How to replace the map lights?

[gforever]

I thought replacing the glove box light was hard.... try the map lights! These lil guys don't bulge and have a chrome shield around them. Does anyone know how to take out these lil bulbs? I don't want to break the bulbs or the chrome enclosure thingies.

[gforever]

push. Help please??? Do you have to unscrew the whole thing or is there a technique to get those chrome thingies out of the way to grab the light bulbs out? Thanks.

[gforever]

Alright so I tried taking out the center screw but that didn't do anything.... Anyone else have idea or know of what tools I can use to replace these map lights? This is the step I am stuck at.....

[anhktruong]

Alright, just to warn you...this probably isn't the cleanest way to remove these lights, but it worked. Sorry for the bad pictures, I didn't of documenting it until I was half way done. You will need a little screw flat head screw driver...something like you would use to repair eyeglasses.


***NOTE - pieces will be partially broken afterward. There are two points at the base of the reflector that need to break in order to come out.






1. remove the cover like you already did above - you do not need to remove the screw

2. there should be a very small gap between the base of the reflector piece and the column piece...Use the screw driver on point 1 to jimmy in between the reflector base and the column piece ---- you need to pry it outward until you snap the part free.

3. repeat step 2 for the second point.

4. at this point it should pretty much pop free, but you might need to pry out point 3 a little to get it to come all the way out.

5. repeat on the other side and change lights.

6. put the reflector back in starting with point 2, then 1 and then 3.

So now you're all set. Like I said...probably not the best way to do it, but it works. I figure, it doesn't matter if it looks clean because the cover will cover anything up anyways.

These steps worked for me, so I hope they help you guys!

[dandrayan]

I had much better luck replacing the map lights on my Sentra. I was able to remove the big Phillips screw inside the light compartment and remove the plastic housing. I'd recommend pulling the end closest to the windshield down towards you, as there are little metal retainers holding it to the roof on that side. Pulling on the other side (the end closer to the dome light) will only break the plastic hooks holding that end up. Here's a photo of the assembly removed:



Once that is free, you can just twist the black connectors from the back to replace the lights... no breaking of the plastic reflectors needed. Here are my new blue LED lights, freshly installed:

[gforever]

Thanks for sharing and for the pics dandrayan! I'll try it out tonight!