How do you replace the tail light bulb in a 2003 Subaru Outback Wagon?

This is for the outboard lamp in the rear quarter panel. The bulb is an 1157 dual filament, 12v, staggered bayonet base.

Before starting, stop at a hardware store and pick up the bulb(s) and two or three 6mm nuts. If different thread pitches are offered, get a couple of each.

Tools needed are; flat blade screw driver, a quarter drive ratchet, extension and 8mm short and deep sockets. A magnet on a stick may be helpful to retrieve a nut dropped into the quarter panel, but you were smart enough to get spare nuts.

Use the screw driver to remove the access cover in the interior behind the lamp assembly. Remove the small access cover just under the cargo cover hook-on bracket. There are two studs holding the lamp assembly retained by those little 6mm nuts. Use an 8 mm deep socket to remove the two nuts. Here's your first chance to lose a nut. With the nuts removed, you can now pull the tail light assembly out. There are two lamp sockets that can be twisted a quarter turn or so to access the bulbs.

Replace the bulb(s) and test the lights before reinstalling the assembly. Starting the nuts from the inside is easier with a standard depth 8 mm socket than the deep socket. To reduce the chance of dropping a nut. put a dab of grease in the socket to hold the nut. Otherwise here's your next opportunity to lose a nut. After engaging a few threads on the stud, change to the deep socket to secure the nuts. Don't over tighten the nuts. You're nut bolting the main fuel tank on the Space Shuttle.

Pop the interior access covers back into place.