HELP! Lost my license plate light bulb behind the main hatch

[alphasubzero949]

I was trying to screw in my license plate light bulb housing and lost grip of it. It fell behind and is now sitting deep and rattling behind. Any idea how to fish it out without going to the dealer?

Thanks for any replies.

[Chiznarles]

try the extendable magnet.. looks like a retractable antenna.. you can get it radioshack for $2.99 cuz i just bought one.. Its a screwdriver w/ the magnet thing

[evil eye]

you could also take apart the plastics. I've done it, it's not that hard, and makes putting in TYC's so much easier! They all snap back in like legos. ;)

[alphasubzero949]

It's not the plastic...it's the actual part of the car...the hatch itself

[alphasubzero949]

Are you SURE you can use a magnet on the housing (the thing the bulb fits into)? I don't think it will work.

[alphasubzero949]

So much for a magnet...

I thought I got the housing free...but then it tumbled somewhere. I banged the hatch and heard it, but now I don't know where it is...

:(

[nate22]

Originally posted by alphasubzero949
It's not the plastic...it's the actual part of the car...the hatch itself


hmmmmm........yup, i have no idea what you're talking about ;)

have a digi-cam?

[buckeye23]

He was replacing one of the license plate light bulbs, so the plastics were already off, but he dropped the plastic part that the bulb actually plugs into, then you plug the wires in to that. The big mistake here was disconnecting the wires, you don't have to, to change the bulbs. I did the same thing.

However, I was lucky. My car was going to the body shop the next day so I had them do it. They took the hatch lid off while they had the car. Added maybe $40 to my bill.

I can't think of any other way to get it out except to remove the deck lid. You'll need at least one other person to do this.

[xover22]

LOL. I did the same thing last weekend. I sat there for about 1/2 hour trying to figure out what the heck I was going to do. I have this light thing in my car that goes into my cig lighter. It is about 6 inches long and is flexable. So I wrapped the end in duct tape and fished it out. It took about 15 minutes of "fishing", because I had no idea where it was. But I finally got it. :)

Maybe you can use a hanger and wrap it in duct tape! That might work. Good luck!

[clubnrgykid]

It just happend to me!! I lost the bulb holder fell off I wish I had knew that I didnt have to take out the wire to remove it..Now I guess I should jsut ask the dealer how much they charge for that unit? Any idea or advise to get it out or how much they run guys??