cutting the bulb housing to the wires and then forcing is across the deck/fabric into place is the only way to do this without a million fuks. Or just cut the wires and take a saw to the housing then just rewire it.

Yes 👍 tnks

Wow, thank you for this video. I purchased a 2007 Sonata 3 weeks ago and was able to replace the bulb. The most difficult part was lining the new bulb into the opening and turning it.

Great video! Easy to take apart, but it did take me a bit to get the bulb back into place.

When I did this on my 2007, I took a dremel cut wheel and cut off the excess plastic tail on the bulb housing. It seemed to be designed solely to be an impediment.

This was VERY helpful, just replaced the bulb, no issues. About 30-40 mins. Just need a good magnetic Phillips head, I used an old fashion wood handle wide screwdriver which was perfect for prying the light unit up. Two notes I have skinny long fingers which helps feeding the light socket back into place. I'm 6'4 so the hardest part was lying on my back in the trunk!

Was successful! Thank you VERY much! Had no idea I’d be able to do this. Getting the bulb into the right place was the hardest part, given the small space to accomplish it, but overall the task took about 20 minutes. Appreciate this excellent guide. This was the only video I watched!

i dropped the bulb above the metal frame, and i lost it

i curse the design engineer every time i see the broken brake light!! i broke the holder, and i don't get in auto parts

I tried to do this the way everyone has been saying it needs to be done. Here's what I did: The plastic socket the bulb goes into, the one with the wires, is very long. Don't know why that is, because it's dumb. So I took some scissors, and cut the whole bottom part of it, up to where the wires are. Do not cut the wires! I cut it into a smooth V shape. After I did that, I was able to reinstall the bulb and lock into place, inside the 3rd brake housing, AND put it back into place, with the light bulb installed! Piece of cake. After that, go ahead and reinstall both screws, to lock the housing into place. Voila. Done. No more having to have small fingers to lock the bulb into place. Worked great for me!

Thanks very much for the video. I would have been screwing with it for a while but your video was spot on. I did lose the old bulb and the one screw somewhere in that trunk shelf. Will probably fall out at some point.

Sonata 2006 NF 5th gen EASY WAY - Replacing burned out 3rd brake light 921 bulb Do not do this the hard way. You will turn a small job into a big mess, and you will break many things. No seats, body parts, trim need be removed. Go smart, calm and easy. Replacing burned out 3rd brake light 921 bulb 1. You need a Phillips screwdriver (magnetic), long curved forceps (key tool - get at Harbor Freight), and flashlights (head, curved, etc.). Position lights so you can see at every step. 2. Empty truck & put down rear seats. Now you have room to stretch out (legs in rear seat). From inside trunk 3. Remove (magnetic screw driver) 2 screws holding 3rd brake light housing (see other videos) - keep screws (put in bowl). 4. Disconnect light socket/pigtail from electrical harness to get more work room. 5. Use forceps to twist and pull socket/pigtail from housing (forceps can be locked, do not loose socket in the space below housing and above trunk top). In the back seat 6. You can now lift housing when the socket is out. 7. Look and test light socket and housing so you know how to position everything when putting it back together. 8. Put housing back in place. From inside trunk 9. Reconnect pigtail and test new bulb. If bulb works, then reverse of above setup (position flashlights; screw in housing - 2 screws; position socket/pigtail with forceps; push into housing and twist to lock; reconnect pigtail to harness; test). A H mechanic can do this in 15 minutes, unless the DIY forced and broke things. You can buy a new socket pigtail ($8), if necessary. Hyundai 2005 150K. I did this badly at 75K I did this smartly at 150K (clean, empty trunk with back seat down; forceps and light are key). Look at other videos. Consider brake switch failure. Use a wedged board to depress brake peddle and activate brake light. Yes, a simple access port right below housing would make this a 5 minute job.

Very clear and easy to follow. I saw a video where the person removed some of the interior and trim just to get to the bulb. Glad I found this video.

Kudos to you man... im going to cut an acess hole with a 4" cut off wheel.

On my 2010 model the 1st time I had the dealer replace it and was charged $75. Terrible design as shown on other YT vids. This year it went out again. This time I had the dealer do it again BUT I went and got the LED equivalent bulb from an auto parts store as the dealer would only put in the OEM part and had them put the LED bulb in. Hopefully it will never need replacement again.

On my 2010 model the 1st time I had the dealer replace it and was charged $75. Terrible design as shown on other YT vids. This year it went out again. This time I had the dealer do it again BUT I went and got the LED equivalent bulb from an auto parts store as the dealer would only put in the OEM part and had them put the LED bulb in. Hopefully it will never need replacement again.

Why won’t the plastic cover lift off completely from the shelf once the Phillips screws have been removed underneath? Applying electrical tape along the edge of the metal of the panel might prevent cut fingers when the connector is removed from the bulb socket.

Well I have the worst luck. Followed your video, the light's plastic assembly was dry rotted, so it cracked as I tried to pull the tabs up. Only the left one came up, the middle and right one wouldn't budge. It ended up breaking but I can super glue it back together, lol. Then as I tried to stick the lightbulb through the hole, the light bulb came loose and fell instead that metal hellhole. I lost it forever. So I'm like, hey, no worries, I got an extra bulb! And I fumbled with it some more, it fell out too. Inside the metal hellhole. So now I have a broken interior car part, two lost bulbs and wasted money, lol. Imma try again later once I purchase more bulbs. But your video was very helpful!

