Chevrolet
Colorado Tail Light Bulbs Replacement Guide
How to change a burnt out brake, rear
turn signal or reverse light bulb in a 2015 to 2022 GM Chevy Colorado truck.
2019 Colorado Tail Lights |
Lower Tailgate |
Loosen Counterclockwise |
This automotive
maintenance tutorial was specifically written to assist owners of the second
generation (2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021 and 2022) GM Chevrolet Colorado truck in changing a burnt out brake, rear
turn signal or reverse bulb located in the tail light housings. Owners of other General Motors vehicles from Chevrolet, GMC, Cadillac, Buick and Holden such as the Trax, Equinox, Traverse, Blazer, Tahoe, Suburban, Sonic, Cruze, Trailblazer, Spark, Malibu, Impala, Volt, Bolt, Corvette, Camaro, Silverado, Express, Regal, LaCrosse, Cascada, Encore, Enclave, Envision, Canyon, Sierra, Terrain, Acadia, Yukon, XT4, XT5, XT6, Escalade, CT5, CTS, XTS, CT6, ATS, Astra and Commodore may also find these DIY instructions to be helpful. The compatible replacement light bulb parts numbers are as follows: Brake & Rear Turn Signal Lights # 7443 (or W21/5W) and Reverse Light # 921 (or W16W). If you would like to have brighter tail lights (that will also last a lot longer) install some 7443 LED and 921 LED bulbs. The tools needed to access and replace the bulbs include a Torx T15 screwdriver and a plastic pry bar tool. The first two steps are to open the tailgate door and then move to the side of the truck with the burnt out bulb. Locate the two screws near the inner edge of the tail light housing. |
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Remove Second Screw |
Two Screws Removed |
Pull Off Light Housing |
Remove the two
screws by turning them in the counterclockwise direction with the Torx T-15
star bit screwdriver. Set the two screws aside in a safe place. The tail light housing is still held in place by two pegs on the back side of the housing inserted into holes on the rear corner of the vehicle. Carefully pull the tail light housing straight off the rear of the truck. |
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Pry With Plastic Tool |
Housing Detached |
Rest On Bumper |
If you have trouble
pulling off the tail light housing, use a plastic pry bar tool to gently
loosen the friction fasteners. Insert the plastic pry bar tool in between the front outer edge of the housing and the painted metal body panel at the rear corner of the truck. Very gently pry in several locations along the front outer edge of the housing to release the friction fasteners. Avoid using excessive force to prevent from cracking the plastic lens on the housing. You can also try gently wiggling the housing left to right or up and down to loosen the friction fasteners. Once you have removed the housing from the vehicle, rest it on the rear bumper. I recommend placing a towel on the bumper to protect the plastic lens from being scratched. |
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Rotate Counterclockwise |
Brake / Turn Bulb Socket |
Pull Out Old Light Bulb |
Each tail light
housing is equipped with two combination brake and rear turn signal light
bulbs along with a single reverse light bulb situated in the center of the
assembly. Rotate the larger brake / turn signal bulb socket 1/4 turn in the counterclockwise direction before pulling it straight out of the housing. Carefully pull the old light bulb straight out of the socket. If the old bulb seems stuck due to rust or debris, please wear some gloves and avoid using excessive pressure on the bulb to prevent from having it break between your fingers and cut your skin. |
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Old Light Bulb Removed |
Push In New Light Bulb |
1/4 Turn Clockwise - Lock |
The OEM (original
equipment manufacturer) brake and rear turn signal light bulbs were marked
as part number W21/5W which is the same as the 7443 bulbs. Push a new number 7443 dual filament brake / rear turn signal bulb straight into the socket. Use a clean paper towel or micro fiber cloth to wipe off any oil or debris from the new light bulb. Oil or grease on the bulb may create hot spots and cause the bulb to fail prematurely. If you would like to have brighter brake / rear turn signal lights, install some compatible replacement 7443 LED bulbs. Re-insert the bulb socket into the housing and rotate it 1/4 turn in the clockwise direction to secure it into place. |
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1/4 Turn Counterclockwise |
Reverse Bulb Socket |
Remove Old Reverse Bulb |
The reverse light
bulb socket is located in the center of the housing in between the two brake
/ rear turn signal lights. Rotate the smaller grey plastic bulb socket 1/4 turn in the counterclockwise direction before pulling it straight out of the housing. Pull the old reverse light bulb straight out of the socket. The OEM bulb on this 2019 Colorado LT was marked as part number W16W which is the same as the 921 bulb. |
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Push In New Light Bulb |
1/4 Turn Clockwise - Lock |
Bottom Brake / Turn Signal |
Push a new number
921 light bulb straight into
the socket. If you would like to have brighter reverse lights, install some compatible replacement 921 LED bulbs. Re-insert the bulb socket into the housing and rotate it 1/4 turn in the clockwise direction to secure it into place. If you need to replace the other brake / turn signal bulb, repeat the process. |
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Line Up Pegs & Holes |
Push On Tail Light Housing |
Replace Top Screw |
Line up the tail
light housing with the rear corner of the truck. Re-insert the two pegs or "spikes" on the back side of the housing into their corresponding holes in the rear corner of the truck. |
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Tighten Screws Clockwise |
Two Screws Secured |
Test New Light Bulbs |
Replace the two
screws and tighten them in the clockwise direction with the Torx T15 star
bit screwdriver until they are snug. Try to avoid over tightening the screws to prevent from cracking the plastic housing. To test the new tail light bulbs, have an assistant step on the brake pedal, turn on the hazard lights and shift the transmission into reverse. Tip - If you installed LED bulbs and they don't work, try removing them from the sockets, rotating them 180 degrees and pushing them back into the socket. Some LED bulbs are polarized and will only work when the "+" positive and "-" negative electrical contacts are in the correct orientation. Be sure to write down the bulb change in your vehicle's service records. Please check out all of my
2015-2019 GM Chevrolet Colorado DIY Repair & Maintenance Guides. |
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