# Rear light not working - Do most mechanics have the part on-hand?

**URL:** <https://community.cartalk.com/t/rear-light-not-working-do-most-mechanics-have-the-part-on-hand/87989>\
**Category:** Maintenance/Repairs\
**Created:** [November 6, 2014, 10:39pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/rear-light-not-working-do-most-mechanics-have-the-part-on-hand/87989 "2014-11-06T22:39:09Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 6\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![xaml](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/2bfe46/32.png) [@xaml](https://community.cartalk.com/u/xaml)\
**Post date:** [November 6, 2014, 10:39pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/rear-light-not-working-do-most-mechanics-have-the-part-on-hand/87989/1 "2014-11-06T22:39:09Z")

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Car is a 2000 Corolla with 62k miles. My rear brake light (driver side) went out (pretty sure it is the bulb). 2 months ago the blinker relay went out and I replaced it.

Do most mechanics have the bulb on hand?

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**Author:** ![the\_same\_mountainbike](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c89c15/32.png) [@the\_same\_mountainbike](https://community.cartalk.com/u/the_same_mountainbike)\
**Post date:** [November 6, 2014, 10:51pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/rear-light-not-working-do-most-mechanics-have-the-part-on-hand/87989/2 "2014-11-06T22:51:49Z")

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Most do, but you can also buy one at Walmart or any parts store and save a few bucks. They’re really easy to change and the instructions are in the owner’s manual.

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**Author:** ![meanjoe75fan](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/meanjoe75fan/32/552_2.png) [@meanjoe75fan](https://community.cartalk.com/u/meanjoe75fan)\
**Post date:** [November 6, 2014, 11:02pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/rear-light-not-working-do-most-mechanics-have-the-part-on-hand/87989/3 "2014-11-06T23:02:44Z")

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You might even be able to persuade the guy at the auto parts store to do it, if it isn’t busy when you show up.

(And by “you might persuade,” I actually mean “Abe Lincoln might persuade.”)

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**Author:** ![Mustangman](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/mustangman/32/44130_2.png) [@Mustangman](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Mustangman)\
**Post date:** [November 7, 2014, 3:47am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/rear-light-not-working-do-most-mechanics-have-the-part-on-hand/87989/4 "2014-11-07T03:47:01Z")

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Or if @xaml is a female, dress nice (clothes that would be a shame if they got dirty changing a bulb) and smile to the parts guy and he’ll change it for you without Abe being involved.

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**Author:** ![the\_same\_mountainbike](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c89c15/32.png) [@the\_same\_mountainbike](https://community.cartalk.com/u/the_same_mountainbike)\
**Post date:** [November 7, 2014, 3:48am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/rear-light-not-working-do-most-mechanics-have-the-part-on-hand/87989/5 "2014-11-07T03:48:40Z")

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Excellent idea. A pretty woman trumps a dead president any day. And I say that with respect.

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**Author:** ![MY\_2\_CENTS](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/22d042/32.png) [@MY\_2\_CENTS](https://community.cartalk.com/u/MY_2_CENTS)\
**Post date:** [November 7, 2014, 3:56am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/rear-light-not-working-do-most-mechanics-have-the-part-on-hand/87989/6 "2014-11-07T03:56:03Z")

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Very common bulb - # 3157. There may be a couple of prefix or suffix letters added.