VW Passat
Tail Light Bulbs Replacement Guide
How to change a burnt out brake, rear
turn signal, reverse or parking light bulb in a 2012-2015 Volkswagen Passat.
2015 Passat Tail Light |
Open Trunk Lid |
Fabric Access Cover |
This
automotive maintenance tutorial was specifically written to assist
owners of the NMS (new midsize sedan) 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015 and the
revised 2016 Volkswagen Passat sedan in changing a burnt out brake,
rear turn signal, reverse or parking light bulb in the tail light
housings. Owners of other VW Group vehicles such as the Beetle, CC, Tiguan, Golf, Touareg, Jetta, GTI, SportWagen, Eos, Rabbit, Bora, Vento, Lavida, Coccinelle, Maggiolino, Fusca, Audi A3, A4, S4, A6, S6, A7, A8, Q5, Q7, A5, S5, and TT may also find these DIY instructions to be helpful. The compatible replacement bulb part numbers are as follows: Brake & Rear Turn Signal # 7506, Reverse 921 (W16W) and Parking Lights # 2825. No tools are required to change the combination dual filament brake and rear turn signal light bulb. To access and replace the reverse and parking light bulbs, you'll need a 10mm socket with a 1/4" drive ratchet or a 10mm wrench or a flathead screwdriver and perhaps a plastic pry bar tool. |
||
|
||
Pull Off Access Panel |
Power Plug & Fastener |
Slide Out Red Lock Tab |
The first two steps
are to open the trunk and then move to the side of the sedan with the burnt
out tail light bulb. Locate rectangular shaped fabric access cover on the fabric interior trunk liner. Gently pull off the access panel and set it aside in a safe place. Pull out the red plastic locking tab on the electrical connector. |
||
Push In Release Tab |
Pull Off Electrical Connector |
Rotate Counterclockwise |
Push in the release
tab on the electrical connector before sliding the power plug straight off
the rear of the tail light housing. Rotate the spring loaded thumb screw fastener in the counterclockwise direction to remove it. |
||
Spring Fastener Removed |
Pull Off Tail Light Housing |
Rear of Light Assembly |
Set the white
plastic thumb screw aside in a safe place. Gently pull the tail light housing straight off the rear corner of the sedan. If you have trouble removing the housing, you may need to gently pry it off at the outer edge with a plastic pry bar tool. |
||
Gently Pry Back Clips |
Plastic Pry Bar Tool |
Pull Off Bracket |
Turn over the tail
light housing and set it down on a towel to prevent from scratching the lens
on your work bench or table. Use the plastic automotive panel pry bar tool or a small flathead screwdriver to gently push back the four red plastic retaining clips. Try to avoid using excessive force to prevent from breaking the retaining clips. Lift the grey plastic bulb bracket off the rear of the tail light assembly and turn it over to access the bulb. |
||
Push Down & 1/4 Turn CC |
Install New # 7506 Bulb |
Re-Attach Bulb Bracket |
Push the old dual
filament combination brake and rear turn signal light bulb down in to the
socket and rotate it 1/4 turn counterclockwise before pulling it straight
out of the socket. Push a new # 7506 light bulb in to the socket and rotate it 1/4 turn clockwise to secure it in place. Turn over the grey plastic bulb bracket and gently snap it back in to place on the rear of the tail light housing. Double check that all four of the red plastic retaining clips are secured to the bulb bracket. |
||
Line Up Tail Light Housing |
Button Head Mount & Slot |
Push On Tail Light |
Make sure that the
red plastic slot near the outer edge of the housing is aligned with the
button head mounting post on the vehicle. Line up the tail light housing with the rear corner of the car and slide it back in to place. |
||
Rotate Clockwise - Tighten |
Push In Power Plug |
Slide In Red Locking Tab |
Re-insert the white
plastic fastener and tighten it in the clockwise direction to place tension
on the spring until it is compressed by about half. Don't use a wrench or a screwdriver to tighten the tail light fastener to prevent from over tightening it and cracking the plastic housing. Push the power plug straight in to its socket until it "clicks" in to place. Slide in the red plastic locking to secure the power plug. |
