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Kia Forte Tail Light Bulbs Replacement Guide
How to change a burnt out brake, rear turn signal, parking or reverse bulb in a 1st generation 2010 to 2013 Kia Forte.

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2013 Kia Forte Tail Light
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Open Trunk Lid
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Fabric Access Cover
This automotive maintenance tutorial was specifically written to assist owners of the first generation (2010, 2011, 2012 and 2013) Kia Forte in changing a burnt out brake, rear turn signal, parking light or reverse bulb in the tail light housings.

Owners of other Kia or Hyundai vehicles such as the Optima, Cadenza, K900, Sorento, Sportage, Sedona, Soul, Elantra, Veloster, Sonata, Azera, Tucson, Santa Fe, Genesis, Cerato, Spectra, Accent, Sephia, i20, i30, i40 and Equus may also find these DIY instructions to be helpful.

The replacement bulbs with their part numbers are as follows: Brake # 2357 (or 1157), Rear Turn Signal # 1156, Parking Light # 1157 and Reverse # 921.

The tools you might need to complete this procedure include a pair of needle nose pliers and also a Phillips head screwdriver.



 
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Pull Open Access Flap
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Turn Signal Bulb Socket
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1/4 Turn Counterclockwise
The first two steps are to open the trunk lid and then move to the side of the car with the burnt out tail light bulb.

Look inside the trunk and pull open the rectangular shaped access cover.

The Rear Turn Signal bulb socket is located at the bottom of the tail light housing.

I found it easiest to remove the bulb socket by using a pair of needle nose pliers.

Rotate the bulb socket 1/4 turn counterclockwise and pull it straight out of the housing.

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Bulb Socket Removed
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Push Down & 1/4 Turn CC
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Insert New # 1156 Bulb
Push the old bulb down in to the socket and rotate it 1/4 turn counterclockwise before pulling it straight out.

Push a new # 1156 bulb down in to the socket and rotate it 1/4 turn clockwise to secure it in place.

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1/4 Turn Clockwise - Lock
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Brake Light Bulb Socket
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1/4 Turn Counterclockwise
Re-insert the socket in to the housing and rotate it 1/4 clockwise to lock it in place.

The Brake Light bulb socket is located at the top of the housing.

Rotate the grey plastic socket 1/4 turn counterclockwise before pulling it straight out.

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Push Down & 1/4 Turn CC
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Install New # 2357 Bulb
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1/4 Turn Clockwise - Lock
Push the old bulb down in to the socket and rotate it 1/4 turn counterclockwise before pulling it straight out.

Push a new # 2357 bulb down in to the socket and rotate it 1/4 turn clockwise to secure it in place.

(You can also use a # 1157 bulb for the brake lights.)

Re-insert the socket in to the housing and rotate it 1/4 turn clockwise to secure it in place.

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Close Access Cover
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Trunk Lid Light Housing
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Loosen Rubber Bumpers
Flip the access panel closed and push on the clip to secure it in place.

The Parking light and Reverse light bulbs are located in a separate housing attached to the trunk lid.

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Spin Out Counterclockwise
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Loosen Black Plastic Screw
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Remove Entire Fastener
Loosen the rubber bumper by turning it counterclockwise until it can be removed.

Then loosen the black plastic screw in the center of the fasteners by turning them counterclockwise with the Phillips head screwdriver.



 

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2nd Plastic Fastener
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1 Bumper & 2 Fasteners
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Pull Back Trunk Lid Liner
Once the plastic screw has been loosened, you can pull out the base of the fastener.

You'll need to remove at least two plastic fasteners in order to access the bulb sockets.

Gently pull back the carpeted trunk lid liner.

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1/4 Turn Counterclockwise
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Bulb Socket Removed
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Push Down & 1/4 Turn CC
The parking light bulb socket is located at the top of the housing.

Rotate the bulb socket 1/4 turn counterclockwise before pulling it straight out of the housing.

Push the old bulb down in to the socket and rotate it 1/4 turn counterclockwise before pulling it straight out.

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Re-Insert Bulb Socket
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1/4 Turn Clockwise - Lock
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Reverse Light Bulb Socket
Push a new # 1157 parking light bulb in to the socket and rotate it 1/4 turn clockwise to secure it in place.

Re-insert the bulb socket in to the housing and rotate it 1/4 turn clockwise to secure it in place.

The reverse bulb socket is located at the bottom of the housing.

Rotate the bulb socket 1/4 turn counterclockwise before pulling it straight out of the housing.

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1/4 Turn Counterclockwise
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Pull Out Old Bulb
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Push In New # 921 Bulb
Pull the old bulb straight out of the socket and push in a new # 921 bulb.

If you would like brighter reverse lights, choose some 921 LED bulbs.

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1/4 Turn Clockwise - Lock
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Replace Trunk Lid Liner
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Spin In Rubber Bumper
Re-insert the bulb socket in to the housing and rotate it 1/4 turn clockwise to secure it in place.

Push the trunk lid liner back in to place.

Spin in the rubber bumper in the clockwise direction.

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Re-Insert Plastic Fastener
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Push In Black Plastic Screw
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Test New Tail Light Bulbs
Re-insert the fasteners and then push in the black plastic screws to secure them in 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 my other 2010-2013 Kia Forte DIY Repair & Maintenance Guides.
 

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