Remove Rear Light Clusters

04/02/2007
Toyota changed the styling of the Celica in 2002. Many regard the original style out-dated and opt to change to aftermarket or even to the facelifted Toyota style. Changing the rear light clusters is a surprisingly simple task.

1. Remove the plastic cover in the boot that is located behind each rear light cluster. These simply unclip.
2. Each cluster is fixed to the car with 3 nuts. Locate the 3 nuts and undo them with a 10mm spanner. One is extremely easy to access (located at the top of the unit nearest to the outside of the car). The other two are quite awkward to access freely. One of these you will see at the inside-bottom of the unit, and the other is not even visible being located at the inside-top.
3. The wiring for all 3 bulbs join up into a white plug/clip. Unclip this. To do this you may have to remove the foam that seals the back of the lights to the car frame.
4. Remove the light cluster.
5. Depending on the style of the new cluster, you may also need to swap your indicator bulbs.Click here to see the Bulb List This is because the indicators may now not shine through amber, but could be red or white depending on your cluster style. If the indicator area of your cluster is amber, then an amber or white bulb is required. For a clear indicator area amber bulbs are needed. If the area is red, then you will need a white bulb and paint it green with glass paint, as I have not been able to purchase green bulbs from anywhere!
6. Now that your new clusters have the bulbs in, replace the foam pad.
7. Insert the new cluster guiding the bolts throught the holes in the car body. Be careful that the foam is sitting correctly as water leaks are commonplace here if incorrectly replaced.
8. Reconnect the bulb wiring plug.
9. Tighten up the nuts and put the plastic covering back on, and you're done!

Heres a picture of the both styles. The new facelift style is on the left, original style on the right.

And here is the finished result

09/05/2008
Fiitted a new style rear light cluster.

More pictures can be seen in Gallery 3 (Rear)

Click on the thumbs for a closer look