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Kia Soul Tail Light Bulbs Replacement Guide
How to change a brake, parking, reverse, turn signal, reverse or side marker bulb in the tail lights of a 2009 to 2013 Kia Soul.

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2013 Soul Tail Light
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Open Tail Gate
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Phillips Head Screws
This automotive maintenance tutorial was specifically written to assist owners of the 1st generation (2009, 2010, 2011, 2012 & 2013) Kia Soul in changing a burnt out brake, rear turn signal, reverse or parking light bulb in the tail light housings.

Owners of other Kia and Hyundai SUV, minivan or hatchback vehicles with similar tail light assemblies such as the Forte5, Rio, Sedona, Sorento, Sportage, Elantra GT, Accent, Veloster, Tucson, and Santa Fe may also find these DIY instructions to be helpful.

Replacement bulbs with their part numbers are as follows: Brake # 2357, Rear Turn Signal # 1156NA or 1156A, Reverse # 921, Rear Side Marker Light # 168 and Parking Light # 2357.

The only tool required to replace the bulbs is a standard Phillips head screwdriver.

You might also need a small flathead screwdriver or a plastic automotive panel removal pry bar tool.



 
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Top Phillips Head Screw
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Loosen Counter Clockwise
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Middle Screw
The first two steps are to open the tail gate and then move to the side of the vehicle with the burnt out tail light bulb.

(The approximate bulb locations are indicated on Picture # 1 above.)

Then loosen the three screws located along the inner edge of the tail light housing by turning them counter clockwise with the Phillips head screwdriver.

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3rd Screw - Bottom
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3 Phillips Screws Removed
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Pull Off Tail Light Housing
Set the three screws aside in a safe place.

The tail light assembly is still held in place by three metal pegs or "spikes" on the rear outer edge that act as friction fasteners inserted in to plastic grommets on the metal body.

Gently pull the tail light housing straight off the rear of the vehicle.

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Pry Off Friction Fasteners
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Plastic Grommets On Body
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Black Metal "Spikes"
If you have trouble removing the housing, try gently wiggling it while pulling.

You can also carefully insert the blade of a small flathead screwdriver or a plastic automotive pry tool in between the corner of the vehicle and the outer edge of the housing to pry out the friction fasteners.

If you just need to quickly replace one bulb, you can skip the following steps for disconnecting the power plug.

Turn over the tail light housing and locate the electrical connector.

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Metal Peg On Top
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Press Release Button
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Disconnect Power Plug
Press the release tab on the power plug and slide it straight out of its socket.

Set the tail light assembly down on the cargo area carpet.

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Rest Housing In Cargo Area
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1/4 Turn Counter Clockwise
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Remove Parking Light Socket
The Parking Light bulb is located at the top of the housing.

Rotate the socket 1/4 turn counter clockwise and pull it straight out of the housing.



 

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Push Down & 1/4 Turn CC
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1/4 Turn Clockwise - Lock
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1/4 Turn CC - Turn Signal
To remove the old bulb, push it down in to the socket and rotate it 1/4 turn counter clockwise before pulling it straight out of the socket.

Push a new # 2357 bulb down in to the socket and rotate it 1/4 turn clockwise to secure it in place.

(You may also use the similar # 1157 bulb which was the OEM part for the 2010 and 2011 Kia Soul.)

The Rear Turn Signal light bulb socket is located just below the parking light bulb and closer to the center of the housing.

Rotate the socket 1/4 turn counter clockwise and pull it straight out of the housing.

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Push Down & 1/4 Turn CC
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1/4 Turn Counter Clockwise
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Pull Out Side Marker Bulb

Push the old bulb down in to the socket and rotate it 1/4 turn counter clockwise before pulling it straight out of the socket.

Push a new amber colored # 1156A or 1156NA bulb down in to the socket and rotate it 1/4 turn clockwise to lock it in place.

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

The Rear Side Marker light bulb socket (also known as the 2nd or the smaller parking light) is located near the center of the housing in between the turn signal and the reverse light.

Rotate the small light grey plastic socket 1/4 turn counter clockwise and pull it straight out of the housing.

Pull out the old bulb and push in a new # 168 bulb. You can also use any other miniature wedge base bulbs such as the # 194, W5W, 2825 or a brighter LED unit.

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

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Reverse Bulb Socket
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Pull Out Old # 921 Bulb
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Brake / Stop Light Bulb
The Reverse Light bulb socket is located near the center of the housing just above the brake light.

Rotate the socket 1/4 turn counter clockwise and pull it straight out of the housing.

Pull the old bulb straight out of the socket and push in a new # 921 bulb.

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Push Down & 1/4 Turn CC
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Re-Install 1/4 Turn Clockwise
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Push Plug In Socket
The Brake Light bulb socket is located at the bottom of the housing.

Rotate the socket 1/4 turn counter clockwise and pull it straight out of the assembly.

Push the old bulb down in to the socket and rotate it 1/4 turn counter clockwise before pulling it straight out.

Push a new # 2357 bulb down in to the socket and rotate it 1/4 turn clockwise to secure it in place.

(You may also use the similar # 1157 bulb which was the OEM brake light part for the 2010 and 2011 Kia Soul.)

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

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Line Up Pegs & Grommets
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Spike & Plastic Grommet
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Push In Friction Fasteners
Push the power plug straight in to its socket until it clicks securely in to place.

Line up the metal pegs or "spikes" on the outer rear edge of the housing with the plastic grommets on the corner of the vehicle.

Gently push the tail light housing back in to place.

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Push On Tail Light Housing
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Replace Phillips Screws
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Tighten Screws Clockwise
Replace the three Phillips head screws and tighten them in the clockwise direction until they are snug.

Do not over tighten the screws to prevent from cracking the plastic inner edge of the housing.

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Tighten Center Screw
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3rd Screw At Bottom
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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 Kia Soul DIY Maintenance Guides.
 

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