🔧 Impala - Taillight Bulb Replacement

On your Impala, the rear taillight bulbs are accessed from inside the trunk. You’ll pull back the trunk liner, twist the bulb socket out, swap the bulb, then test the lights before buttoning everything back up.

Difficulty Level: Beginner | Estimated Time: 0.3-0.7 hours

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⚠️ Safety & Precautions

• ⚠️ Turn the ignition OFF and remove the key before starting.
• ⚠️ Let bulbs cool before touching; they can get hot.
• ⚠️ Don’t touch the new bulb’s glass with bare fingers; skin oil can shorten bulb life.
• ⚠️ Make sure the trunk won’t close on you while you work.

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🔧 Required Tools

You'll need the following tools for this repair:

• Safety glasses
• Nitrile gloves
• Flashlight
• Plastic trim removal tool set

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🔩 Required Parts

HowToo sells all the parts you need for this repair:

• Rear taillight bulbs - Replace in pairs (left + right) - Qty: 2

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📋 Before You Begin

• Park on level ground and set the parking brake.
• Open the trunk and remove anything that blocks access to the rear corners.
• Tip: Take a quick photo before removal.

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🔨 Step-by-Step Instructions

Follow these steps in order:

Step 1: Access the left taillight bulb sockets

• Use a flashlight to find the left rear taillight area inside the trunk.
• Use a plastic trim removal tool set to gently pull back the trunk liner (the carpeted panel) near the left taillight.
• If your liner has plastic push-clips, use the plastic trim removal tool set to pop them out carefully.

Step 2: Remove the bulb socket

• Identify the socket for the bulb you’re replacing (usually the stop/turn/tail bulb is the larger, more common one).
• Grip the socket and rotate it counterclockwise about a quarter-turn by hand.
• Pull the socket straight out of the taillight housing.

Step 3: Replace the bulb

• Put on nitrile gloves.
• Pull the old bulb straight out of the socket (wiggle gently if it’s stuck).
• Install the new bulb by pushing it straight into the socket until fully seated.
• Tip: Match the bulb number to the old bulb.

Step 4: Reinstall the socket and test

• Insert the socket back into the taillight housing.
• Twist clockwise by hand until it locks.
• Turn the ignition to ON and test the lights:
  • Parking lights (tail lights)
  • Brake lights (press pedal or have a helper press)
  • Turn signal / hazard

Step 5: Repeat on the right side

• Move to the right rear corner of the trunk.
• Use the plastic trim removal tool set to pull back the liner.
• Repeat Steps 2–4 for the right-side bulb.

Step 6: Refit the trunk liner

• Reposition the trunk liner back into place by hand.
• If you removed clips, press them back in until snug.

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✅ After Repair

• Verify both sides match brightness and both tail + brake + turn functions work.
• If a new bulb doesn’t light, remove it and reinstall it firmly, then recheck.
• If only one function works (example: tail works but brake doesn’t), you may have replaced the wrong socket—swap to the correct one and retest.

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💰 DIY vs Shop Cost

Shop Cost: $60-$150 (parts + labor)

DIY Cost: $8-$30 (parts only)

You Save: $52-$120 by doing it yourself!

Shop labor rates vary but typically run $100-$150/hour. This repair takes a shop approximately 0.3-0.7 hours.

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🎯 Ready to get started?

HowToo makes it easy: same-day/2-day shipping on every part, plus all the tools and specialty tools you need! Check out the parts and tools sections below to add everything to your cart.