number plate light fiasco

[deepfat]

Leta start by saying I have a 2014 C3 Picasso all, part or none of my experience may apply to your car.

I had one of the rear number plate lights out and thought I'd use some LEDs I already had and replace both, 1st mistake. Removing the lens defeated me so I went on line and saw the post on here about removing the complete light fitting but found another that said the lens could just be levered off, lens off, bulb out, LED in, bugger it's too long and fouls the lens so ordered shorter ones on line, 2nd mistake. New LEDs in hand I try again LED in, check it works it doesn't no prob they are polarity sensitive just take it out turn it and try again, will it come out NO. Now the fitting has to come out with little space to work, I failed gynecology at school and can be a bit ham fisted when my temper is lost = 1 broken fitting.

Whilst on line before I had seen a seller (ebay) selling 2 x complete lamp units with LEDs for £8.40, checking the list it said C3 Picasso 2009/2012 but looked exactly like the broken one I had extracted so I ordered them 3rd mistake (not sure). When they arrived I could not get them in pic 1 shows they are slightly wider but this wasn't the prob they appeared too long and fouled on the number plate cover in which they live but were the same length as the old ones.

That evening I consulted the oracle called Carlesberg and decided to remove the door card and access the back although I could find no info about this on line. Today I took my time not knowing what it involved and about 30 min later it was out, piece of cake if only I had known. The time taken was far far outweighed by all the faffing about i had done, so I decided to post how to on here.

First remove the T20 torx screw in each pull down handle, then unclip the door card, you can use pic 2 to judge where the clips are located. Now you can remove the cover above the plate using pic 3 remove the electrical connector to the hatch handle (white) then the 4 x 12mm nuts (red) then release the 2 trim clips (blue). Now you can fit/play with the lights to your hearts content, putting it back is the reverse of removal as they say but do check the handle fires the solenoid when you plug it in it will be a bit late after closing the hatch. Pic 4 shows how easy it is to get at the lights and the observant amongst you may notice my Star Wars tribute.

Now a couple of questions from me, pic 5 shows an indented line which lines up with a hole in the hatch covered with black tape visible in pic 4 is this for a rear mounted camera? it may help someone wanting to fit one. Due to it starting to rain I didn't have much time but could not see a way to open the hatch if the solenoid fails, is there an emergency release? https://postimg.cc/gallery/QBCLkQk

[mickthemaverick]

............ the observant amongst you may notice my Star Wars tribute.

Ru2 D2?