License plate lights.

[oldmanmigz]

Well I started to take on the task of changing the license plate lights on my '15 Genny and I'm stuck! Literally 2 screws away from finally taking off the panel to allow the lights to be swapped out. But no access point to reach them. Had to remove a of panels just to get this far and now I'm stuck. Maybe an extra set of eyes can help me out.

The picture with the giant circle show the yellow clips with a small Phillips head screw you need to remove in order for the outside panel to come out.


The picture with the small dots is the shot of the outside panel that literally sandwiches the light to trunk. Which can only be removed by removing the panel where the rear plate gets mounted.

Last picture with the dots and arrow is of the inside of trunk where the yellow clips are located but where the arrow is no access to the last 2 screws. I'm completely stuck.


I previously thought my 2010 Mercedes E350 was a pain to swap out the license plate lights but now I'm mistaken. This design is surely to deter owners from changing this part out. Shame on Hyundai for allowing this.

 

[oldmanmigz]

Update !! I was finally able to change out the lights. I had to use the smallest Phillips head screwdriver and remove just 1 of the last 2 screws of the yellow clips and I was able to rotate the panel to allow the lights to be switched out. New lights installed!

 

[Hansuk777]

Hey oldmanmigz, I need to do the same thing but can you tell me how you learned how to take all the parts out, where the screws are, etc. Is there a youtube video or some manual ? Thanks!

 

[S B]

Well I started to take on the task of changing the license plate lights on my '15 Genny and I'm stuck! Literally 2 screws away from finally taking off the panel to allow the lights to be swapped out. But no access point to reach them. Had to remove a of panels just to get this far and now I'm stuck. Maybe an extra set of eyes can help me out.

The picture with the giant circle show the yellow clips with a small Phillips head screw you need to remove in order for the outside panel to come out.


The picture with the small dots is the shot of the outside panel that literally sandwiches the light to trunk. Which can only be removed by removing the panel where the rear plate gets mounted.

Last picture with the dots and arrow is of the inside of trunk where the yellow clips are located but where the arrow is no access to the last 2 screws. I'm completely stuck.


I previously thought my 2010 Mercedes E350 was a pain to swap out the license plate lights but now I'm mistaken. This design is surely to deter owners from changing this part out. Shame on Hyundai for allowing this.

Any tips for popping off the outside panel that the license plate mounts on? Everything else you posted was great and helped a lot. However, there were some light blue clips underneath the panel that popped up easy , but on the ends of the panel it looked like there were some yellow clips that would not pop up.

How did you get that outside panel to come off? Thank you for your help!

 

[G-18985]

Hey oldmanmigz, I need to do the same thing but can you tell me how you learned how to take all the parts out, where the screws are, etc. Is there a youtube video or some manual ? Thanks!

Sorry I was away on holiday. No video that I was able to find. I was just go along as I took the parts apart. Basically following the rabbit down the hole.

 

[oldmanmigz]

Hey oldmanmigz, I need to do the same thing but can you tell me how you learned how to take all the parts out, where the screws are, etc. Is there a youtube video or some manual ? Thanks!

No I basically was just taking apart the truck and following the rabbit down the hole. So to speak.

 

[oldmanmigz]

Any tips for popping off the outside panel that the license plate mounts on? Everything else you posted was great and helped a lot. However, there were some light blue clips underneath the panel that popped up easy , but on the ends of the panel it looked like there were some yellow clips that would not pop up.

How did you get that outside panel to come off? Thank you for your help!

My suggestion for that outer panel with all the clips. Before taking on the job, order those clips from the dealer and have them in hand. As when I was taking them off I broke 2 or 3. The rest I was able to salvage. With the help of needle nose pliers, and some patience. Hope that helps

 

[S B]

Got it. Thanks!

 

[Mike Collands]

Well I started to take on the task of changing the license plate lights on my '15 Genny and I'm stuck! Literally 2 screws away from finally taking off the panel to allow the lights to be swapped out. But no access point to reach them. Had to remove a of panels just to get this far and now I'm stuck. Maybe an extra set of eyes can help me out.

The picture with the giant circle show the yellow clips with a small Phillips head screw you need to remove in order for the outside panel to come out.


The picture with the small dots is the shot of the outside panel that literally sandwiches the light to trunk. Which can only be removed by removing the panel where the rear plate gets mounted.

Last picture with the dots and arrow is of the inside of trunk where the yellow clips are located but where the arrow is no access to the last 2 screws. I'm completely stuck.


I previously thought my 2010 Mercedes E350 was a pain to swap out the license plate lights but now I'm mistaken. This design is surely to deter owners from changing this part out. Shame on Hyundai for allowing this.

