[phabeon]

Vehicle Details:

2018 Forester

Rear left taillight is out, but when I press the brake pedal that light does turn on.

Google and AI are all over the place.

What exact bulb do I need to resolve this? i.e. 2825 or 7443?

Hoping I can just swing by Autozone on way home to get this done ASAP. Have already been pulled over 2x in 1 week.


let me know

 

[ForesterBill]

From your 2018 owner's manual:

 

[TTiimm]

2017 - 2018 Foresters use an LED for tail/brake lights. It likely isn't an Autozone part and you aren't going to like the dealership price. I would ask the guys at the dealership parts counter to match the price at the link below or order it for cheaper if you think you can hide from the po-po long enough to not get a ticket.

https://parts.subaru.com/p/65483766/84960SG000.html

IIRC removal requires a Torx security bit with a dimple in the center as pictured. This is the only Torx security bit on the entire car and the reasoning behind Subaru's decision to use it is an enigma. I don't know the bit size. Guessing T20 or T25. Harbor Freight has sets with all the sizes for like $5.

@ForesterBill Its bulb F on the next page. Wattage is listed as "--" and Bulb No. is listed as "--" LoL.

 

[OutbackJon]

2017 - 2018 Foresters use an LED for tail/brake lights.

I thought the brake light was just the brake light and the tail was handled by a W5W/T10/194 wedge style bulb that also acts as the side marker light.

I'd check, but my OEM lights are several states away right now.

 

[j3rf]

Tail light bulb is just a standard 194 bulb. Brake light bulbs are the replaceable LED circuit board.

 

[TTiimm]

I stand corrected. Thought it was both bulbs. Sorry if I caused the OP any anxiety. Thanks guys.

 

[ForesterBill]

Although both (W5W and 194) are the same size mini wedge bulbs, Subaru specifies a 5 watt bulb (5W5). I believe a 194 bulb is less than 5 watts (some sources say 3.8 watts).

 

[phabeon]

I stand corrected. Thought it was both bulbs. Sorry if I caused the OP any anxiety. Thanks guys.

all good and TRUST, theres a reason I was driven to make this post. Google search results were all over the place, so I figured i'd try the AI hype train next, and In your defense, Chatgpt said what you said, but Gemini said it was a separate bulb replacement, but CoPilot said it was both, a whole housing replacement but also jus a bulb replacement somehow. GO FIGURE

 

[phabeon]

Although both (W5W and 194) are the same size mini wedge bulbs, Subaru specifies a 5 watt bulb (5W5). I believe a 194 bulb is less than 5 watts (some sources say 3.8 watts).

So the 2825 from Autozone should do the trick right?- $8.99

Otherwise what would you do?

 

[j3rf]

Yeah those work. I prefer LEDs personally. Diode Dynamics LEDs in almost all of my lights.

 

[OutbackJon]

Diode Dynamics LEDs in almost all of my lights.

I've had poor luck with Diode Dynamics LEDs on my last couple of Subarus. Failures just a couple of months after the warranty expired. I now buy 10-packs of color appropriate LEDs from Amazon, so I always have spares in the glove compartment. They may fail before the DD ones, but they're much cheaper to replace.

 

[j3rf]

@OutbackJon

Oh I've got some eBay specials somewhere in my tool box too, but the DD ones are much brighter. I've used Sylvania ZEVO branded LEDs from when I worked at Advance too. Map lights and dome light are OEM Subaru accessory kit. I've got a bit of everything.

 

[phabeon]

Bought the Sylvania 2825LL Lights, $8.99, as linked above. Went outside and in 15mins replaced both, that way fresh start on both. NOTE: popping the taillight assembly was a bit of bia, ruined the wife situations good wooden spatula too 🤫

But ay, we gotta work wit the tools available to us right?