How to Install IS-F Tail Lights on a Lexus IS
IS-F outer tail lamps only replace the outer lenses. The inner lamps stay put unless you are also swapping 2006-2008 inners for 2009-and-later ones.
The Short Answer (TL;DR)
On this ClubLexus 2IS, the outer IS-F lamps come out from the trunk: pop the liner clips, pull the grocery-hook screw, twist the bulb out, remove three 10mm nuts, and pull the lamp straight off a corner clip. The new lamp needs its own harness and a 7440 turn-signal bulb. The store does not sell these lamps or harnesses. Check every bulb before the liner goes back.
What the write-up says to have
- IS-F outer tail lamps and the two harnesses that go with them
- A pair of 7440 turn-signal bulbs. The writer preferred clear or LED bulbs so an amber bulb would not show behind a clear lens
- A large flat screwdriver and a small one about 2 to 3 mm wide
- A 10mm socket. The trunk tool kit has a 10mm wrench, but a socket is easier
The Step-by-Step Process
Open the trunk side
Pop the plastic liner clips with a flat screwdriver. The writer said replacements are cheap if one breaks. Remove the grocery-net hook with the 10mm socket or a Phillips screwdriver, then pull the hook out. A second hook near the top of the liner can stay. Peel the liner back far enough to reach the back of the outer lamp. Do not crease it hard. Leave the inner lamps alone for an outer-only swap.
Take the outer lamp off
Twist the bulb assembly out of the back of the lamp and pinch the small connector free. Remove the three 10mm nuts. Do not drop them behind the liner. Push on the three studs to break the lamp loose, then pull it straight out from outside the car. A clip in the corner holds on until you pull hard enough for it to pop.
Swap the harness and fit the new lamp
The IS-F lens uses a different harness than the stock outer lamp. The connector is tight. Slide the small screwdriver into the gap and pop the lock tab out while you pull. Do not just squeeze it. An extra pair of hands helps. Seat the new lamp, install the new turn-signal bulb, twist it in, and plug the small connector back on. Do the other side, check that every bulb works, then put the liner and clips back.
Inner lamps, only if you are changing those too
The thread says 2006-2008 inners being swapped for 2009-and-later ones are easier than the outers. Peel the fender liner. Remove two plastic-covered bolts on the side, and only the lower of the two bolts behind the liner. Unclip the harness from the trunk metal with your fingers, not a tool that can scratch paint, then separate the connector. Pop the inner lamp out.
What this store can link
This store does not sell IS-F tail lamps, harnesses, or 7440 bulbs. The filtered Lexus page is the closest place to look for other IS parts.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do the inner lamps have to come out?
No, not for IS-F outers. The write-up says the IS-F lamps only replace the outers.
What if a cheap set throws a code?
One reply said bargain outer lamps lit a code and the stock lamps went back on. This write-up does not include a wiring fix for that. Use the harness that matches the lamps you bought, and confirm the bulbs work before you close the trunk.
Source: ClubLexus IS-F tail light write-up. The install photos stay on that thread.
