Puddle lights in door

[MapleOreo]

Have any of you replaced these?
If so, how did you remove them?
Pop them out from the bottom, or remove the door card and do it from the back?

 

[netsinah]

Several people say they've been able to carefully pry the OEM "puddle light" out of its slot, unplug it, then plug-in and insert the after-market in the same slot. A few people have commented that their after-market "puddle light" isn't a perfect fit, so they've had to wedge it in, for a tight fit.

I'm now working on my doors and attached are 2 photos: the first showing the "puddle-light" at the bottom of the driver side door; the second sideways view showing a closer view of the inside of the door, again with its wiring harness unplugged and in place. The harness was easily unplugged, so I don't see why you can't do this job, w/o taking the door apart. Hope this helps you visualize the set-up.

 

[MapleOreo]

Thanks for the response.
I'm not sure about getting a tool in there around the lip of the light to push on the tab to release it.
I may be better off removing the door card to access it.
Is the door card simple to remove?
Looks to be only a couple screws.

 

[kitkat]

Absolutely not necessary to remove the door card, get a screwdriver or pick in between the edge and the bottom of the door and pull it down. Making this more complicated than it needs to be.

 

[crashprash]

Absolutely not necessary to remove the door card, get a screwdriver or pick in between the edge and the bottom of the door and pull it down. Making this more complicated than it needs to be.

Are you supposed to start prying from the front or the back ? Tried the other and it was quite tight so didn't want to snap any clips etc

 

[kitkat]

Are you supposed to start prying from the front or the back ? Tried the other and it was quite tight so didn't want to snap any clips etc

Front of door, that’s where the spring clip is. The oem ones are kinda just wedged in there, start from the front give it a good tug downwards once you’ve got the lip of it.

 

[chirowolf]

Front of door, that’s where the spring clip is. The oem ones are kinda just wedged in there, start from the front give it a good tug downwards once you’ve got the lip of it.

I was able to work then off from the side where the clips are slightly smaller. Allows you to get a small screwdriver in to compress the clips front and back

 

[netsinah]

Knowing the set-up of the "puddle light" (the one end longer, with the wiring harness plugged in to it), use a thin pry tool around the edges to slowly work the OEM light down, then ease it forward with the harness end at the rear and initially, still out of site. Once you've got it out enough and exposed the harness, unplug it, then plug in the replacement and re-insert...done. By going slowly, you shouldn't do any damage.

 

[allenyao09]

I removed the door card for the installation. You don't have to do that but it's easier to access with the door card detached.

 

[chirowolf]

I removed the door card for the installation. You don't have to do that but it's easier to access with the door card detached.

how many bolts for the door card? I saw one in the handle when installing my light. Is it just one and clips?

 

[Blackthought_]

You literally pop out the light in like 5 seconds with a small screw driver. Like others have said no need to take off the door panel

 

[allenyao09]

how many bolts for the door card? I saw one in the handle when installing my light. Is it just one and clips?

2 bolts

 

[Wusah]

Hey gang, so do I have to remove the door panel for this mod? I took a screwdriver and removed the light but after I fitted the aftermarket light it never turned back on even when the car is on, the light on the other door is still functioning. I even tried putting back the OEM puddle light and still nothing. Anyone know why my puddle light suddenly doesn't work after switching it?

 

[netsinah]

Hey gang, so do I have to remove the door panel for this mod? I took a screwdriver and removed the light but after I fitted the aftermarket light it never turned back on even when the car is on, the light on the other door is still functioning. I even tried putting back the OEM puddle light and still nothing. Anyone know why my puddle light suddenly doesn't work after switching it?

You don't have to remove the panel, to replace the OEM puddle lights, as indicated above in this thread.

First try disconnecting then re-connecting the new puddle light, to ensure it's connected properly. Then try to activate it several times: close both doors, then open each to see if the light for each door comes on. Don't leave a door open too long, since that may cause the light to go out. If none of that works, you may have a defective puddle light. OR perhaps by playing around with the puddle lights, you bent a connecting pin, in the door receptacle? That would mean the puddle light is OK, but where it plugs in, has a problem and isn't making a proper connection. Have a look, to see if you can rule that out.

To see if a particular puddle light is defective, replace it with the new one you haven't used yet, to see if that one works. If it works, the first one you used, is likely defective. Visually inspect the new puddle light, to see if there are any loose wires, bent "pins", or something looks burnt out. Or any puddle light that you see is working...take it out and put it in the "non-working door" and if it doesn't work in that new location, you'll know it's not a problem with the puddle light itself.

All that said, replacing the new puddle light with the OEM one, and finding the OEM one doesn't work either, suggests you may have a problem within the door itself, supplying power to its puddle light. That assumes both the new puddle light and the OEM light(s), aren't both defective, which would be unlikely. Do you know if the OEM puddle light was working for that particular door, to begin with? If you conclude there's a power supply problem, after some trial and error (doing what I suggested above), your choice is to see a dealer or take the door panel off and look inside at the wiring connections.

Finally, is there a fuse for the puddle lights, that could be burnt out or poorly connected? I'd need to see a "fuse diagram" to know that and recall something posted on this Forum, explaining which fuses worked for what (or maybe check the manual for that info? I'm not looking at mine now, so can't say if it's there). I'd likely consider the fuse, before taking the door apart or visiting the dealer. Good luck finding a solution!

 

[Blackthought_]

Hey gang, so do I have to remove the door panel for this mod? I took a screwdriver and removed the light but after I fitted the aftermarket light it never turned back on even when the car is on, the light on the other door is still functioning. I even tried putting back the OEM puddle light and still nothing. Anyone know why my puddle light suddenly doesn't work after switching it?

If I’m not mistaken, the puddle lights only activate when it’s dark out. I was working in my driveway during the day time and I remember needing to use a towel on the windshield area to darken it and it lit the puddle lights on.