BIG Thanks to all of your posts.
Police kindly let me know the license light was out last night.
Reading everyone's posts convinced me to just go to the dealer.
Sitting iHop now while they fix it. Amazingly, they are charging me nothing!

 

[cdaeng2]

BIG Thanks to all of your posts.
Police kindly let me know the license light was out last night.
Reading everyone's posts convinced me to just go to the dealer.
Sitting iHop now while they fix it. Amazingly, they are charging me nothing!

Is your car still under warranty? or are they replacing it under good will?

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[Mike Collands]

Is your car still under warranty? or are they replacing it under good will?

Good will. Took a week to get it complete but they even gave me a free rental.

 

[G-815724]

Good will. Took a week to get it complete but they even gave me a free rental.

Awesome! How many miles do you have?

 

[cdaeng2]

Good will. Took a week to get it complete but they even gave me a free rental.

That's awesome. What was your odometer reading at the time of service?

 

[FLv8]

Good will. Took a week to get it complete but they even gave me a free rental.

A week to replace a tag light... that is wild. At least they gave you wheels for the week and charged you nothing.

 

[Mike Collands]

Awesome! How many miles do you have?

36600

 

[SuperKing]

Anyone install some really bright infrared LEDs in there as well? It'll pretty much make it difficult for your plates to be photographed... lol

 

[FLv8]

Anyone install some really bright infrared LEDs in there as well? It'll pretty much make it difficult for your plates to be photographed... lol

Ha, I love the idea. I've seen people years back with tag frames that were lined with IR LEDs. Never considered it because I'm (mostly) law abiding

The red light / speed cameras you'd probably get away with... I'd imagine any enforcement vehicle with a ALPR system would pull you over if they tried to scan the plates and noticed a ball of blinding light on their screen. Just my thoughts.

 

[waz]

I was pulled over by a PA state trooper on I 81 a road trip to visit the folks because of one of my license plate lamps was weak, not even burned out. Based on the questions he asked, I think he thought I was smuggling cigarettes to NYC due to my NC plate.

Anyway, the dealer I took the car to in Lebanon, PA wanted to charge me $150 to replace the LED bulb, but I checked with my dealer in NC and was told that it was covered by the 5/60k warranty, and after verifying that, the PA dealer did replace it under warranty. The car had about 30k miles at the time.

 

[StarPower]

I just replaced one of my license plate lights. It was dim, and although it passed state inspection I still wanted to replace it. They may not have noticed it in the shop lighting during the inspection, but the difference was very noticeable at night.

I also expected this to be a much easier job than it was. I'll add a write-up here instead of making a new thread:

1. Time: 1-2 h. It can probably be done in about an hour if you know what to do.
2. Tools: Small Phillips screwdriver, large Phillips screwdriver, small flat blade screwdriver, 10 mm nut driver, plastic pry tool (you can use a flat blade screwdriver, but you risk scratching some of the components).
3. Open the warning triangle holder (small plastic bracket in the top center of the trunk lid), and remove the single screw holding it in place. It hooks into the trunk using curved hooks at the end, as shown in the picture.
4. Remove the single Phillips screw on the handle inside the trunk. You can leave the handle connected to the carpet, it'll come out with the carpet.
5. There are two push pins located on the side of the plastic cover over each hinge, as shown in the picture. Press the center of the push pin in about 1/8", then pry out the pin.
6. Insert a small flat blade screwdriver into the four push pins holding the carpet to the trunk lid and pry up the center pin. Then, pry the entire pin out of its hole.
7. Gently pull the carpet away from the trunk lid. The handle and the plastic cover over the trunk latch should come out with the carpet, but you can remove them separately if desired. The trunk closing buttons remain installed, and the carpet flexes around them.
8. Remove the three 10 mm nuts holding each tail light into the trunk lid and remove the tail lights.
9. Remove the three 10 mm nuts holding the body panel with the license plate. I removed the license plate, but I'm not sure if this is required. Gently pry the body panel away from the trunk lid. You'll feel the push pins give as you pry.
10. Remove the four small Phillips screws in the yellow clips that hold the trim piece above the license plate where the lights are mounted. You can see two of them in the picture. The one on the left-hand side is hidden behind a round black component (possibly an actuator to open the trunk remotely). I did not remove it since I was replacing the right side light. I could flex the panel away to remove the light. If you need to replace the left side light, you may need to remove this component to access the screw.
11. Use a small flat blade screwdriver to press the top of the clip that holds the wire connector into the license plate light and pull. It shouldn't take much force to pull out; if it won't come out you need to press the clip harder.
12. Squeeze the gray clips on the side of the license plate light and push it out through the panel.
13. Reinstall everything in reverse order. To install the plastic push pins: Back out or remove the center pin, insert the outer portion into the hole, them push the center pin until it's flush with the outer portion.

 

[Turan]

Thank you so much for your help I will give it a go