Nissan 370Z Forum - DIY REMOVAL OF THIRD brake light!!!!!!!!

here you go guys.... i thought this deserved a DIY... its such a pain in the as$ to take out this lil guy... anyways i took pics while taking out my third brake light... this is for those of you that wanna paint or tint your third brake lights... :tup:

alright!!! lets get started shall we :D

tools:

4 spreaders for body filler
a 10mm socket
flat head screwdriver

step 1....
pop out the panel on the hatch..... there is enough space to pry the edges start with the left corner then right and work your way around.... there are fasteners on the center of the panel soo your gonna have to stick you hand in the middle of the panel to release these clips.... im pretty sure there are special tools to pop out the fasteners.... BUT i dont have them sooo i used what i had... my hands LOL the panel looks like this...

http://www.the370z.com/members/simot...poiler-018.jpg

step 2 ....

now the back of the hatch is exposed go ahead and remove the plug that plugs to the third brake light... ull see a tab on the plug push down and pull it straight out :tup: super easy :D

step 3....

unbolt the single 10mm bolt holding the third brake light.... once you are done with that your done and ready for the fun part....

step 4.....

you are now ready to pry the third brake light out... BUT first there is a seal that holds the lense onto the body... sooo start prying and work your way around the third brake light... this can be done even with a sport wing on... i did it with my wind on.... dont be scared... BE GENTLE though there are small plastic tabs that hold the lense onto the housing it will snap or crack off if your not careful

http://www.the370z.com/members/simot...ve-3rd-006.jpg

once you have broke the seal around the third brake light start using the plastic spreaders and shove them all on the bottom side of the lense... this will start to make the tabs release... now start pulling upward and prying it slowly..... eventually it will come out and you have the lense out :D

http://www.the370z.com/members/simot...ve-3rd-002.jpg

step 5

now here is a tricky part... and the part that needs the 4 spreaders....

http://www.the370z.com/members/simot...ve-3rd-001.jpg

since the housing is stuck inside your hatch at this point... wedge the spreaders on the metal clips.... like this position

http://www.the370z.com/members/simot...ve-3rd-005.jpg

this will push down the metal clips so it makes your life wayy easier... now one the back side there are the guide shafts... these are the two long plastic looking things.. push them together STRAIGHT forward... if you did the spreaders trick correctly it will go forward with ease.... now the tabs will hit the edges of the hatch before the light housing can fully come out.. u can just pry them with a screwdriver and then viola!!!!

http://www.the370z.com/members/simot...ve-3rd-003.jpg

there your go the light is out.... all you have to do now is line it up and pop in the lense again...

http://www.the370z.com/members/simot...ve-3rd-008.jpg

now you can tint your third brake light paint it or whatever... BE CREATIVE :tup: installing it is a breeze... just pop it back in and bolt the one 10mm and plug the plug and ur good to go :happydance:

i wish all of you luck... first thing is always be sure you are aware of the risks that you are taking when you are gonna do this mod.... like breaking all the clips on the lense... take your time and dont rush... having a buddy really helps!!! i did this alone and i was holding done the hatch with my forehead hahah yup!!! my FOREHEAD then i pushed the guide shafts with my hands.... lastly... i am not responsible for anyone that breaks their third brake lights... you all know that you can break stuff while taking parts out of your car be sure you are willing to risk this and have enough belief in yourself that you can do it.. if you dont then.... dont go through with it... you might end up breaking something and regret it....