Buick
LaCrosse Tail Light Bulbs Replacement Guide
How to change a burnt out rear turn
signal or reverse bulb in the tail lights of a 2nd generation 2010-2016 Buick
LaCrosse.
 2016 LaCrosse Tail Light |
 Round Plastic Fasteners |
 Pry Out Pop Rivet |
| This
automotive maintenance tutorial was specifically written to assist
owners of the second generation (2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015
& 2016) GM Buick LaCrosse sedan in changing a burnt out rear turn
signal or reverse bulb in the tail light housings. Owners of other General Motors vehicles such as the Chevrolet Impala, Monte Carlo, Malibu, Spark, Sonic, Cruze, Volt, SS, Camaro, Caprice, Corvette, Trax, Equinox, Traverse, Tahoe, Suburban, Colorado, Silverado, Buick Verano, Regal, Cascada, Encore, Enclave, Envision, GMC Canyon, Sierra, Terrain, Acadia, Yukon, Savana, Cadillac CT6, ATS-V, ATS, ELR, CTS, XTS, XT5, SRX, Escalade and Holden Commodore may also find these DIY instructions to be helpful. The replacement bulb part numbers are as follows: Rear Turn Signal # 7440A (or WY21W) and Reverse # 921 (or W16W). The tools you may need to complete this procedure include a pop rivet removal tool, a pair of needle nose pliers and a plastic automotive panel pry bar tool. |
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 Remove Plastic Pop Rivet |
 Pull Out 2nd Pop Rivet |
 Pull Back Trunk Liner |
| The first two steps
are to open the trunk and then move to the side of the car with the burnt
out tail light bulb. Locate the two small round black plastic pop rivets or "Christmas Tree" fasteners that secure the carpeted trunk liner in place. Pry out the fasteners with a pop rivet removal tool or you can use a pair of needle nose pliers to pull them out. Set the two pop rivets aside in a safe place. Gently peel back the trunk liner to expose the tail light housing fasteners. |
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 Black Plastic Thumb Nut |
 Housing Thumb Nuts |
 Twist Off Counterclockwise |
| The tail light
housing is held in place by four black plastic thumb nuts. Remove the thumb nuts by turning them counterclockwise. |
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 Outer Corner Thumb Nut |
| Set the four thumb nuts aside in a safe place. | ||
 2 Pop Rivets & 4 Thumb Nuts |
 Gently Pry Along Outer Edge |
 Tail Light Assembly Removed |
| Try to pull the
tail light housing straight off the rear corner of the car. If you have trouble removing the housing, use a plastic pry bar tool along the outer edge. Turn over the tail light assembly to access the bulb sockets. |
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 1/4 Turn Counterclockwise |
 Turn Signal Light Bulb Socket |
 Pull Out Old Light Bulb |
| Rotate the tan
colored plastic rear turn signal bulb socket 1/4 turn counterclockwise to
remove it from the housing. Pull the old bulb straight out of the socket. |
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 Push In New 7440A Bulb |
 1/4 Turn Clockwise - Lock |
 Reverse Light Bulb Socket |
| Push a new amber
colored #
7440A 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. |
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 1/4 Turn Counterclockwise |
 Pull Out Old Light Bulb |
 Push In New # 921 Bulb |
| Rotate the smaller
grey plastic reverse light bulb socket 1/4 turn counterclockwise and pull it
out of the housing. Pull the old reverse light bulb straight out of the socket and push in a new # 921 bulb. If you would like to have brighter reverse lights for extra safety, consider using a 921 LED bulb. |
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 1/4 Turn Clockwise - Lock |
 Line Up Bolt Threads |
 Push On Tail Light Housing |
| Re-insert the
reverse bulb socket in to the housing and rotate it 1/4 turn clockwise to
secure it in place. Line up the bolt ends on the back side of the tail light assembly with their corresponding holes in the rear corner of the vehicle. Gently push the tail light housing back in to place until it is flush with the metal body panels. |
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 Spin On Thumb Nuts |
 Tighten Clockwise |
 Replace Thumb Screws |
| Move to the inside
of the trunk and spin on the four black plastic thumb nuts in the clockwise
direction. Tighten the thumb nuts until they are snug. Try to avoid over tightening the thumb nuts to prevent from cracking or damaging the plastic tail light assembly. |
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 4th Thumb Nut Replaced |
 Replace Trunk Carpet |
 Push In Pop Rivets |
| Push the carpeted
trunk liner panel back in to place. Push in the two black plastic pop rivets to secure the trunk liner. |
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 Secure Trunk Liner |
 Trunk Liner Replaced |
 Test New Tail Light Bulbs |
| Test the new tail
light bulbs by having someone step on the brake pedal, activate the hazard
signals and place the transmission in reverse. For more,
check out my other
2010-2016 Buick LaCrosse DIY Repair & Maintenance Guides. |
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