Fiat 500 Tail
Light Bulbs Replacement Guide
How to change a burnt out brake, rear
turn signal or reverse bulb in the tail light housings of a 2008-2015 Fiat 500.
 Fiat 500 Tail Light Assembly |
 Open Tailgate - Two Screws |
 Loosen Counterclockwise |
| This
automotive maintenance tutorial was specifically written to assist
owners of the "new" Type 312 (2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013,
2014 and 2015) Fiat 500 hatchback car in changing a burnt out brake,
rear turn signal or reverse bulb in the tail light housings. Owners of other Fiat, Alfa Romeo, Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep and RAM vehicles such as the 4C, Giulia, 200, 300, Town & Country, Challenger, Charger, Dart, Durango, Journey, Grand Caravan, Compass, Grand Cherokee, Wrangler, Renegade, Cherokee, Patriot, 1500, C/V Tradesman and ProMaster may also find these DIY instructions to be helpful. Replacement bulbs with their part numbers are as follows: Brake # P21/5W (or 1157), Rear Turn Signal # PY21W (or 7507) and Reverse # W16W (or 921). The tools needed to complete this procedure include a 10mm socket, a 1/4" drive ratcheting wrench, a plastic automotive panel pry bar and a Torx T25 star bit screwdriver. |
||
|
|
||
 Loosen 2nd 10mm Screw |
 Two Screws Removed |
 Gently Pry Outer Edge |
| The first two steps
are to open the tailgate door and move to the side of the vehicle with the
burnt out tail light bulb. Locate the two screws on the inner edge of the tail light housing. They can either be loosened with a Phillips head screwdriver or a 10mm socket with a 1/4" drive ratcheting wrench. I would not recommend using a Phillips head screwdriver since the screws are made of soft metal that strip easily. Remove the two screws by turning them counterclockwise and set the aside in a safe place. The tail light housing is still held in place by two metal pegs or "spikes" on the outer edge of the assembly that act as friction fasteners inside plastic grommets on the rear corner of the vehicle. |
||
 Loosen Friction Fasteners |
 Pull Off Tail Light Housing |
 Electrical Connector |
| Gently loosen the
tail light housing by prying along the outer edge with a plastic automotive
panel removal tool or with a flathead screwdriver covered with a thin micro
fiber cloth. You may need to pry at several places along the outer edge to loosen the two friction fasteners. Pull the tail light housing straight off the rear corner of the vehicle. |
||
 Pry Back Retaining Clip |
 Pull Off Power Plug |
 Brake - Turn - Reverse |
| Gently pry back the
retaining clip on the electrical connector before sliding the power plug
straight out of its socket. Turn over the tail light housing to access the bulb sockets. |
||
 Loosen Counterclockwise |
 Torx T-25 Screws |
 Four Screws Removed |
| To remove the bulb
socket bracket from the rear of the tail light housing, you'll need to
loosen the four Torx T-25 screws by turning them counterclockwise. Set the four T25 screws aside in a safe place. |
||
|
|
||
 Pull Out Bulb Bracket |
 Tail Light Housing |
 Bulb Sockets Accessible |
| Gently pull the bracket off the rear of the housing and turn it over. | ||
 Push Down & 1/4 Turn CC |
 Install New Turn Signal |
 Push Down & 1/4 Turn CC |
| Push the old rear
turn signal light bulb down in to the socket and rotate it 1/4 turn
counterclockwise before pulling it straight out. Push a new amber colored # PY21W bulb down in to the socket and rotate it 1/4 turn clockwise to secure it in place. Push the old brake light bulb down in to the socket and rotate it 1/4 turn counterclockwise before pulling it straight out. Push a new # P21/5W bulb down in to the socket and rotate it 1/4 turn clockwise to secure it in place. |
||
 Pull Out Old Reverse Bulb |
 Push In New # 921 Bulb |
 Lower Bulb Socket Bracket |
| Pull the old
reverse light bulb straight out of the socket. Push in a new # 921 or W16W bulb down in to the socket. Turn over the bulb bracket and lower it down on to the rear of the housing. |
||
 Push Back In Place |
 Tighten T25 Clockwise |
 Push In Electrical Connector |
| Re-insert the four
T25 screws and tighten them in the clockwise direction. Hold the tail light housing near the rear corner of the vehicle and push the power plug back in to place. |
||
 Line Up Metal Pegs |
 Push On Tail Light Housing |
 Spin In 10mm Screws |
| Line up the metal
pegs on the back of the housing with their corresponding grommets on the
rear of the car. Push the tail light housing back in to place. |
||
 Re-Insert 2nd 10mm Screw |
 Tighten Clockwise |
 Tail Light Bulbs Replaced |
| Spin in the two
10mm screws and tighten them in the clockwise direction until they are snug. Try to avoid over tightening the screws to prevent from cracking the plastic inner edge of the housing. 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
2008-2015 Fiat 500 DIY Repair & Maintenance Guides. |
||
If you found this guide to be helpful,
please consider making a small donation by clicking on the PayPal.com
"Donate" button located to the right of this paragraph. Thank you!
 (Note: I am not a registered charity. Donations are not tax deductible.) |