VW Tiguan Tail Light Bulbs
Replacement Guide
How to change a brake, rear turn signal,
parking or side marker light bulb on a 2009 to 2017 Volkswagen Tiguan.
2016 Tiguan Tail Lights |
Open Tailgate - Cargo Area |
Pry Off Plastic Trim Cover |
This
automotive maintenance tutorial was specifically written to assist
owners of the first generation (2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014,
2015, 2016 and 2017) Volkswagen Tiguan SUV in changing a burnt out
brake, rear turn signal, side marker and parking bulb in the tail
light housings. Owners of other VW or Audi vehicles such as the Jetta, Passat, CC, Atlas, Touareg, Golf, Beetle, A3, S3, RS 3, A4, S4, A5, A6, S6, A7, S7, RS 7, A8, Q3, Q5, TT and Q7 may also find these DIY instructions to be helpful. The compatible replacement light bulb part numbers are as follows: Brake & Rear Turn Signal # 7506 (dual filament), Side Marker # 2825 and Parking # 921. The tools needed to remove the tail light housing and access the bulb sockets include a plastic pry bar tool, a Torx T-25 star bit screwdriver and a Phillips head screwdriver. |
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Trim Panel Removed |
Loosen Counterclockwise |
Top Bolt Removed |
The first two steps
are to open the tailgate door for the cargo area and then move to the side
of the SUV with the burnt out tail light bulb. Use a plastic automotive trim panel removal tool to gently pry off the black plastic cover on the inner edge of the tail light assembly. Then use a Torx T25 star bit screwdriver to remove the two bolts on the inner edge of the tail light housing by turning them in the counterclockwise direction. |
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Remove Bottom Bolt |
Two Screws Removed |
Cargo Area Access Panel |
Set the two bolts
aside in a safe place. The tail light housing is still attached to the rear corner of the SUV by a white plastic "claw" type locking mechanism. It is located on the back side of the front outer edge of the tail light housing. Move to the inside of the cargo area and locate the fabric access panel with a round black plastic latch at the top. |
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1/4 Turn Counterclockwise |
Remove Fabric Cover |
Empty Space Near Housing |
Rotate the latch
1/4 turn counterclockwise to unlock the access cover. Swing open the top of the access panel and lift out the two tabs on the bottom edge. Once the cover is out of the way, you'll see an empty space and a white plastic Phillips head screw. |
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White Plastic Release Screw |
1/4 Turn Counterclockwise |
Pull Off Tail Light Assembly |
Use a Phillips head
screwdriver to rotate the white plastic screw 1/4 turn in the
counterclockwise direction. Rotating the screw will open the white plastic "claw" and release the front outer corner of the tail light housing. Carefully pull the tail light assembly straight off the rear of the vehicle. |
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Tail Light Housing Removed |
Slide Out Red Lock Tab |
Push Button - Disconnect Plug |
Turn over the
housing to access the electrical connector. Slide out the red locking tab to unlock the release button on the power plug. Then push in the release button and pull the electrical connector straight out of the socket. |
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Side Locking Mechanism |
Housing On Towel |
Remove Outer Screws |
Set the tail light
housing down on to a table with a towel to protect the plastic lens from
being scratched. Remove the two outer screws that secure the bulb bracket to the housing by turning them counterclockwise with a Phillips head screwdriver. |
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Loosen Counterclockwise |
Two Phillips Head Screws |
Pull Off Foam Cover |
Set the two screws
aside in a safe place. Then gently remove the foam rubber insulation cover on the rear of the bulb bracket. |
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Rubber Cover Removed |
Two More Screws |
Loosen Counterclockwise |
Set the foam cover
aside with the screws. There are two more Phillips head screws located under the foam cover. Remove the two inner screws by turning them in the counterclockwise direction. |
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Four Screws Removed |
Pull Out Bulb Bracket |
Push Down & 1/4 Turn CC |
Set the two inner
screws aside in a safe place. Lift the black plastic bulb bracket off the rear of the red plastic light housing. |
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Install New Brake / Turn |
Pull Out Side Marker Bulb |
Push In New 2825 (W5W) |
The larger bulb is
