How to install tail lights in your Magnum

[Mag Dr]

This is a Step by Step how to replace your Magnum Tail Lights.

Tools needed:
Long Reach 11MM Wrench (preferable) or 11MM Socket 1/4" Drive and 1/4" Drive Ratchet
Slot or Flat Blade Screw Driver
Plastic Trim Tool


Step One
Locate tail light access cover, it is a grill looking rectangle cover just above rear cargo buckets.


Step Two
Remove panel by prying with plastic trim tool or suitable tool for prying without damage to plastic.


Step Three
Open insulation cover, locate tail light mounting nut, remove mounting nut with 11MM long reach wrench or 11MM socket and 1/4" drive ratchet, being careful not to drop nut down inside of panel.



Step Four
Remove the two plastic rivets on the inboard side of tail light, lift gate side, these fasteners you will need to pry out on the top or head with flat blade or slot screw driver or plastic trim tool, then remove completely from tail light & body of car.









Step Five
Now pull out on tail light easily, when pulled away from body lean top of light back to expose back of light, look to the lower part of light, you will see the wiring harness connector, depress the tab on the tail light side of harness connector to release it and gently pull to separate the connector, now take to a working surface, table or work bench.








Step Six
Lay tail light face down with wiring harness up, remove sockets with bulbs by twisting the socket CCW, After removing all sockets and Bulbs from old tail light, you will need to remove wiring harness connector by pulling it straight out from tail light, after removal of the connector set aside old tail light.


















Step Seven
Remove clear 3157 bulb from socket, this is where you will plug in the harness for the L.E.D.s, after removing bulb from socket, with new tail light laying face down, remove protective paper covers, now you are ready to plug in harness from the tail light L.E.D.s, when plugging in harness to bulb socket make sure to have the black wire from the tail light facing toward the wires of the bulb socket, when this is plugged into the socket you will need to install socket into tail light carefully pushing L.E.D. harness inside, then twist socket CW, install turn signal bulb and socket twisting it CW, install reverse light socket bulb and socket twisting it CW.
Reinstall Connector to tail light by pushing in the plastic barb into hole at the lower portion of tail light.






Step Eight
You are now ready to install it into the car, reconnect the tail light connector to harness from car, making sure that it is connected securely, then line up mounting stud with mounting hole and insert stud, holding tail light in place, replace mounting nut first, tightening it down with proper tool, being careful as to not over tighten the nut stripping it out or stripping out mounting stud from tail light.
You will feel it tighten up solid,(DO NOT CONTINUE TO TIGHTEN AFTER FEELING THIS)after tightening mounting nut, replace plastic rivets into body, then push the head of the rivets back in.
Replace tail light access cover then repeat for other tail light.



Step Nine
Check operation of lights.




Step Ten
Enjoy your new tail lights.


Before




After
Sweeeeet



I hope this helps anyone wanting to change out the stock lights with aftermarket.
The whole swap for both sides took about an hour, very easy to do.


Doc

[Mag Dr]

More than welcome, glad it did you some good

[FStyle2000]

Ok... I dropped the nuts on both sides. They are in the panel. How do I retrieve them?

[vinny68]

Those new taillights look perfect on your color Mag!

[Lazy Luna]

Ok... I dropped the nuts on both sides. They are in the panel. How do I retrieve them?

I had my 5 year old niece lend a "helping" hand.

[AM-8]

Thank you for this, I have the same tail lights also, I just bought them. Now I know how do take them off.

[bratfink]

Does anyone do this tail light without the striped red lights along the side?

I have been looking all over and I either find the rounded out (Euro) style reverse/turn signal that doesn't have the side stripes on the LED, or I find the bar (stock) type reverse/turn signal that does have the side striped on the LED.

I want the Bar (stock) type with the LED and NO side stripes. i.e. I want a little modification but don't want the car to look like an extra from Tokyo Drift!

Thanks in Advance.

[Niqqi3521]

Thanks for the directions. We just put mine in. Went pretty smooth except my boyfriend dropped the mounting nut and managed to break a corner off of one of the brand new lights....
Anybody know where I can get ONE tail light? (mu+%@ #u(k3r!!!!)

[Pushbutton]

Ok... I dropped the nuts on both sides. They are in the panel. How do I retrieve them?

Vacuum cleaner and a hose to fit.

[xk49]

Thanks for the directions. We just put mine in. Went pretty smooth except my boyfriend dropped the mounting nut and managed to break a corner off of one of the brand new lights....
Anybody know where I can get ONE tail light? (mu+%@ #u(k3r!!!!)

Might want to be looking for a new boyfriend as well (just kidding) http://www.lxforums.com/board/images/smilies/smile.gif

[Mag Dr]

Glad to see that some of my threads are alive and kicking, enjoy the info.


Dave

[jross239]

Thank you for the detailed instructions.
I had no clue about that wing nut
Now i dont need to worry about it though since i droped it down the hole and have no clue where it went

I found your thread doing a google search, and it was the first one to come up