Tail lights replacement on 95 Camaro

[bohemianpasha]

This is my first post, so I hope I posted it in the correct thread. We have a basically stock 95 Camaro that has bad tail lights (one has a crack/hole in it and the other has water in it). I decided to buy a new set of after market lights on Ebay (black, Altezza) brand since they look pretty good and are cheaper than what I can get as far as originals. I received them today and they look pretty solid.

I plan to swap them in the next few days. It is my understanding that it is fairly easy job, but on some Ebay listings it said that professional installation recommended - a warning sign maybe some tweaking needs to be done. I took a quick look from the inside of the trunk and it doesn't seem as simple as pulling back the carpet. Do you have to remove the inside side panels too? I would appreciate any advice from someone that has done this before. Thanks in advance!

[thedetailman]

Re: Tail lights replacement on 95 Camaro

Hey!. welcome to the sight.

Its actually a fairly easy job. (one of the easiest next to changing windshield wipers.
All that's needed is to pull back the carpet. unscrew the plastic wing nuts and carefully take the light out. You must make sure the lights are undone from the light fixture before pulling it all out or you might cause damage to the wiring.

Put the other lights back in (remember where the blinker bulb/brake light bulb/running light bulb goes.) and BE Careful not to tighten the wing nuts TOO tight because it could break some of the plastic brakets. BUt do tighten them FIRM so they don't rattle.

[bohemianpasha]

Re: Tail lights replacement on 95 Camaro

Hey!. welcome to the sight.

Its actually a fairly easy job. (one of the easiest next to changing windshield wipers.
All that's needed is to pull back the carpet. unscrew the plastic wing nuts and carefully take the light out. You must make sure the lights are undone from the light fixture before pulling it all out or you might cause damage to the wiring.

Put the other lights back in (remember where the blinker bulb/brake light bulb/running light bulb goes.) and BE Careful not to tighten the wing nuts TOO tight because it could break some of the plastic brakets. BUt do tighten them FIRM so they don't rattle.

Thank you. I just wanted to make sure I didn't have to remove the side panels where the rear speakers are before trying to change them.

[thedetailman]

Re: Tail lights replacement on 95 Camaro

wait...the rear panels for the back seats? or the back back panels that cover your spare tire.. because you will have to take them out to get the carpet all the way out. (as for the big ones by the back seats..no. but for the ones that cover the tire and jack on the one sire. yes. taking that out will be involved. There Very easy to take out. just make sure you don't mess up the seals.

1st Step. (remove BACK panels which takes about 3 seconds.)
2 step. (peal back the carpet)
3rd step. (unscrew the lights)
4th step. (remove the plastic housings very carefully)
5th step. (place the new ones back in__be sure that the lights are in the correct spots__)
6th step.(tighten the wing nuts firmly)
7th step.(put the carpet back and make the the plastic press screw is pushed all the way in__should be located right under the back hatch hinge__)
8th step. (put the plastic panels back in)

and your done

[bohemianpasha]

Re: Tail lights replacement on 95 Camaro

Thanks detailman! You couldn't get much more detailed than that, short of including some photos of each step....:)

[thedetailman]

Re: Tail lights replacement on 95 Camaro

SOrry. If i had a camera :)

[TheGr8Schlotzky]

Re: Tail lights replacement on 95 Camaro

I'll only add that the passenger side hatch panel is held in by twisty screws (use a coin to turn them free and pull up) and the driver side is held in by push-type clips, so although it may be a little uncomfortable, just pull firmly upwards. They are sturdy panels, so you won't break them, don't worry.

[bohemianpasha]

Re: Tail lights replacement on 95 Camaro

I'll only add that the passenger side hatch panel is held in by twisty screws (use a coin to turn them free and pull up) and the driver side is held in by push-type clips, so although it may be a little uncomfortable, just pull firmly upwards. They are sturdy panels, so you won't break them, don't worry.

Thanks, I'll bring some change with me when I go work on it. :)

[bohemianpasha]

Re: Tail lights replacement on 95 Camaro

I finally got around to changing the lights. They look sharp. It was very easy. The cleaning took the longest. There was so much crap behind the lights and the bulb adapters were all crusted up with dirt. The bulbs were dirty so I was cleaning them with a rag and of course one them came loose from the socket (glass pulled out of the metal thing) so I had to run to autozone to get a new one. I was suckered into buying some "bulb grease". What a scam it is basically petroleum jelly in a little packet for $1.50.

I did have to loosen up the spare tire a bit to get to that passenger side wing nut closest to the side. I was also confused that there was only one speaker in the back, probably the powered woofer in the bose system, which really is an amazing system in these cars. Does anyone know if those were standard?

[cam98aro]

Re: Tail lights replacement on 95 Camaro

just a tip, but IIRC i had to move my spare tire out of the way to get to the passenger side tail light when i took it out

[TheGr8Schlotzky]

Re: Tail lights replacement on 95 Camaro

^^Yeah, depends how thin your arms are.

Yeah, there is only one speaker if the car had the Bose sub, and it's a 6.5" 100W sub. It wasn't standard, it was the optional "premium sound" in 93-96.

[bohemianpasha]

Re: Tail lights replacement on 95 Camaro

^^Yeah, depends how thin your arms are.

Yeah, there is only one speaker if the car had the Bose sub, and it's a 6.5" 100W sub. It wasn't standard, it was the optional "premium sound" in 93-96.

I hope I don't have to change a bulb in the near future since it is as much work as replacing the tail lights!
Thanks for the details on the Bose system. I think one of the rear speakers is broken. I wonder where would be best place to buy a replacement speaker.

[TheGr8Schlotzky]

Re: Tail lights replacement on 95 Camaro

You mean you sub is broken? I have my Bose sub sitting in my closet since I replaced it with a stealth box if you're interested.

[bohemianpasha]

Re: Tail lights replacement on 95 Camaro

You mean you sub is broken? I have my Bose sub sitting in my closet since I replaced it with a stealth box if you're interested.

No, not the sub. One of the two rear speakers, rear seat section of the car. My wife said one of those is out. I will probably need one of those speakers replaced. Just not sure if you have to get bose or can go with equivalent after market speaker.

[TheGr8Schlotzky]

Re: Tail lights replacement on 95 Camaro

You can and can't. The Bose stuff is 2-ohm and 99% of aftermarket is 4-ohm, so it won't work correctly, it will be super quiet.

I have the door 6.5" door speakers in my closet too. I bought my car with after market sail panel speakers so I wouldn't be able to confirm that they are the same exact speakers, but I do know they are the same size, impedance, and brand. I had another set of 2-ohm Bose speakers out of a pathfinder that were a little more bass-happy, but I sold them to my friend and he blew them. :(