Reverse Light Removal?

[20Marauder04]

Hey guys i'm new to the site i picked up my marauder at the begining of this month and was wondering if anyone has removed the reverse light lenses from their car and how do you do it? Do you have to remove the panel to the left and right of the lenses? Thanks guys.

[gdmjoe]

The back-up light lenses cannot be removed. They are fused/bonded to the trunk panel.

[BAD MERC]

That entire section comes off with a multitude of nuts on the inside on the trunk lid. If you are removing it be careful, taking that off with cause your trunk to spring up with more force and may come out of your hands.

[bob6364]

not to mention its also glued on so it can be broken if your not careful...the last one i took off was glued pretty well not sure how i got it off in 1 piece

[Black_Out]

Be super careful with this, I took my whole fascia off to tint the reverse lights and could not get it to line up perfectly when I put it back in. If I had to do it again, I would tape off the back of the car and spray it right there.

[Egon Spengler]

How do they expect us to change the bulbs in the 3rd brake light then?

[bob6364]

I know the screws that hold the plate light lens are about an inch longer then they need to be...i thought they where never going to end.

[RF Overlord]

How do they expect us to change the bulbs in the 3rd brake light then?Uh...the third brake light is inside the cabin on the rear shelf...

[Black_Out]

If you meant "how are we supposed to replace the reverse lights", they bulbs come out. the housing doesn't.

[20Marauder04]

I meant to take out the lense so I could tint it but I'm just going to tape it off on the car and tint it that way.

[GetMeMyStogie]

I remember reading in the owners manual something weird about changing the reverse light bulbs in the MM - something about removing either the whole panel or the housings to gain access to the light bulb. I remember having a quick look at it and seeing that, sure enough, access to the reverse light bulb socket is all but impossible from inside the trunk.

[fastblackmerc]

I remember reading in the owners manual something weird about changing the reverse light bulbs in the MM - something about removing either the whole panel or the housings to gain access to the light bulb. I remember having a quick look at it and seeing that, sure enough, access to the reverse light bulb socket is all but impossible from inside the trunk.

Dude, you really need to check your MM before giving out false and misleading info....

It's actually very easy to remove the reverse bulbs WITHOUT removing the whole panel. Take a look inside the deck lid, you'll see the sockets, just a twist and they come out.

[fastblackmerc]

I meant to take out the lense so I could tint it but I'm just going to tape it off on the car and tint it that way.

The panel is easy to take off, I've done it to 2 Marauders. Take a look at the deck lid, it's obvious how it comes out.

[BAD MERC]

Dude, you really need to check your MM before giving out false and misleading info....

It's actually very easy to remove the reverse bulbs WITHOUT removing the whole panel. Take a look inside the deck lid, you'll see the sockets, just a twist and they come out.

No - you're wrong, the rear glass needs to be removed, the rear doors must come off. Then the unit body welds must be drilled and separated, remove the rear clip then the trunk lid must be removed and stripped to the primer to replace the reverse bulbs. And they're sub-metric organic filaments and are obsolete anyway. Sheesh!

[fastblackmerc]

No - you're wrong, the rear glass needs to be removed, the rear doors must come off. Then the unit body welds must be drilled and separated, remove the rear clip then the trunk lid must be removed and stripped to the primer to replace the reverse bulbs. And they're sub-metric organic filaments and are obsolete anyway. Sheesh!

:eek::eek:

Must have missed that part in the shop manual!

[GetMeMyStogie]

Dude, you really need to check your MM before giving out false and misleading info....
The information I provided is that the owners manual contains specific information on how to replace the reverse light bulbs.


It's actually very easy to remove the reverse bulbs WITHOUT removing the whole panel. Take a look inside the deck lid, you'll see the sockets, just a twist and they come out.

Have you actually tried to remove those particular light bulb sockets? Yes, they are visible from the inside the deck lid, but they are rather far from the nearest access hole, and are right up against the inner sheet metal. Without gloves, you're asking for a sc***** knuckles or worse, thin rubber or latex gloves will probably get cut, and with thicker gloves access and grip becomes a problem.
One could probably use a really long needle nose or bent nose plier to reach in and twist the socket, though.

[fastblackmerc]

The information I provided is that the owners manual contains specific information on how to replace the reverse light bulbs.



Have you actually tried to remove those particular light bulb sockets? Yes, they are visible from the inside the deck lid, but they are rather far from the nearest access hole, and are right up against the inner sheet metal. Without gloves, you're asking for a sc***** knuckles or worse, thin rubber or latex gloves will probably get cut, and with thicker gloves access and grip becomes a problem.
One could probably use a really long needle nose or bent nose plier to reach in and twist the socket, though.

I'll take a picture of mine. Maybe you got a "special" Marauder.

[fastblackmerc]

From my 2004 Mercury Marauder owners manual:

"Replacing backup lamp bulbs


Make sure the headlamp switch is in the OFF position, then open trunk and remove bulb socket from the trunk lid by turning counterclockwise.
Pull the bulb straight out of the socket and push in the new bulb.
Install the bulb socket in trunk lid by turning clockwise'"

[GetMeMyStogie]

You know what? You're right. I was thinking of the license plate bulb.

Damn memory starts to fail as :geezer: creeps up on you
I'll go :corner: and think about what I've said.