Change headlamp bulbs

[Delicatessan]

Even for simple tasks, we need how to’s and go by’s. What is easy for one might be hard for another.

Over the years, I’ve seen several people ask about changing headlamp bulbs. Generally, people can’t figure out how to get the housing out. I just replaced my bulb and took photos to hopefully put this one to bed once and for all. (I’m sure my description will receive numerous criticism and corrections from the peanut gallery).

First step is to unscrew three screws. They are located here:


here:

and here:


This is where everyone screws this up. You can make any of the following three errors pretty easily:

1) not seeing the two screws on the front in that little crack.
2) trying to unscrew the WRONG screws on the front. You can also see the headlamp tilt adjustment screws. Don’t mess with those right now.
3) thinking those front screws come all the way out. They don’t. They stay in the trim piece, even when fully loosened. Only the side screw comes all the way off.

To help grasp that, here‘s what the trim piece looks like:


See how the screw is still in the trim piece even though it is separated from the vehicle?

To remove the trim piece, GENTLY grab from the side on the headlamp where it flares out. Pull. It should come out pretty easily at that point.

Once done, you can access the 10mm bolts that hold in the headlamp. There are three, located here, here, and here:




(The first two are obvious. Shown in first photo. The last several photos are all trying to help you spot the last/third bolt that you must loosen off.

After removal:



Now the headlamp is loose, but you are not done. Don’t screw this next step up and damage your wiring. Disconnect the wIring from the vehicle to the headlamp. It is a simple push in/pull apart connector. You;‘re disconnecting this:




From this:

 

[Delicatessan]

Close to done. You just need to remove the correct bulb care. Mine was the low beam. Just make sure you look before you work to know which one is out. Because once you take the headlamp out you won’t be able to check again. Don’t get caught asking “which one was it again”.
Then go after that one, Take off the back housing. It is about as tight as the lid on a newly purchased jelly jar. Note in the picture above that it tells you which way to spin. Easy.

Then you‘ll get to this:



Pull down and push over the silver metal clip on the side with the loop protruding up. If you are old with bad eyes like me you are doing this from memory. If young, you can see how the clip is pressure attached under a lip. Once you get the clip off, you can just pull the bulb out of the housing. But this is a little different than some bulb that get removed/replaced directly into a bulb socket. This bulb remains in its socket and is connected to the vehicle via a connector wire. Like this:


Pull apart and remove bulb:



Apply bulb grease or connector end on new bulb:


Reconnect bulb. Tuck in wires. Put back together in reverse order. Test once you reconnect headlamp before screwing everything back together,

 

[Delicatessan]

Here are the headlamp adjustment screws that you don’t want to mess with at trim piece removal or headlamp removal time:



a few more pics for visual learners:

 

[Growlerbearnz]

Handy hint: before reinstalling the headlamp, remove the two black plastic clips that the headlamp surround screws into. Screw the clips to the headlamp surround *before* reinstalling the surround- no more fiddling with screws, the headlamp surround will just snap into place.