Oh crap my back hurts just watching this video. It also triggers a wee bit of that anxiety you feel when you have to complete a complex task whilst sitting in an award position in a tight space. God I hate that feeling. There's a special place in hell for the engineers who thought this was an okay design.

This video is a life saver. I didn't end up changing the bulb myself but passed on to my mechanic who changed the bulb within 3/4hr. I couldn't believe the dealer here in NZ wanted to take out the back seat etc. etc. Don't fall for this people they SHOULD KNOW how to change the light bulb without the expense. I did spend a few hours in the boot but couldn't manage. Perhaps better tools would have helped me. I'm in Whangarei if you want to know where to take your car.....................

Thanks for video had no clue till now

2019, just had to replace mine. This video was a lifesaver, THANKS. I used two flat heads to do the rotating because i couldn't get it flush with my fingers

DUDE. Thank you so much for this video. We had no idea how to get in there, after watching us it took us less than 10 minutes. You rock.

If you replace this bulb put in a LED and save yourself from doing it again down the road.

Thank you for this video! I was able to follow this exactly and complete the bulb replacement on my 2009 Sonata in about 10 min. Much better and easier than ripping the whole rear platform out as in the other videos.

I'm 6'2" with very large hands. I reached in the access port on top of the trunk and BARELY wiggled this bulb out and back in with my finger tips. Job took 2min. Didnt unscrew or unbolt a single thing. I went straight to the location and used good ole hand eye coordination. If you're handy, long needle nose pliers (or even better the long needle nose with a curved end) will get this job done easily in under 5min

Good video still can’t get it thou I will never buy a Hyundai again who was the brain surgeon who did that for one little 2 dollar center brake light 💡

Thanks for the video! It was very helpful.

Thanks for the video, took about an hour but I got it done.

Thanks for taking the time to make this video.

Thank you. What a pain in the ass to change one little light bulb. Took me 3 hours.

thanks ! really helped me, one little add here, i was even able to pull the whole 3rd stop body out and fix whatever i had to fix there, like goes to this post!

I did this 3 years ago and hope to never have to do it again.

I need to do this tomorrow on my daughter's car. Hyundai appears to be in need of a swift kick in the nuts for this design.

Would it be better to get some green and black wires, maybe 12 in in length and do a splice connection under the trunk compartment so that you can feed the excess inside when you remove the bulb housing? This way you can have a better way to secure the bulb? Great video and tips, thanks.

you figure being 55 he be use to holding his phone in one hand and playing with the other lol

much respect, i have been trying to do this for the past 2 weeks but i followed your way and i did it less than 30 mins. God bless you keep it up

Thanks for the great video! Very helpful!

Thanks a lot. The engineer, the supervisor and the department manager need to be slapped upside the head for allowing this design to be made. It explains why they don't tell/show you in the owners manual how to replace the bulb. Does any one know how much the dealer cheats you out of to replace the bulb. Just curious. I put a 921 LED in so I won't have to do it again.

The video referred to is showing replacement of bulb of the third brake under the rear window. I need replace of bulb for 3rd break light located in the spoiler, not under the rear window.

fuck, i think i have to burn my car to the ground now

Thanks dude !!!! I have to go replace mine on my 2009 .... (looks like a bit of a P.I.A. ) "Engineers" ... they KNOW they could make it more accessible ..... Fools !!

Thanks for the video. Worked to get the bulb out but not to put it back on... The connection wire wasn't rigid enough to support/guide the bulb into its opening; the new bulb got out of its socket as I was futzing with it trying to push it up. At that point with a loose bulb stuck between the panel and the trunk top I had no choice but to resort to the method in kzbin.info/www/bejne/oYPEaoN5m517r9E which took me 90 minutes (no damage)

Thank you. This seems better than taking the whole damn assembly apart like I've seen in other videos.

There is an easier way...remove the electrical connector and the two screws, then pry up on the front of the light housing and pry up on the outer two rear tabs ALONG WITH THE CENTER REAR TAB. The entire housing comes up and the light holder can be removed and pulled out the bottom. Trim as much of the light holder tab away as you can (I trimmed about 5/8" off). Now replace the light and light holder into the housing and feed the wires down thru the hole. Then slide the three tabs back into place and press down on the housing until it clicks into place. With the light in the housing, the original untrimmed tab does not allow you enough room to return the housing. Then reinstall the two screws from the bottom. I used a telescoping round magnet to get them started. You gave me the basics but I think you'll find my way easier. Thanks!

Thank you for this video, however a warning to all, including us techs. I just wrecked my back doing this. Laying in a trunk. This job is a pain. In the future all this gen Sonota gets a yep centre brake light works. Will never call this light out ever again.

great video! I do highly recommend anyone to go buy a needle nosed pliers for this, makes it a tad easier then trying to squeeze your fingers in there!

This was probably the. Most tedious shit I've ever done. Ended up losing and bulb and a screw. It took me a little over an hour. Thanks hyundai

Thank you sir good video.

READ THIS***** dude! Your video was much better than the one where you gotta cut the metal. TYVM I'm keyboard player with fairly skinny long fingers. I thought I could bypass some of this by reaching in... no dice. LOL. HOWEVER!!! I got it done very fast by snapping the top red lens back down all the way and using a long hemostat (clipped to the plastic socket flange) to hold the bulb and socket from underneath, stick it up through the hole, hold it there and with the other hand take a long skinny screwdriver give it the twist to lock it in. BINGO! Done! WHEW!! GTG