I tried to replace my rear brake light on a 89 Toyota pickup and the bulb broke off.
The base metal connector piece seems to be rusted in and won't come out. I unhooked the battery cable and tried to get it out with a needle nose plier to no avail.
What tool would be needed here? Should I replace the whole assembly?
I would first try needlenose pliers. If that doesn't work, a potato pushed into it is an old trick. Might I also suggest that you pull out another bulb first to discover exactly what method is needed -- do you push it in first, does it turn right like you expect, or does it go left?
Time for old wooden broom handle trick. Find old broom with screw in wooden handle. Unscrew handle from broom base. Shove the handle into old socket. Unscrew the old bulb base. I've done this many times.
If the needle nose pliers don't work, then you need to resort to a small pair of side-cutters and cut the bulb casing turning it into a smaller radius as you go - eventually it will come free.
Do make sure all circuits for lights are off - otherwise you get to replace fuses as well...
Then you need to make sure the contacts and bulb-holder are clean, lubricated and fit the new bulb...
