Below is a video on how to replace puddle lights on a Subaru
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Today we are going to be showing you how to replace puddle lights on a Subaru. This will work on most of them as they are installed in the same way. We are going to be showing you on this 2009 Subaru Forester.
To start we will need a flat screwdriver or clip removal tool. You may also want something to lay on as we need to get to the bottom side of the rocker panels.
Well start on the passenger side of the car. We’ll lay on the ground and on the bottom of the plastic rocker panel cover there are six plastic clips we need to remove.
Once we have those clips removed we can open both doors slightly. With the doors open just a bit we can grab the plastic rocker panel right in front of the rear wheel.
We’ll gently pull outward to release the other six push pin clips that are still holding it into the car. Once we have popped it loose we can lower it down to the ground.
If you wanted to completely remove the plastic rocker from the car there is one more clip right behind the front wheel.
Now that we have the rocker panel cover dropped down we can grab a phillips screw driver or screw gun. We’ll use that to remove the factory puddle light.
With the screws removed we can use the flat screwdriver to pop the factory puddle light off the rocker panel as there is some adhesive holding in place.
If you were going to replace the puddle light with a factory one. You will undo the clip to detach the puddle light from the car wiring.
The factory puddle light part # is H471SS0C010. For this car we are going to use an aftermarket rock light as the puddle light. It will end up being brighter and better sealed.
So we can grab a set of wire cutters and cut the wires as close to the the factory puddle light. By doing this if someone else wanted to replace the aftermarket rock light the factory plug will still be there and could be used.
With these after market lights the mounting hardware is a tad bit bigger so well grab a ¼ drill bit and drill and just enlarge the mounting holes.
Also with these aftermarket lights the wiring comes off at an angle and not in the center light of the factory lights. It does come with a mounting block which allows the wiring to come out of the center.
Next we can slide the light wiring into the center hole, then slide our 5mm allen bolt into the mounting holes and then start the 10mm nylon locking nuts by hand.
With them both started by hand we can grab a 5mm allen wrench and a 10mm socket and ratchet and snug them up.
Once the light is mounted we can crimp the wiring together using water tight butt connectors, red to red and black to black.
With the wires connected we can grab a heat gun, small torch and heat them up to get the ooze to flow out to seal them up.
After you have the ooze flowing out we’ll let it cool down then tuck the wires back into the plastic rocker panel cover. That completes the install for the rear puddle light.
Well move to the front passenger side puddle light and do the same steps to get that one replaced.
Once you have completed the install of the front passenger puddle light we can open the door to ensure that both the new puddle lights work and function as they should.
Now that we have opened the door and confirmed that both lights on the passenger side are working we can reinstall the plastic rocker cover.
Well lift it up, align the push clips and start clipping them back in, We’ll start on the front and work our way back to the rear tire.
Now that we have the front push pins clipped back in we can go underneath and reinstall the bottom six plastic clips to fully install and hold the plastic rocker panel cover in position.
That completes the install for the passenger side. We’ll complete the very same steps to get the driver’s side puddle light replaced.
Once you have completed the drivers side that’s it we have just shown you how to replace puddle lights on a Subaru or upgrade them.
