Clockwise - Lock
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Turn Signal Bulb Socket
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1/4 Turn Counterclockwise
Re-insert the brake light bulb socket in to the housing and rotate it 1/4 turn clockwise to secure it in place.

The rear turn signal bulb socket is located at the bottom of the housing.

Rotate the turn signal bulb socket 1/4 turn counterclockwise and pull it straight out of the housing.



 

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Pull Out Old Light Bulb
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Push In New 7440A Bulb
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1/4 Turn Clockwise - Lock
Pull the old light bulb straight out of the socket and push in a new amber colored # 7440A bulb.

Re-insert the bulb socket in to the housing and rotate it 1/4 turn clockwise to secure it in place.

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Line Up Metal Spikes
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Push On Tail Light Housing
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Spin In Two Bolts
To re-install the tail light housing, line up the two metal pegs near the outer edge of the housing with their corresponding plastic grommets on the rear corner of the SUV.

Carefully push the tail light housing back in to place.

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Replace Lower Bolt
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Tighten 10mm Clockwise
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Tighten 2nd Bolt
Spin in the two bolts a few turns by hand to prevent them from becoming cross threaded.

Tighten the two bolts by turning them clockwise with the 10mm socket and a 1/4" drive ratchet until they are snug.

Try to avoid over tightening the bolts to prevent from cracking the plastic inner edge of the tail light housing.

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Line Up Trim Cover
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Gently Snap On Trim
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Trim Panel Replaced
Line up the plastic trim cover and push it back in to place over the inner edge of the tail light housing.
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Reverse Light Housing
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Underside of Tailgate Door
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Pry Out Access Cover
The reverse light bulb is located in a separate housing attached to the tailgate door.

Locate the rectangular plastic access cover on the underside of the tailgate door.

Use the plastic pry bar tool to gently pry out the outer edge of the access cover.

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Swing Open Cover
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Access Cover Removed
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Reverse Light Bulb Socket
Swing open the cover and then remove the plastic hooks at the inner edge.

Set the plastic access cover aside in a safe place.

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1/4 Turn Counterclockwise
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Bulb Socket Removed
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Pull Out Old Light Bulb
Rotate the reverse light bulb socket 1/4 turn counterclockwise and pull it straight out of the housing.
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Push In New # 921 Bulb
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1/4 Turn Clockwise - Lock
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Re-Insert Plastic Hooks
Push a new # 921 light bulb straight in to the socket.

Re-insert the socket in to the housing and rotate it 1/4 turn clockwise to secure it in place.

Line up the access cover and re-insert the plastic hooks on the inner edge.

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Pop In Retaining Clips
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Access Cover Replaced
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Test New Tail Light Bulbs
Gently pop in the retaining clips on the outer edge of the access panel.

To test the new tail light bulbs, have someone step on the brake pedal, turn on the hazard lights and shift the transmission in to reverse.

For more, check out all of my 2013-2016 Nissan Pathfinder DIY Repair & Maintenance Guides.
 

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