Want to remove rear lights assembly

[Arthway]

My rear nearside indicator stopped working the other day, and on further investigation found half a swimming pool of rainwater sitting in the holder/assembly where the indicator and tail lights etc live.

I managed to remove some of the water, but as often seems to be the case with car electrics, there is insufficient cable to turn the assembly 180 degrees to empty it.....

Anyway, I managed to get the indicator working again, but I need to remove the whole assembly so that I can give it a good clean - there is caked on mud all over it! There is only on set of cables feeding the whole unit, but I can't work out how to disconnect it - and I don't want to damage it. So, Does anyone know how to remove this, please? :doh

Nissan Terrano II TDI SE Touring Reg: 28/1/98

 

[rustic]

These lights with the water in, are the later version of lights, they are called "Puddle Lights" lol


:lol:lol

 

[jims-terrano]

There is a cable connector (plug n socket) where the wires are fastened to back of light unit, to be honest mine has never come apart but the bulb holders twist out as you've discovered. The connection that I'm talking about is slide on to a clip which is part of the lamp rear case. In the past this has simply snapped off mine which releases the lamp unit form the car leaving the bulb holders dangling but still connected to the car.
However having said all that could the connection point be a source of problems for you stopping your lights working.

You might be better off getting a stiff washing up type brush and a bucket of water to clean all the crud from the rear light unit and cables. You may find that you can take the connector apart and give the terminals a good clean. Once cleaned smear the terminals in grease.

 

[Arthway]

Thanks for the input. The weather has so wet, that I haven't had an opportunity to have another session with this.

I gather that it is some sort of slide type connector, but it so encased with grot that I couldn't work out how to actually disconnect it without possibly damaging things and then having no working lights on the whole of the nearside rear!

Hopefully I'll get a chance to work on it soon and I'll let you know how it went.

Thanks for the suggestions.