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

[Garibaldi]

Quote:

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

Kevin,

But it could have been arranged to get them to you. Oh well, that’s how it works eh?

[Anonymous]

Quote:

But them are the breaks eh?
Kevin

Pun intended?!!! w00t.gif

Breaks/brakes

[Anonymous]

Quote:

Quote:

But them are the breaks eh?
Kevin

Pun intended?!!! w00t.gif

Breaks/brakes

hi,

DOH!

No actually it wasn’t inteded

Kevin

[Garibaldi]

Quote:

Quote:

Quote:

But them are the breaks eh?
Kevin

Pun intended?!!! w00t.gif

Breaks/brakes

hi,

DOH!

No actually it wasn’t inteded

Kevin

:haha:

[Anonymous]

Those little black fasteners are very easy to pull out without damaging them or having to buy new ones providing u use the right tool. Most people just pry them off with a screwdriver or something which is what damages them. Get yourself a pair of sidecutters and pinch the head of the fastner with them but dont grab em so hard u actually cut the plastic then they will make a “pop” noise and they will release. I believe on the stratuses they have about 4-6 of them on that cover? Once those are out u now have access to the bulb. U have the option of unbolting the assembly (2 nuts) and pulling the lense and everything out and replacing the bulb or just pulling out the bulb socket and doing it that way. Last one i did the assembly was busted so I needed to replace the whole thing, took about 4-5 min. Once u changed the bulb put the black plastic cover back on and pop the fasteners back in. I realize this is an older post but maybe this info will help someone else out. wave.gif

[Anonymous]

Thanks hotrodbuilder

I’ll try to keep this post handy for later.

[Garibaldi]

Quote:

Those little black fasteners are very easy to pull out without damaging them or having to buy new ones providing u use the right tool. Most people just pry them off with a screwdriver or something which is what damages them. Get yourself a pair of sidecutters and pinch the head of the fastner with them but dont grab em so hard u actually cut the plastic then they will make a “pop” noise and they will release. I believe on the stratuses they have about 4-6 of them on that cover? Once those are out u now have access to the bulb. U have the option of unbolting the assembly (2 nuts) and pulling the lense and everything out and replacing the bulb or just pulling out the bulb socket and doing it that way. Last one i did the assembly was busted so I needed to replace the whole thing, took about 4-5 min. Once u changed the bulb put the black plastic cover back on and pop the fasteners back in. I realize this is an older post but maybe this info will help someone else out. wave.gif

Good advice! :salut:

[Author]

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