Interior door lights

[Bryan]

Okay so the light on the lower part of my interior passenger side door is out. Trouble is when I last tried to get the light cover off my 90 SHO (this is my 92 SHO now) the plastic clips holding it on the door broke. So what's the easiest way to get these out without breaking the tabs off?

 

[sperold]

Are you speaking of the plastic fasteners holding the door panel to the door?

 

[Bryan]

Are you speaking of the plastic fasteners holding the door panel to the door?

The light in the door. That red and white light cover in the bottom of the door.

 

[sperold]

Yes I understand the light you want to service, but I believe the door panel must come off rather than somehow detaching the light assembly from the door panel, while the door panel remains on the door.

If that is the case, a company called Clips and Fasteners sell these push pin type fasteners.

https://shoforum.com/index.php?posts/1446396/

 

[Bryan]

Yes I understand the light you want to service, but I believe the door panel must come off rather than somehow detaching the light assembly from the door panel, while the door panel remains on the door.

If that is the case, a company called Clips and Fasteners sell these push pin type fasteners.

https://shoforum.com/index.php?posts/1446396/

Oh boy I need to remove the entire door panel? **** sakes Ford! Why did you design it like that!

 

[Devin]

Eh, after a few removals, it takes like 10 minutes to get it off and on. As long as you don't break the panel clips. Luckily they are cheap enough to have on-hand!

 

[luigisho]

I agree with sperold above. I don't think those lenses are meant to come out of the door panel. I haven't had to replace any of those bulbs so it never caught my attention but high probability that the panel comes off. Be careful. I've messed up everything over the years. These panels are flimsy near the middle so don't torque it top to bottom or vice versa. Make sure you get plenty of fresh plastic fasteners to replace broken ones and also prevent rattles with ones that look iffy

 

[JahMan12]

Sperold and LuigiSHO are right. I tried removing the lens cover (to replace it with an LED) and stopped when it put up too much of a fight. After taking the panel off, you can see the cover is meant to stay in as the bulb socket twists out to access the bulb.

 

[tery]

I've done them from the front in and from the back by taking off the door panel. The plastic lens is brittle, and probably was when it was made too--just that kind of plastic. Anyway, I found that after I knew what I was looking for, I could get the lens/light bulb cover off without breaking with a little flat blade and just a little pressure to get the clip part the edge--then the bulbs are a bitch to get out from the front or back..its just very tight and again old style brittle plastic.
good luck

 

[Bryan]

I've done them from the front in and from the back by taking off the door panel. The plastic lens is brittle, and probably was when it was made too--just that kind of plastic. Anyway, I found that after I knew what I was looking for, I could get the lens/light bulb cover off without breaking with a little flat blade and just a little pressure to get the clip part the edge--then the bulbs are a bitch to get out from the front or back..its just very tight and again old style brittle plastic.
good luck

I replaced the bulb on my 90 SHO and the damn cover broke off just by touching it. The hot little bulb probably makes the plastic even more brittle... Well I got to take off the door panel anyway when I replace the keyless entry pad so might as well change the bulb too.

 

[SHOdded]

maybe try an LED replacement in these tight confines.

 

[tery]

`If you haven't used QBond before, I can highly recommend it for fixing stuff like the little tabs that hold the lens on the door panel,,and...once you get the led in there, it is of course almost no heat compared to the old style.
Also..You may know, but some of the leds are directional, if you put it in the socket and it doesn't light, flip it 180 and it will if its good.