Tech Tip
Tail Light Bulb Replacement – C4 Corvette
from Roy Master
Thanks to Bob Wadyka for reminding me to write this helpful hint for C4’s. The left turn signal quit working on my ’87 Vette last week so I figured a bulb was burned out.
I started with the left-rear bulbs with the following process:
• Removed the license plate.
• Removed the left back-up light.
• Reached in through the license plate frame with a small ratchet to remove the two screws holding the right taillight assembly. (Of course, there are two lights on the left – it’s a Corvette.)
TIPS:
• If you do this procedure, tie a string around the wrench because you will likely drop the wrench behind the bumper.
• Have band-aids ready because the space is very tight and there are rough edges.
• After removing the right taillight assembly, you can go through that hole to remove the bulb in the left taillight assembly.
Hey, I did it! I replaced both bulbs. However, @#$%$#@, the turn signals still didn’t work. Okay, now I had to replace the left-front bulb. This looked easy until I found that the bulb socket was stuck from age and there was only a very small space to get my fingers in. I don’t remember ever replacing the front bulbs in the 20+ years that I owned the car.
I removed the horn and then I managed to get my fingers in to remove the bulb socket. Hurray, the turn signals worked!
TIP:
After replacing the rear bulbs, I read that I could have turned on the emergency flashers to find out which bulb was burned out. Evidently, the bulbs work independently when using the emergency flashers.