Rear Light Cluster Removal (for Replacing Blown Lamps)

The rear light cluster need to be removed to replace blown lamps, as you know blown lamps can fail and MOT or bring your C3 to the attention of traffic officers. Changing the lamps is not totally straight forward, but with these tips you should be able to complete the task yourself.

The fixings for the rear light clusters are hidden, making the job look more difficult than it actually is.

This is the lower fixing access hatch cover on the near side. The Near Side fixing hatch cover just pulls off to reveal the lower fixing nut. The Off Side fixing hatch is behind the plastic divider which just pulls off Use a 10mm socket with a flexy bar or a universal joint linked to a ratchet handle via an extension bar to get the angle required to remove the nut from the access hole.


With the lower fixing nut removed, the next step is to remove the top mounting nut, this is hidden behind a plastic cap Lever out the cap to reveal the 10mm nut, remove the nut with a 10mm socket
With both fixing nuts removed the whole assembly can be pulled away from the body of the car to reveal the plug (white arrow) and the circuit board mounting clips (blue arrows). You need to release all the clips to gain access to the lamps. Now you can see the lamps Stop and Tail is P21/5W (380) available here: Citroen C3 Stop and Tail Lamps on ebay and here on amazon

Indicator / Turn Signal is BAU15S PY21W (581) Citroen C3 turn lamp (here) on ebay and here from Amazon


Reverse lamp (white light) is P21W (382) available here: Citroen C3 Reverse lamp bulb or amazon.co.uk - click here

Fog lamp is also Citroen C3 Reverse lamp bulb or P21W (382) and available above as for Reverse lamp.


It is recommended to change lamps in pairs (near side and off side) because they will have the similar life, but while you have the units removed, it may pay to replace the whole set of 4 lamps on each side to save having to do it again later as each lamp blows. The lamps are cheap to buy.

Keeping a spare set of fuses and lamps in the car can help save hassle like this set from amazon, but don't forget you will need a 10mm socket and extension to change rear lamps.


High Level Brake Light lamp replacement instructions are here


The rear number plate lamps replacement procedure is here Replacing lamps in the C3 rear number plate lights