There's a simple little trick to replacing the brake light bulbs in a Lexus 400. The trick is in the fact that the screws that hold the brake light assembly are hidden by black screw caps which can only be accessed once the trunk is open. Once the screw caps and the two screws are removed, changing your brake light becomes a routine matter.
Open the trunk. Locate the two round black screw caps between the trunk lid and the tail light assembly. Insert your slot screwdriver point into the small slot at the bottom of each screw cover cap, and carefully pry each cap off. Once the caps are removed, two Phillips head screws will be visible
Remove the two screws with your Phillips head screwdriver.
Carefully pull the taillight assembly straight toward you until you have access to the three bulbs in the assembly.
Gently twist the bad bulb 1/4 of a turn counterclockwise, and then lift the bulb straight out. Press a new replacement bulb into the socket, and gently twist it 1/4 turn clockwise.
Test the brake lights to see that they work properly. Slide the taillight assembly back into place, screw the two Phillips head screws back in, replace the black screw caps, close the trunk, and you're good to go.
