On my 94 Prizm, that plastic plug has an O-ring on the other side of the body, the thing to do is pull the light assy straight back, maybe by leveraging a flat screwdriver where the light assy has curved around to the side of the rear. Then you clearly see how it goes back on and how leaving out one screw can really screw things up, I almost cut that plastic nut.
Go inside the trunk and remove the nuts from inside and pull the assembly out.
I believe you have to unscrew a couple bolts on the inside of the truck bed to get the taillight assembly off the truck then you can unscrew the light sockets and replace the burnt out bulb
The entire taillight comes off as an assembly, and is not designed to be taken apart. To change a light bulb: 1. Inside the trunk look on the back side of the taillight near the quarter panel. There will be 3 nuts, the center nut holds the taillight assembly in place, remove that nut. 2. Pull the assembly rearward enough to bring the stud out from the header panel, then pull the tab out of the license plate light assembly. 3. Remove the socket that needs a new bulb and replace the bulb, then slide the taillight assembly back in place and put the nut back on.
inside the bed of the truck right behind the taillights there are two screws, you simply loosen them and the taillight pops right out. a real easy job . Daniel - tucson AZ
Inside the trunk on either side of the car are entry panels to the taillights. Remove the cover and unscrew the bolts that hold the taillight onto the back of the car body. Remove the taillight assembly and replace bulb(s).
take the rear plastic piece off inside the car, remove all the bolts, pull the assembly out, and unhook the wires. really easy
open trunk,pull back inside lining to trunk,there should be 3 or 4 plastic nuts to take off. then pull out light assembly.
Open Tailgate and locate two 10mm hex bolts on inside edge near taillight. Remove two bolts (each bolt has a lock washer and std. washer). Gently, but forcefully, pull taillight assembly back away from the truck. That is, in the direction going from the front of the truck to the rear. There should be two indents on the inside edge of the taillight assembly where it meets the bed of the truck. You can pull on those while supporting/pulling the outside edge of the taillight assembly where it meets the rear quarter panel. Once the bolts are remove, the only thing holding it to the truck is two metal pins that are inserted into two grommets in the truck quarter panel. It takes some force to pull out but if you do it gently and have a firm grip, it will come. Be careful not to torque the assembly to one side when you pull - pull straight back. Installation is just the reverse. Make sure you have the lock washer on the bolt first followed by the std. washer.
From the inside.
there are two screws on the inside of the taillight and then you have to slide it out from two brackets, if you can't get the brackets out you may have to pop out the plastic tabs.
From inside the trunk you remove the three or four finger nuts to remove the entire taillight assembly. Once you get it removed you'll see the light plugs on the backside.
Open hatch. Theres an access hole inside towards taillight. Unscrew plastic knob by hand. Along side of taillight -(outside of car)- in the drip rail- there is a Philips head screw. Undo this and pop taillight assembly out. Turn bulb holder to remove. Reverse process to install