Removal of high level brake light ducato van HOW? (3 Viewers)

[berni109]

Looks simple enough - 2 big screws holding it in?
Screws out gently ease the fitting.
Expected it to fall out but no there must be something holding it.
Before brute force what the hell is holding in place?
TIA

 

[Barti Ddu]

When I removed ours to fit a reversing camera I experienced exactly the same as you. The plastic lens seems to bond itself to the metal surround (it's probably caked on dirt)!

Gentle prying with a couple plastic pry tools (one at end) loosened it and it popped out.

 

[berni109]

Thanks Barti Ddu .
Like you say it was not easy to pry the lens off the bodywork.
But there seems to be something else holding the complete unit in place. It's loose but won't pull out easily.

 

[Landy Andy]

You may find the wire is being held by silicon sealer that was wet when light was fitted.

 

[Barti Ddu]

Thanks Barti Ddu .
Like you say it was not easy to pry the lens off the bodywork.
But there seems to be something else holding the complete unit in place. It's loose but won't pull out easily.

It's over a year since I removed it to fit a reversing camera, but don't recall any other particular issues with removing the original unit. There's a cable obviously, but think that there was plenty of play to extract the assembly.

Maybe you need to be a bit braver with it, giving it some force. Good luck.

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[Gellyneck]

Maybe you need to be a bit braver with it, giving it some force. Good luck.

 

[berni109]

Tools of last resort Gellyneck .
Perhaps if the Birmingham screwdriver don't work

 

[GeoffnDee]

On my 2015 Peugeot there were sprung plastic retainers at each end of the light unit . If you can find a photo (e-bay ?) you should be able to see them.

 

[Barti Ddu]

This YouTube video shows how easily it should come off.

I wonder if the square plastic mouldings on the back of the brake light unit have impaled themselves too forcefully on the square brass threaded mounts on the van? (See around 2 minute 40 seconds in the video). Be brave. Give it some welly!

 

[jerryz]

some have little wings that slide sideways and then it comes out

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[berni109]

That bit of bent metal in the photo was a very tight fit at both ends. Acting a bit like spring retainers.
Brute force (and bravery) was all that was required.
I checked before the brute force and a replacement was £20 on the bay.
Thanks for the encouragement .