Comanche reverse bulb replacement help/advice

[Classy Comanche]

I have a 1988 jeep Comanche Pioneer and my reverse bulb went out on my passenger side. I have 4 star head screws with that being 2 on the inside of the tail gate and two inside the housing itself. I just don't know if I need to pull upwards or pull straight out. I'm scared to death I'm going to bust the housing or torque the screw to tight and crack/shatter the housing. Any tips or advice would be awsome. Thank you so much

[gogmorgo]

Should be a T15 torx head if they're the original fasteners. Righty tighty lefty loosey, don't worry about overtorquing on the way out because the screws don't go into plastic. The inside screws go into speed nuts and the outsides are through to sheet metal. Once you've got those four screws out, give the housings a wiggle and they should pretty well fall out. On the way back in, get all the screws started before you tighten them all down, and then just tighten until snug.

 

While you're in the driver's side, there's a sheet metal screw that grounds a bunch of stuff. Clean it up if it's got corrosion on it.

[Classy Comanche]

Thank you gogmorgo! Got it switched out! Had no issues except I found a Philips head screw in the bottom tail light hole. Seemed like my grandfather or a person changing a light way back when lost the star head and improvised. That screw went back in with ease too.

[gogmorgo]

6 hours ago, Classy Comanche said:

Thank you gogmorgo! Got it switched out! Had no issues except I found a Philips head screw in the bottom tail light hole. Seemed like my grandfather or a person changing a light way back when lost the star head and improvised. That screw went back in with ease too.

Yeah, one of mine, the PO decided it was a good idea to go buy expensive NOS taillights and then hang them in there on only the outside holes… with drywall screws, so they’ve now rattled around and suffered for it. A nice sheet metal screw is definitely preferable.