installation guide summary

This guide will assist in replacing the tail lights on a Mk. IV Golf (or GTI). As there are many different tail light color combinations available, you will save yourself the money that would go towards a "professional" installation when you decide to change colors. The installation is relatively easy, and can be completed within two hours.

tools needed

• Socket wrenches (a #8 head and #10 head)
• A #25 torx head screwdriver (25)
• A philips head screwdriver
• Rubber cement or sticky tack

removal/installation instructions

Right side:

1. Remove the access panel in the trunk that leads to the light bulb harness.
2. Look at the replacement tail lights and figure out where all the screw points are, you should see three, then approximate where their counterparts on the car are. The light assembly is held on by what look like nuts with washers built into them.
3. Look in through the access panel and figure out where the corresponding nuts are.
4. Use the a dab of rubber cement or the sticky tack in your socket wrench so that the nuts don't fall into the pits of the car. You might be able to find them if they fall, but they will be far down there buried in cosmoline or whatever that greasy gunk is. I have already lost one to the car, so be warned!
5. Carefully remove the 3 nuts, and set them aside, and remove the light bulb harness.
6. Remove the tail light assembly.
7. Note that the light assembly on this side has a metal nub at the 'pointy' end, where there is a screw point on the other assembly. Make sure this goes in first when replacing the assembly.
8. Replace the assembly with the new one, make sure the neoprene seal sits flush with the body, or you will have leaks. Replace the nuts (don't drop them!).
9. Tighten the nuts one last time, replace the access panel.

1. If you have a Monsoon amp and CD changer, it is best that you remove them both before proceeding. One of the screws is hidden behind the amp rack and the carpeting, which is why you have to remove them.
2. Remove the dummy plug, just pull up, it's mounted on a metal nub. You will see a bolt behind it.
3. There is a corresponding bolt lower down, as well as two torx head screws, these hold the amp rack in place. You need to remove all 4 of them, then remove the rack.
4. The 2 nuts holding the light assembly in place should be visible, pretty much where they were on the other side of the car. Double check on the light assembly to make sure you know approximately where they are, someone I know ended up ripping out a chunk of the plastic of his stock lights because he left one bolt in place.
5. The third one is the most difficult to get to and is the reason you need to take out the amp rack.
6. Move the carpeting over and you will see a rectangular shaped hole, right below it runs some wiring. It looks impossibly small, but you need to get your socket wrench in there to loosen the bolt. I dropped my wrench head at this point, by the way, just dig around at the bottom under the carpeting and you'll find yours or a nut you dropped.
7. Have someone hold the wrench in place with the nut in it's position so you just have to screw the light in. If there's no one there, try holding it in place some how.
8. Remove the light bulb harness, and the assembly.
9. Replace everything as you removed them

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