How to Change a Turn Signal Bulb in a 1996 Ford Mustang

The 1993 model year saw a venomous schism in the Mustang community. On one side were Fox-body enthusiasts, who saw the outgoing chassis as definitive of the breed and the new SN-95 Mustang as ugly and soul-less. On the other side were futurists, who practically stormed the gates in Dearborn to get America's newest ponycar. By 1996, even the hottest ardor for the new styling had cooled a bit, and Ford knew that the body was ripe for a harder-edged refresh. Even so, the initial SN95 chassis and its flush-mounted headlights and tail-light housings certainly made an impact on Mustang enthusiasts and car enthusiasts as a whole.

Instructions

Front Bulbs

1

Check that your headlight switch is in the "Off" position, and pop the hood. Look behind the affected headlight housing. Remove the cover from the rear of the headlight housing by loosening and removing the plastic hold-down finger screws from the cover. Remove the cover from the headlight assembly.

2

Use a ratchet and socket to remove the nuts that retain the turn signal housing to the body. Pull the housing forward and off the body. Unplug the turn signal wiring harness from the signal bulb socket base. Turn the base of the turn signal bulb counterclockwise to remove it from the housing.

3

Pull the old bulb out of the socket, and plug the new one in. Grasp the bulb with a clean rag while installing it to keep your fingertip oils off of the glass. Twist the socket into the housing, and plug it into the wiring harness. Install the housing on the body and install the nuts. Reinstall the cover and screws, and test the turn signals.

Rear Turn Signal Bulbs

4

Pop the trunk and look behind the affected turn signal housing. Reach up into the corner of the trunk behind the light and grasp the edge of the carpet. Fold the carpet down to expose the tail light nuts.

5

Remove the nuts on the back of the tail-light housing studs and push the tail-light housing off of the car's body. Disengage the wiring plugs as need be for clearance to access the turn signal bulb.

6

Turn the bulb socket counterclockwise and pull it out of the housing. Pull the old bulb out of the socket and install the new one, using a rag to keep you fingertip oils off the glass.

7

Twist the bulb socket into the housing, and plug whatever harness plug in you pulled out. Install the tail-light housing onto the body and install the nuts. Fold the carpeting back up onto the trunk wall.