Does anyone have a step by step tutorial on how to change your headlight bulbs? It should be pretty easy but I have never done this before on a vette. I just purchased the HIR bulbs and am anxious to put them in. Thanks in advance.

 

This might help some. NTRBL33 has instructions on his website; www.djmotorsportaccessories.com They are the HID instructions in pdf just below the car on the site but could be better than nothing. You might as well do a search on HIR's for the right modification required to get the bulb to fit.

 

thanks for the quick reply!

 

Unplug the connector to the headlight assembly, raise the headlight using the **** on the back of the motor, remove the 3 screws that hold that black plastic surround, reach down and remove the connector to the bulb, grasp the back of the bulb, twist it about 1/2 turn to loosen it (it is a bayonet type mount), slide bulb out.

 

Whatever you do...dont do what i did and remove the piece that holds the headlight cover on...you can remove the headlight cover and that will make it easier BUT STOP THERE...i spent 7 hours trying to get the stupid thing lined up

 

As an 'experienced' bulb changer-outer sort of guy on the C5, I thought I knew all there was to know..... Little did I realize I forgot one important step previously mentioned.

While installing the HID bulbs in the regular lenses (so am NOT claiming HID system - another story).... I was taking a shortcut thinking this would take no longer than any other bulb changeout.. could do it in a couple of minutes each side and be done.

So... in so doing.... I just turned on the headlights and they popped up, then turned off one notch so only the parking lights were on. As I proceed to look things over and start the install process, I had one side done and had my arm stuck in pretty good trying for fittment of the right side, when.... WITHOUT WARNING, I forgot about our cars that have the 'smart drain' system, that after 15 min so, if it still detects a current, it turns all the juice off from the battery to anything still left ON.

YEP... The headlight door SLAMMED SHUT with my arm in the middle of this scissor humonguous Lobster Claw jam that literally trapped my arm and was unable to twist side to side, nor pull in any directions. My arm was locked inbetween the mechanism.... It was quite painful... **OUCH** - that would be an understatment... it HURT LIKE HELL!

Nobody else around, my cell phone out of reach by 10 feet or so, so thought out options.. and realized I could stand up and use other arm to reach around and start twisting the manual method of lifting the lights and finally was freed.

Just a huge caveat... If this happens... I make no bones about it. It hurts and is still (4 days later) still bruised.

Do as the instructions say.. raise the lights, then unplug the whole assembly. Things of this sort will humble a person.

Otherwise, as others have said, it's not that bad a job.. just take time, be sure all the tabs are in the socket and tighten. Some minor re-aiming may be necessary...... It if looks like major re-aiming, they are not in right. Very easy to miss, as you can't see them..it's all by feel for the most part.

Good Luck

 

I could easily see myself in exactly that situation

I thought I had the engine off when I last changed one turn signal bulb through the top? It took a while to get that done and it never "ate" my arm, but maybe I did leave it running (cant remember).

Oh well, good story/warning.

 

Here's my How To for the DRL bulb. The priciple is the same for the headlight bulbs:

Turn on the headlights and back off one position to kill the lights.
Unscrew the 3 small screws on the black plastic housing around the headlight. Gently pull the housing clear. Reach down around the headlight unit and release the bulb holder. It unscrews counter clockwise but it has a plastic clip which you need to squeeze to release it. Change the bulb. Reseat the bulb holder and turn until it clicks back in place. Put the plastic housing back in place making sure to locate the small plastic tab in the bracket on the headlamp cover. Replace the 3 screws and close the lights.

10 minute job.

The bulb is a 4157NA

Some guys with big arms remove the hood adjusting screw for better access. Guys with even bigger arms have had to take off the headlight cover. Four torx screws (2 back, 1 each side). Take the back ones off first with the lamps down. Raise the lights and take the side ones out.

 

Just take the allen screws off the lexan covers and the bulbs are right there....errr.... nevermind

 

I'm not going down to look now, but if I see that there are exposed allen screws on the outside I'm gonna slap myself

 

.. I wanna know too...

 

Oh, and in behind the bulbs is a little bar that I assume is to keep the wires out of the way.

Sometimes it seems to get in the way of the bulbs as you turn them.

Don't try to bend them too much.

THEY BREAK OFF.