I need to change out the side taillight on my 2004 Chevy Impala.

Look at the lens. You will see a small slot on one side of it. Use a small screwdriver or key to pop it off. Pull the light out and snap the lens back in place. Bulbs are usually a number 194.

Open the boot/trunk. Pull back the covering on the inside to reveal the interior of the light cluster. There should be a few retaining nuts and the wiring to be uncoupled, and then the light cluster should just pop out.

open the trunk and remo0ve the interior trim panel on the trunk lid. You will see a couple of nuts that hold the lens in place.

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1 Turn off your Alero's engine, engage the emergency break and remove the keys from the ignition. Pop the trunk using the driver's side trunk release latch or by manually unlocking it.

Step 2 Slide your fingers beneath the carpeted trunk trim and peel it away from the trunk's interior.

Step 3 Remove the three wing nuts and bolts that fasten the taillight assembly to the car.

Step 4 Lift the taillight lens away from your Alero's body.

Step 5 Press the three small tabs to separate the taillight lens and the socket plate.

Step 6 Pull the defective bulb gently out of its socket. Dispose of the bulb immediately to keep it from cracking or dropping glass shards on the ground.

Step 7 Press the new bulbs into the socket plate and reassemble the taillight assembly.

** to find the correct light bulb(s) for your car go to your local auto zone, pep boys, etc

You need to remove the whole taillight assembly. Open the trunk, and you'll see the plastic covering the lower rear part of the trunk, including up and around where the taillights are. On each side, there are two plastic fasteners. Just use your fingernail, or something thin, and pop out the CENTER of the fastener. Don't pull hard, it just comes out about 1/8", do NOT remove the center entirely. Once you pull the center out a bit, the whole thing should pull out easily. Do this on both sides.
Now grab the middle section and while wiggling, pull it straight up. It's held with 4 push in clips that slide onto the plastic part. It's very snug, but it'll come out with some wiggling and pulling up.
Now you can pull the fabric covering the back of the trunk where the taillight is. Remove the 4 metric nuts, and the whole unit will be able to be pulled out. Be gentle, the wiring is still attached from within the trunk. I found it easier to work on if you push the connector/grommet inside the trunk through to the outside. It just pulls back easily when you're done.
Turn the fitting on the back of the taillight assembly counter clockwise about 1/8-1/4 turn and it comes out. Takes standard type bulb. After replace, before reinstalling, try the light. Reassemble in reverse order.
Put nuts on taillight assembly, snug up. I found I could loosen the nuts by just holding the socket in my fingers, so only tightened the same way, no wrench. Smooth the fabric from the sides of the trunk back in place over the taillight area. Take the plastic cover and note the 4 clips that hold it in place, as well as the round plastic that helps align it. Ensure the clips are correctly on the plastic, one of mine slid off and remained in the car/hole. I just used pliers to pull it straight out, then slid it in place on the plastic. Align the round pins in the metal of the trunk and push straight down in the 4 places the clips go.
Ensure the holes in the plastic, and fabric, line up with the hole in the metal on the sides by the taillight. Holding the plastic clips with the center slightly out, push them in, then push in the center and they'll hold.
Close trunk and re-test lights and you're done!

pop the trunk and you should see two screws along the rear taillight assembly. remove the screws and the taillight assembly should pop out. you can then twist the bulb and pop it out along with the harness, put the new bulb in and reverse.

If it's your 3rd brake light, the bolts holding it in against the rear window will be found inside your trunk along the top side of your trunk (get in and look up)

To change the taillight assembly open the trunk and pull the cover back on what ever side you need to change. You will see either wing nuts holding the taillight in or 10mm nuts holding the light in. Remove the bulbs and unbolt the taillight assembly and remove replace in reverse.

open the trunk.
pull back the cover on the side you need to change, there are usually 3 black plastic nut you have to remove before doing this.
after the trunk interior cover is pulled off there are 3 nuts, 11mm wrench or socket will take them off. pull the taillight assembly out and twist the socket out containing the bulb that is blown. the bulb just pulls out of the socket. while the bulb is out you should inspect the socket for corrosion, it wont hurt to clean it up and put some die electric grease in there

Buy a Toyota?

If you're asking how do you change a taillight bulb, then follow this procedure:

Open the trunk lid.

Disconnect the connectors from the taillights (taillight bulb connectors are visible by looking inside the trunk at the back of the tail lamps.) There may be an interior trunk trim panel that you have to take off but in most cases its just a series of thumb screws that hold them in.


Brake Lights/Taillights: 21/5 W

Rear Turn Signal Light: 21 W

Back-up Light: 21 W

Rear Side Marker Light: 5 W


Turn the bulb sockets 45 º counterclockwise to remove the bulbs.


If you're removing the taillamps with the bumper off there are 3 nuts and screws that hold the taillight to the rear panel of the car that have to come off from the inside of the trunk.
Remove the nuts and screws, then remove the taillight.

hope that answers your question