HELP - replacing turn signal light in 1998 Altima

["the"Trinity]

Hi folks,

Hope someone here is familiar with this problem or how to rectify it.

Last week, somebody "hit and ran" my 1998 Altima in a parking lot, damaging and cracking the driver's side turn signal/cornering light lens. It is now loose, has a broken metal securing strap and needs replacing as it is cracked.

Problem is - we cannot seem to get it OUT. The top metal brace that was holding it screwed in place has snapped from the impact, but there is still something holding the light in place on the bottom-rear portion of the back of the light. We cannot get it back in securely and we cannot get it out completely to see. The light just wobbles in place with huge spaces between it and the metal.

Does anybody know what sort of connector could be holding this light in place? We are fairly sure it is some kind of replaceable plastic "post" - but we are afraid to put all of our weight behind it and pull it with great force in case we permanently damage something else! Sorry to sound like such a newbie - but I am just that I'm afraid. Should we just pull the light out and risk it, or is there some sort of special tool for this job (can't imagine what)?

Any help from anybody who has had experience in replacing these turn signal lens assemblys on a 1998 Nissan Altima would be greatly appreciated!!!!

TT.

["the"Trinity]

I apologize for posting this thread in the wrong forum - I just noticed your "Technical" section for repair questions. Can somebody move this thread to the correct forum for me?

I have searched online for days and I still cannot find the answer to my problem with replacing my turn signal light - still can't get it out and still can't get it back in. I really REALLY would appreciate any help that's offered!!!

TT

[mcheddadi]

we have a technical section?

nah I think you posted in the good place, Its just that I don't know if we have some 1998 guys here?

["the"Trinity]

LOL, thanks. I'm glad nobody got mad from me posting in the wrong area!

OK well some more info that might help anybody give me some advice. I took a flashlight this afternoon and bent the broken cornering light as far away from the body of the car as I could and shone the flashlight inside the cavity behind the broken light. I can see the post that it is still attached to - and IT appears to be attached to the headlight. I can wiggle it and see the inserted part in the post wiggle too - so I know that's it.

The post appears to be some kind of plastic-over-metal configuration that it attached to the headlight. My broken cornering light is still attached by a string to this post.

So should I just YANK on it??? Or put it into a shop? Or what??? I can order the part no problem for like $25 so really there shouldn't be any problem - if I could just get it out of that damn post!! Anybody think I'd damage the whole headlight assembly too if I just YANKED it???

TT

[mcheddadi]

Can anyone help the guy (or gal?) ?

[08AltimaCoupe12790]

ok, i have a 98 Altima SE in addition to my 08 Coupe. replacing the light is VERY simple. if you raise the hood you will see that there is a single phillips head screw holding the bracket in place. after removing it, the light will be loose in the housing. pull it towards the front of the car and if needed, tap lightly on the back so it will pop out. thats it! just make sure when you re-install one that it is lined up corectly before putting the screw in.

["the"Trinity]

ok, i have a 98 Altima SE in addition to my 08 Coupe. replacing the light is VERY simple. if you raise the hood you will see that there is a single phillips head screw holding the bracket in place. after removing it, the light will be loose in the housing. pull it towards the front of the car and if needed, tap lightly on the back so it will pop out. thats it! just make sure when you re-install one that it is lined up corectly before putting the screw in.

Thanks for the help! Although - as I said - the metal bracket that holds the light in there was broken and sheared off during the impact so that is not the issue. That was the first thing we saw when we popped the hood. The light IS very loose in the housing - but I'm telling you we have taken huge screwdrivers, crowbars, hands, EVERYTHING to this light to try and get it to "pop out" as everybody claims it should. No dice. I have pulled on the light so hard that it almost literally shattered the lens before the stupid thing came out of the post stud it is stuck in. Why does my car have to typically be the one which is different and DIFFICULT? LOL.

Anyways - I ordered the part yesterday - a grand total of $24.01 so that doesn't really bother me. The light still works and obviously it's better stuck IN there rather than having it hanging out down to the ground attached by only the bulb wiring, ROFL. So - we will put your advice into practice when the new light arrives. Let's hope that sucker pops out with a bit of persuasion!!!

Cheers guys!

TT

P.S. - I'm a GAL! Not a GUY! LOL..............