How to Change a Brake Light Bulb on a 94 Toyota Corolla

The Corolla arrived in the U.S. for the 1968 model year as a simple and inexpensive alternative to large American cars. For the seventh generation -- 1993 through 1997 -- Toyota completely redesigned the Corolla, dropping the boxy look for a rounded body. With this redesign, Toyota replaced the old square headlights and taillights with more modern, rounded ones. Replacing the brake light bulb in these more modern taillight assemblies requires no tools.

Instructions

1

Open the Corolla's trunk and fold down the carpeting behind the failed brake light.

2

Remove the plastic wing nuts holding the white bulb retaining board to the taillight lens, using your fingers. Pull the top of the retaining board outward and lift it from the taillight lens.

3

Unplug the wiring harness from the rear of the retaining board, by pressing the locking button and pulling the harness free. Remove the retaining board from the trunk area.

4

Press the failed brake light bulb toward the socket and twist it counterclockwise a bit to unlock it. Pull the bulb from the socket; take note of the positions of the small metal tabs on the base of the bulb. These tabs are staggered and you must install the new bulb in the same position.

5

Grab a new 1157 bulb, using a clean, lint-free cloth and insert it in the socket with the tabs facing the same direction they were on the old bulb. Press the bulb toward the socket and twist it clockwise to lock it in place.

6

Plug the wiring harness into the rear of the retaining board and listen for it to click into place.

7

Insert the tabs on the bottom of the retaining board into the holes in the bottom of the taillight lens. Pivot the upper part of the retaining board into place and tighten the plastic wing nuts.

8

Set the carpet back in place behind the taillight assembly. Close the Corolla's trunk.