How do you change high mount stop light in 2006 Hyundai sonata?

Answer 1

1.) unplug the connector in the trunk.

2.) remove the 2 gold-colored screws with a Phillips head screwdriver from inside the trunk. They can be seen from the trunk. 1 is thru the larger square opening where the wire connects to the 3rd brake light. The 2nd is on the right side thru a small (screwdriver width) hole covered by a piece of foam tape stuff.

3.) after removing the 2 screws, go inside the cabin and the brake light housing pops right up.

4.) disconnect the bulb from the housing while inside the cabin.

5.) in the trunk remove the wire and bulb. (it's about 5 inches long. the wire from the connector to the bulb socket)

6.) reverse steps to install.

I did this today. It wasn't easy, but it'll be much easier next time.

From inside the trunk reach into the rectangular hole and disconnect the plug for the light. Though this hole you can see one of the two screws that holds down the light housing to the rear deck (this screw also ties down the plug receptacle), but you don't need to remove this screw unless you need to get the plug receptacle out of the way. There is a circular hole about 1 inch in diameter several inches from the rectangular hole. This hole has a sticker covering it. Remove and discard the sticker. Through this hole you can see the other screw that holds down the light housing. But you don't need to remove this screw. Look through the rectangular hole, shine a flashlight through the circular hole, and you'll the light bulb holder/socket. This needs to be turned about 1/4 turn ccw to be able to pull it and the bulb out. I used a long screw driver to push on it to get it to turn. You can then pull out the bulb socket, with wires and plug attached to it, through the rectangular hole. Now that you've got the darned thing in your hands, replace the bulb. That completes the easy part.

The hard part is to get the bulb socket back into the hole. If you really need to, you can remove the two screws, then go into the car and pry up the housing, remove it, and practice putting the bulb socket into the hole, but on my Sonata you can't replace the housing with the bulb socket installed because there is not enough clearance due to the sloping rear windshield. Try it, and you'll see.

Now's a good time to insert the new bulb into socket, reconnect the plug, and step on the brake pedal just to verify that the new bulb works. Then disconnect the plug and continue.

I shined the flashlight though the round hole, and while holding the bulb socket by the wires was able to get the bulb back into the hole on the housing. Then with the help of the long screwdriver reaching through the round hole, I got the socket all the way into the housing. I then used the same screw driver to push on the socket to turn it the 1/4 turn necessary to lock it place. Reconnect the plug and you're done.

After having done this once, I think I could do it again the same way in about 5 minutes. What would really make this easy is a sizeable hole right below the bulb socket, but I guess Hyundai didn't think of that. I thought seriously about drilling my own hole, before I finally did it holding it by the wires and with the help of the flashlight and long screw driver.

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I followed the instructions above, however I ran into two issues.

1) In order to remove the housing, I had to disconnect the light from it. Once it was detached, I had a little trouble getting the housing completely out from the 3 latches on the back of the housing at the base of the window. The light also fell into the trunk.

Once this was completely detached, replacing the light is simple. The trick is in getting in all back together, which leads me to the 2nd issue.

2) When trying to replace the housing with the light attached, there was no clearance from the back area where the housing sits on as it is sloped. There's a piece of the light housing that extends too far. I suppose this piece is to twist the light housing into the housing cover.

After 5 attempts and with the help of a certified mechanic, we BOTH agree with the above statement regarding drilling a hole directly under the housing so it would be easily reached. Neither of us were successful in trying to attach the light throught the hole that is offset by 3 -4 inches.

My handyman experience finally came handy. Here's how I solved the issue of getting the light attached to the housing back in place without going from the bottom. I realized that if I cut the extended piece of the light housing (being VERY careful not to cut the wiring), that the clearance for the housing/light would be very minimal and I may be able to push the whole thing through. First, I scored the piece I wanted to cut with a utility knife (on both sides), then I used a heavy wire cutter to clip it off. It came off in one shot and didn't crack the rest of the light housing or the wiring. I then went into the cabin, attached the light and wedged the entire housing as close as I cuold get it. I then pulled the wiring through the hole in the trunk as to no crease or clip the wires. I used a flathead screwdriver to wiggle the housing in and.. PRESTO! the housing went in perfectly. I secured the two screws back, attached the power and perfect!

I hope I only have to do this once. However, next time will be much easier. I have replaced enough lights and think this one has a serious design flaw in not having the hole directly underneath in order to remove/replace the light easily. Also, there's nothing in the manual or on Hyndai's website regarding this issue.

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After uncoupling the connector it was to hard to try and turn the bulb socket from the boot. I ended up dismantling the light housing from the cabin. Even with the screws loosen, one needed force to release the housing. Once the housing was loosened I could then use a screw driver to quarter turn the bulb case from the housing, but because of the bulb case this had to be dropped before the housing could be removed.

The tip about snipping off some of the bulb casing was great, which allowed me to replace the bulb, reinsert the bulb casing to the light housing and squeeze it back into position (although I don't think it will sit flush ever again). This was after a few attempts to attach the bulb case from the boot.

Test the bulb is working, disconnect the cable again, fasten the screws from the boot, until the light housing sits as flush as possible, reconnect cable and retest light works.

Hyundai definitely need to make a design change here.

So much for only having to change a light bulb to get your warrant!