the dual filament combination brake and rear turn signal light. Push the old bulb down into the socket and rotate it 1/4 turn counterclockwise before pulling it straight out. Push a new number 7506 (also known as part # P21W) straight into the socket and rotate it 1/4 turn clockwise to secure it in place. The smaller bulb is the rear side marker light. Pull the old miniature wedge base bulb straight out of the socket and push in a new number 2825 (also known as the W5W) straight into the socket. If you would like to have brighter side marker lights, install some compatible 2825 LED bulbs. |
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Empty Bulb Housings |
Line Up Bulb Bracket |
Re-Install Bulb Bracket |
Line up the black
plastic bulb bracket with the red plastic housing. Push the bracket back into place. |
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Tighten Two Inner Screws |
Tighten Phillips Clockwise |
Replace Foam Cover |
Replace the two
inner screws by turning them in the clockwise direction with the Phillips
head screwdriver. Avoid over tightening the screws to prevent from cracking the plastic bulb bracket. Replace the foam rubber cover. |
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Tighten Outer Screws |
Tighten Phillips Clockwise |
Push In Electrical Connector |
Replace the two
outer screws by turning them in the clockwise direction with the Phillips
head screwdriver until they are snug. Hold the tail light housing near the rear corner of the SUV. Push the electrical connector straight into the socket. |
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Slide In Red Locking Tab |
Line Up With White Fastener |
Push On Tail Light |
Slide in the red
lock tab to secure the power plug in place. Line up the front outside corner of the tail light housing with the white plastic "claw" locking mechanism. Slide the slot on the tail light housing into the white plastic "claw". |
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1/4 Turn Clockwise - Lock |
Tighten Torx Clockwise |
Replace Lower Screw |
Move to the inside
of the cargo area. Rotate the white plastic Phillips head screw 1/4 turn in the clockwise direction to close the "claw" mechanism and secure the front outer corner of the tail light housing. Replace the two bolts along the inner edge of the tail light by turning them in the clockwise direction with the Torx T-25 screwdriver. |
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Line Up Lower Tabs |
Swing Closed Cover |
1/4 Turn Clockwise - Lock |
Then line up the
two tabs on the bottom of the fabric access cover with their slots. Swing the top of the cover closed. Rotate the latch 1/4 turn in the clockwise direction to secure the access panel. |
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Line Up Trim Cover |
Snap Cover In Place |
Parking Light On Tailgate |
Gently push the
black plastic trim cover back into place over the inner edge of the tail
light housing. The parking light bulb is located in a separate housing attached to the tailgate door. |
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Plastic Access Cover |
Notch On Outer Edge |
Pull Off Access Panel |
Locate the
rectangular shaped black plastic access cover on the underside of the
tailgate. Use the notch on the outer edge of the access cover to pull it off the tailgate panel. |
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Bulb Bracket Exposed |
Lift Up White Plastic Tab |
Release Bulb Bracket |
Gently push up on the white plastic tab to release the black plastic bulb bracket. | ||
Pull Off Bulb Bracket |
Pull Out Parking Light Bulb |
Push In New 921 (W16W) |
Continue holding up
the white plastic tab while pulling out the black plastic bulb bracket. Pull the old parking light bulb straight out of the socket. Push a new number 921 light bulb straight into the socket. |
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New Bulb Installed |
Push In Bulb Bracket |
Bulb Bracket Secured |
Then push the bulb
bracket back into place. The white plastic tab should "click" securely into place. |
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Line Up Plastic Tabs |
Pop In Access Cover |
Test New Tail Light Bulbs |
Line up the plastic
tabs on the inner edge of the access cover with their corresponding slots. Gently snap the access cover back into place. To test the new tail light bulbs, have an assistant step on the brake pedal, turn on the parking lights and activate the hazard signals. Be sure to record the bulb change in your vehicle's service records. For more, please check out my other
2009-2017 VW Tiguan DIY Repair & Maintenance Guides. |
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