I have a 2000 C5 and am having a terrible time with the headlights.

I went to change all of the headlight bulbs (high and low beams) with “whiter” ones.

Per my manual, I am supposed to re-install the new bulbs by turning them “clockwise” until they come to a stop.

This is where my problems first begins.

Both the high and low beam bulbs on the driver’s side seem to go in with no problem, i.e.: clockwise-turn to seat them.

Same for the passenger side high beam, i.e.: clockwise-turn to seat them.

However, the passenger side low beam only seems to turn counter-clockwise when I try to get them to seat.

Does this seem correct or should they all turn “clockwise” when installing them?

I must also advise how surprised I was reference the minimal amount of pressure that seems to hold the bulbs into place. While they seem to “seat” themselves and stop turning, it doesn’t seem like there is a whole lot of pressure keeping them from backing out.

My next problem involves aiming the lights after I get the bulbs installed as listed above.

Regardless of what adjustments I make to them, once I get the low beams aligned, the passenger side high beam is pointing way too high.

If I get the high beams aligned, the passenger side low beam is way too low.

Can someone please tell me where I am screwing up????????

Also, when I align the lights, should they both point straight ahead, or should the driver’s side light be slanted in towards the center of the vehicle so as to not affect oncoming cars???

Please help with both my installation and alignment issues!!!!

Rob

 

As for your alignment ... just put a strip of masking tape on your garage door and stop your car, level as possible, about 25ft away. Use the stipr of tape as a ref. go from there. I stood behind the car, in the middle and eye balled it.

As long as your not blinding oncoming traffic and can see ok, you'll be fine. Drivers of other cars with flash their highbeams at you if your lights are too high ... go back and adjust, only lowering the lights. If you are having trouble seeing far away objects, raise the lights. It's pretty much your preference, AS LONG AS YOU DON'T BLIND ONCOMING TRAFFIC.

Hope this helps!

The install seems fine. There should be a plastic "clip" built onto the seat of the plug. As long as that's secure, you should be ok. Just make sure you don't get moisture build up, if you do, dry it out and try to seat the bulb again.

 

One word of caution. "Some" of the aftermarket bulbs don't work. What I mean is, the filaments in the bulbs are not perfectly straight and though the bulbs are mounted correctly, the alignment procedure is impossible.

I recently did this in my Yukon. When I installed the bulbs, I could either have my low beams parallel or my high beams, not both... the moment I adjusted the height of the low beams, the highs were off.

I tried 3 different brand bulbs and finally gave up and put the stock bulbs back in. I'm sure not all brands are like that but I just finally gave up.

HTH's,

Mark

 

Rob4092,

Go to http://www.danielsternlighting.com/tech/aim/aim.html very good how to on the aiming process. Also agree with the post about "not all bulbs being created equal".

later,

 

the bad aim from installing bulbs most likely is that the bulb is not seated correctly..

 

 

Helppppppp.....I still don't know if I have them "seated" properly.

Please read my above post and tell me if th is sounds correct.

Please!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

I am still looking to see if it seems like I got the headlight bulbs to "seat" correctly???

Three of the four bulbs turned clockwise before they seemed to lock into position.

The fourth would only go counter-clockwise.

Is this the way they should go in?

I am also concerned that there doesn't seem much pressure holding them in place when they "seat"????

Thanks!

 

If you look closely at the bulb, you’ll see that there are three tabs on the bulb skirt, that insert into the three openings on the headlight housing. One of the three tabs is narrower than the other two tabs. The bulb socket also has three cut outs for these three tabs. One of the openings in the housing is narrower that the other two. Obviously, the narrow tab on the bulb has to go into the narrow cut out on the housing. If you try to install the bulb any other way, it won’t seat properly.

Secondly, the little metal tabs on the housing that apply pressure to the bulb once its installed and turned clockwise, are very fragile. If you’ve already made several attempts to install the new bulb, and used any force to turn the bulb, then you have probably bent the little pressure tabs down and backward on the housing collar. I know, because I did the very same thing with mine. The housing has a silver metal collar around the bulb hole, and the collar has three very small bent metal pressure tabs that hold the bulb in place. At this point, you'll need to remove the entire headlight from the vehicle to bend the metal tabs back out and back where they should be. Use a very small screwdriver and use very little pressure as these tiny metal tabs bend and can break off very easily. Like I mentioned, and force against these tiny metal pressure tabs will easily bend them backward. It may seem like a lot of work, but trust me it’s not that bad, and it’s the only way you’re going to fix it. Otherwise the bulbs will always be loose in the housing.

Sorry, I can't help on the aiming of the headlights.

 

Thanks Merlin!

Can you remember if one bulb turned counter-clockwise and the other three turned clockwise to lock them in place?

Also, how were you able to get in a position to see the three tabs on the housing to ensure they were lined up properly?

 

I used a small hand mirror, about 3 inches in diameter to see behing the headlight housing. It helps if you remove the black plastic shroud around the back of the headlight. If I remember correctly, there is only three phillip screws that hold it on. Once I noticed by using the mirror, that I had bent the little silver metal tabs backwards and under by trying to force the bulbs to turn in the socket, then I had no choice but to remove the entire headlight housing to gentle bend them back into position. I believe that both sides turn clockwise.

 

I took both headlights out today and all four bulbs were in the right place.

I did have to press down on several of the tabs to make them seat better.

Anyway, I still have the same problems.

If I get my low beams aligned, the high beams are not even close to alignment.

If I get my high beams aligned, the low beams are not together.

Any ideas what the problem may be????

 

By the way,,,,just to be sure I am trying to align them correctly, I am turning the brass colored rod (2 per headlight) that seem to adjust the lights up and down.

These rods are about 4 inches in length.

They do not take a T-15 Torx bit like the fog lights do.

I have to use a socket to turn these two rods.

Are these brass rods what I am suppossed to be turing to make the alignment?

 

What Headlight Bulbs did you replace them with? Do You Liek them.

I am Looking at The PIAA Extreme WHite 9006 Bulbs Tuan Lee has,

see my PIAA Post in the General Section

 

The brass rods are correct for lamp adjustment. I have the same problem with aftermarket bulbs. With the lowbeams adjusted correctly, the highbeams shine in the trees. I'm considering having both the lows and highs come on with the switch on the high side.

 

That is what I am experiencing.

How is this corrected so both the high and low beams are aligned?

 

Well, I went out tonite and tried to adjust them again.

Again, the driver's side lights point much higher than the passenger's side, i.e.: if I align the low beams, the driver's side high beam point way too high.

Help??????????????????