||
Electrical Connector Secure |
Line Up Fabric Cover |
Replace Access Panel |
Line up the fabric access cover, re-insert the two tabs and then pop in the other edge. | ||
|
||
Trunk Lid Light Housing |
Plastic Access Cover |
Gently Pry Out Panel |
To access the
reverse light and the two parking light bulbs, you will have to detach the
trunk lid housing. Locate the rectangular shaped access cover on the underside of the trunk lid. Gently pry out the access panel with a flathead screwdriver or a plastic pry bar tool. |
||
Plastic Cover Removed |
Two Metal / Plastic Fasteners |
10mm or Flathead |
Set the access
cover aside in a safe place. To remove the two fasteners that secure the light housing to the trunk lid, you'll need either a flathead screwdriver or a 10mm socket with a 1/4" drive ratchet. |
||
Loosen Counterclockwise |
Pull Off Fastener |
2nd Fastener Removed |
Set the two metal nuts with black plastic guides aside in a safe place. | ||
Slide Out Red Lock Tab |
Release Tab - Disconnect Plug |
Pull Off Light Housing |
Slide out the red
plastic locking tab on the electrical connector with your fingernail or use
a flathead screwdriver. Push in the release tab before sliding the power plug straight out of its socket. Lift the inner edge of the light housing and slide it off towards the outer edge. There is a curved lip on the outer edge of the light housing that is attached to the outer edge of the trunk lid. |
||
Lip - Attached To Outer Edge |
Rest Housing On Towel |
Gently Pull Back Clip |
Place a towel on
your work bench or table to protect the plastic lens from being scratched. Gently pull back the two red plastic retaining clips to release the grey plastic bulb bracket. |
||
Lift Out Bulb Bracket |
Pull Out Old Light Bulbs |
Install New Light Bulbs |
Lift off the grey
plastic bracket and turn it over to access the old bulbs. The larger bulb is the reverse (back up lamp) and the two small bulbs are the parking lights. Pull the old bulbs straight out of their socket and push in new ones. The reverse light bulb part number is 921 and the two parking lights are # 2825 bulbs. (If you want brighter reverse lights, there are 921 LED options available.) |
||
Pop Bracket In Place |
Slide Lip On Outer Edge |
Lower Housing In Place |
Turn over the bulb
bracket and push it down in to place. Make sure that the two red plastic retaining clips "click" over the bulb bracket. Slide the lip on the outer edge of the light housing on to the outside edge of the trunk lid. Lower the inner part of the housing until it is flush with the trunk lid. |
||
Line Up Fasteners |
Rotate Nut Clockwise |
Replace 2nd Fastener |
Line up the black
plastic guides on the nuts with the rear of the light housing. Slide the fasteners in to place and spin the nuts a few turns in the clockwise direction to prevent them from becoming cross threaded. |
||
Push In Plug - Slide In Tab |
Tighten 10mm Clockwise |
Tighten 2nd Nut |
Tighten the two
nuts in the clockwise direction with the 10mm socket and a 1/4" drive
ratchet or a flathead screwdriver until they are snug. Try to avoid over tightening the nuts to prevent from cracking the plastic light housing. Push the power plug back in to its socket and slide in the red lock tab to secure it in place. |
||
Re-Insert Plastic Tabs |
Gently Snap In Access Cover |
Test New Tail Light Bulbs |
Line up the plastic
access cover and gently pop it back in to place. Test the new tail light bulbs by having someone step on the brake pedal, activate the hazard signals and place the transmission in reverse. For more, check out all of my
Volkswagen Passat DIY Repair & Maintenance Guides. |
If you found this guide to be helpful,
please consider making a small donation by clicking on the PayPal.com
"Donate" button located to the right of this paragraph. Thank you!
(Note: I am not a registered charity. Donations are not tax deductible.) |
Copyright 2024 © PaulsTravelPictures.com
All Rights Reserved ®
Paul's Travel Pictures is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. |
Privacy Policy About Paul & Author Contact Info