Prado 150 Taillight Removal Advice (Loose taillight)

[tdsasp Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close tdsasp]

Hi, this may sound like a simple one, but I am asking for comment on the following:

I have a Prado 150, I noticed the passenger taillight was loose, that is, the 2 screws were tight but the light seemed to "flap" slightly. I tool it to the local dealer and they said that a plastic clip was broken, the clip cannot be ordered as a spare part - they needed to replace the whole light under warranty, they gave me my car back and ordered a new light.

Whilst waiting for the new light I began to hear a rattle from the rear, I contacted the dealer and they said that it was the light rattling and that it would be fixed when replaced.

I thought no problem.

They eventually fitted a new light (poorly fitted) when I collected the vehicle the light was sticking out to the side of the car by a good 5mm. The dealer said the person who fitted the light did not fit it correctly. They re-fitted it, it looked ok.

The rattle was still there, and on further inspection the light was still loose.

I removed the light.

I noticed the white plastic clip on the passenger side of the car which the dealer referred to. I see that it slides into a grove on the taillight assembly.

I noticed inside the bumper - under where the light sits is a "loose" black plastic frame where the taillight cable is attached to which slides into two grooves under the light when installing the light.

I refitted the light and it now feels tight.

Can any one shed any light on the correct procedure for fitting the taillight?

Is the info given to me by the dealer true or fiction?

Should the black plastic frame be tight on the light?

Thanks to all in advance.

Nige.

[JimmyC Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close JimmyC]

From my experience there is no clips, all screws. I think maybe 3? This is going back about a year in the memory bank so could be wrong

[tdsasp Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close tdsasp]

Hi, there is two bolts that are visable with the taiilgate open, when you remove those, you grip the tail light and pull toward yourself, two nipples that fit into plugs then detatch and the taillight comes out. when looking from the rear of the car to the front on the side of the car is a white plastic clip that fits into the body of the car, the head of which slots into the taillight. In the bumper bar is a black plastic holder of some sort that has two grooves that the taillight slots into, other than that I cant see how the black plastic frame is rigid.

Anyone have any ideas?

Cheers