How to replace rear third brake light on a 01 stratus?

[Anonymous]

Hi,

Ok I got my oil changed yesterday and the repair guys said the rear third brake light was out. It was a $20 repair estimate. It’s no big deal but I was just wondering if I can do it myself. The odd thing is though there is a housing covering the brake light. In the manual it doesn’t mention this housing but it is clearly blocking access to the bulb. Here are some pics:

Now if I have to buy a 10 or 15 dollar tool to remove those special caps then I’m just going to have the mech guys do it. But if its a simple twist and pull deal I’ll do it myself. How do I get access to the bulb on the inside of that housing? I can barely get my hands in there through the opening you see above. This is puzzling me. Again $20 is no big deal to get the rear third brake light replaced but I would like to see if I can do it myself for just the price of the bulb.

Thanks for any tips.

Kevin

Topic

[Anonymous]

The Dodge dealer would have them. Probably a dollar or so.

An automotive fastener or body-shop supply store
would also have them.

Ask at your local NAPA auto parts store. They
would know who sells them.

NAPA would have the bulbs that you need.

EDIT………..

Here’s some info……

http://store.nutsandbolts.com/aubore.html

.

[Anonymous]

Hi,

Thanks for the link. It looks like it would be at least $10 for the screw tabs then a few bucks more for the bulb. I think I’ll just take it in so I don’t overforce the housing.

Thanks again.

Kevin

[Garibaldi]

Probably a better idea – considering the cost might end up being more than if you took it in

[Anonymous]

One time I was buying gas and the owner of the
gas station was working on a Dodge truck.

I have a Dodge truck too so I
asked him why he was working on it.

He said ‘Because the owner tried to fix it’!!! w00t.gif

[Garibaldi]

Quote:

One time I was buying gas and the owner of the
gas station was working on a Dodge truck.

I have a Dodge truck too so I
asked him why he was working on it.

He said ‘Because the owner tried to fix it’!!! w00t.gif

:haha:

[Anonymous]

Those are reuseable.

Grab the top stem with side cutters (gently), and pull it out. The rest of it will either stay in the panel, or come out with the center stem.

They are really quite simple, no worries.

On assembly, make sure the stem is out, push the outside into the panel, then seat the stem.

You’ll be surprised how easy they work once you get them off.

Check THIS link… Yours are likely similar to either the 3rd or 9th picture.

As for the bulbs, I have no idea what goes in there for your car, but there should be a number on the base that you can read once you have the bulb out.

[Anonymous]

Quote:

Those are reuseable.

The small ‘ears’ have always broken off of all of the fasteners that I
have removed!!! icon_sad.gif

Even when I tried to pull them out gently.

Oh well! icon_rolleyes.gif

Fortunately there is a fastener store close by.

[Garibaldi]

Kevin,

Sounds like Don had the answer you were looking for!

[Anonymous]

The tiny ears you speak of are generally on the “Christmas Tree” retainers like the one posted earlier in this thread. Since the ones we need to remove are inside the car, and of a different design, there should be no problems.

[Anonymous]

[Anonymous]

Hi,

Thanks guys. It sounds like some of you had quite a bit of a hassle with those types of covers. I think to save myself the headache of matching the right cap and all I’ll just take it in.

Thanks for all the suggestions

Kevin

[Garibaldi]

Glad to do it! icon_cheesygrin.gif

[Anonymous]

Hi,

I took it in this morning. It was around $20. Not bad considering I finally got it replaced and I didn’t have to go all over the place trying to get the right parts and throwing fits at not getting it just right.

Thanks for the help

Kein

[Garibaldi]

Kevin,

You won’t believe it but I saw the exact parts you were looking for at the Elkhorn Swap Meet, they were $.50 a piece! :doh: Oh well, its done now.

[Anonymous]

Quote:

Kevin,

You won’t believe it but I saw the exact parts you were looking for at the Elkhorn Swap Meet, they were $.50 a piece! :doh: Oh well, its done now.

Hi,

Well I wasn’t there so it wouldn’t have helped

But them are the breaks eh?

Kevin

[Author]

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