side marker light bulb replacement

[ragingfool]

am i a total doofus or did lotus build the car around the side marker lights?!!! the front ones have no access from the bonnet and rear ones have a rubber boot glued between the 1" hole in the trunk that the wire passes thru to the bulb in there somewhere!
the lenses are glued onto plastic studs that go thru the body so they cant be removed to do this task...
anybody replaced thiers on an 89.5 or later?
thanks
chris

[autocross7]

Mine is an 88', but the access should be the same or similar from what you described. That little hole you refer too... that is the access. The bulb pulls straight out. I used long needle nose. Whith the lighs on, you can kinda see the back of the socket. it is a white three prong plastic dowl shape. The longest prong is located in the middle of the three... the wires connect to the other "short prongs". Grab hold and jiggle a bit while pulling straight back.

As for the front, the access is (on mine anyway) in the bonnet, but not easy to see. Really... not easy to see. For the left side, the washer resevour must be removed. The right side is "clear", but you have to sort of lean way over, reach down, then back up. You can see that little hole when you are just about to stand on your head...

Very bad design. All designers should be required by international law to work as mechs for at least 5 years. Damn the school work! Get some practicle hands on before all that design works starts!

Drive topless!!!
Cameron

[mgb driver]

Cameron,

I too have an '88. The right front marker bulb needs replacing. I was searching for the bulb today, and found the rubber part under the bonnet....... however I was reluctant to pull to hard.... it feels like everything is just hanging on the other side of the rubber grommet....... what is the best way to get the bulb & assy out?

Kevin

[arium]

If memory serves me right......

Before you go yanking on the bulb socket; you may wish to give it a little counterclockwise turn - then yank. Most bulb asemblies have an interlocking keyway that lets you take the bulb socket out with minimum force after you rotate the whole assembly from a pair of clamping locks.

Steve

[ragingfool]

negative on the turning! just pull straight back. i should have taken a picture of the bulb holder when i finally got it out, but it has a slot in it that a matching "key" on the lens assy fits in. if you turn or twist it, you will break it. this also means that it will only seat in 2 positions. you will feel it snap into place (much like a spark plug wire). on my 90 SE, the "access" holes are inches out of alignment with the bulbs, apparently you 88 guys dont have the same problem? i used a 194 long life bulb, but now you can get a set of LED 194 replacements that fit, look great and never have to replace again for $10.
autozone carries them, but only in amber for the front. you have to go to the manufacture's website (i forgot what it is) to order the red ones for the rear.
well worth it though.

[arium]

Thanks for the refresh!

I'll write that one down in the little binder called service 'notes'. I could just sort of remember the plastic socket with a couple little ears on it. Hopefully nothing cracked or broke.

Steve

[mgb driver]

Thanks for the info. When I was feeling around the other day, it seemed like the bulb and assembly were pushed thru the rubber grommet, and just dangling in the lens...... I didn't want to just yank it out for fear of tearing the wires out.

Kevin
88 Turbo