Bulb replacement, help!
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Joined: Apr 2006
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From: San Antonio TX
Bulb replacement, help!
As someone who has installed engines, trannies, brakes, etc., it pains me to post this, but I'm at my wits' end. About a week ago the RF turn signal bulb went out on my 99 FRC. I bought a replacement and have gone nuts trying to access the burned-out bulb and socket. I have tried reaching through the headlight opening with the lights raised. I have tried taking the inner fender liner loose. I did a search here and read about a rubber access panel in the fenderwell. My car does not have it. It has brake ducts that run from the front valence and pass through the front wheelwells, precluding access in that manner. The infernal GM manual, which might be useful as toilet paper if it weren't laminated, recommends removing the 'fascia release bolts' to access these bulbs, but doesn't bother mentioning where these bolts are and, of course, includes no diagram. I feel like a total moron at this point, but can someone help me crack the code or perhaps direct me to a diagram?
Thanks!
Thanks!
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Turn on headlights and back the switch off 1 position....or manually crank the light up. Remove the 3 screws holding the black bezel. Reach down and twist and remove the socket....remove and replace bulb....
Thats all
Thats all
Thread Starter
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Joined: Apr 2006
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From: San Antonio TX
Originally Posted by pewter99
Turn on headlights and back the switch off 1 position....or manually crank the light up. Remove the 3 screws holding the black bezel. Reach down and twist and remove the socket....remove and replace bulb....
Thats all
Thats all
Thanks for the quick reply, but don't those instructions apply to the headlight bulbs? This is the RF turn signal bulb that I can't seem to get to...
Tech Contributor
Joined: Dec 2003
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From: Horncastle Lincolnshire, England
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Reach down beyond the headlight to the parking light DRL cluster. Its a squeeze
I'm with pewter99
You'll get three suggestions
Go in through the brake ducts - not easy with a Z06 or if you have screens
Go in through the bottom by taking out the bottom panel; its about 5 screws to get the panel off
The one that works for me is:
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
I'm with pewter99
You'll get three suggestions
Go in through the brake ducts - not easy with a Z06 or if you have screens
Go in through the bottom by taking out the bottom panel; its about 5 screws to get the panel off
The one that works for me is:
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
Thread Starter
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Joined: Apr 2006
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From: San Antonio TX
Ah, OK. Now I understand about the housing removal. It didn't seem to make sense to me last night. That's what I get for posting a question in the middle of the night!
Thank you for the replies.
Thank you for the replies.
Racer
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 479
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From: Cape Coral FL
the other way to do it is to take the front fascia off.. A buddy and i did it in about an hour or so.
I decided to take it off for a few reasons, 1 was because i have very large meat hooks, i wanted to take my foglight housings off and wanted to check the wireing on the turn signal socket..
it went back on in about 15 - 20 mins..
I decided to take it off for a few reasons, 1 was because i have very large meat hooks, i wanted to take my foglight housings off and wanted to check the wireing on the turn signal socket..
it went back on in about 15 - 20 mins..
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Joined: Apr 2006
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From: San Antonio TX
Wow, what a difference removing that black cover around the headlight makes...like the man said, ten minute job. What did we dobefor the Net and forums like this? Thanks again, one and alll.
Racer
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 479
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From: Cape Coral FL
Originally Posted by SSBob
Wow, what a difference removing that black cover around the headlight makes...like the man said, ten minute job. What did we dobefor the Net and forums like this? Thanks again, one and alll.
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Joined: Jan 2006
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From: NC
bulb
"it pains me to post this"
"What did we dobefor the Net and forums like this? "
I just had to search the forums for instructions on how to change a turn light bulb myself...i feel ya
Thanks for the info guys.
"What did we dobefor the Net and forums like this? "
I just had to search the forums for instructions on how to change a turn light bulb myself...i feel ya
Thanks for the info guys.
Racer
Joined: Feb 2006
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From: Albany NY
I was doing some work on my turn signal circuits to support LEDs and found if you remove the headlight assembly you can get all kinds of room to the DRLs. 3 nuts and 2 bolts after you remove the black bezel and the cover that is attached to the housing. REAL REAL easy.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Sep 2003
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From: Longview Texas
Unless I feel the urge to change out bulbs on the side of the highway, I still find it less hassle to just zip out the 5 or 6 screws that hold the lower access panel in place between the left and right spoiler and the front wheel wells. Then I have enough room to easily remove and replace the bulbs. I recently replaced the lens assemblies because mine had cracked, and there is enough clearance to easily remove the whole assembly through the access panel.
Racer
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From: Montreal Drive it like you test it !
Originally Posted by TEXHAWK0
Unless I feel the urge to change out bulbs on the side of the highway, I still find it less hassle to just zip out the 5 or 6 screws that hold the lower access panel in place between the left and right spoiler and the front wheel wells. Then I have enough room to easily remove and replace the bulbs. I recently replaced the lens assemblies because mine had cracked, and there is enough clearance to easily remove the whole assembly through the access panel.
From shop manual:
1- Jack the front of the car.
2- Remove the font fascia lower closeout panel. Small (if I recall 6 x 10 inches) piece of plastic under the front fascia at the left and right corner.
3- Release the brake caliper cooling duct from the front fascia, then reposition the duct. You pull the brake duct and move it so you have access to the lamp assembly.
4- Remove the appropriate socket from the lamp assembly.
5- Remove the bulb from the socket.
To remove the turn lamp assembly: Just remove One 10 mm screw, a spring and the small screw on the assembly.
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Joined: Feb 2006
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From: Coppell TX
Thanks for the post. I was just about to remove the front facia & thought - there has got to be an easier way. This worked for me:
---------------------------
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.
Don't forget to open the hood after you remove the plastic housing - unless you have really skinny arms.
------------------------------
10 minutes done.
---------------------------
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.
Don't forget to open the hood after you remove the plastic housing - unless you have really skinny arms.
------------------------------
10 minutes done.
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If you go in through the headlight. you can also make yourself more arm room by unscrewing the hood bumpstop that's fastened to the front of the hood hinge.
Le Mans Master
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From: Pinckney MI
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Originally Posted by TEXHAWK0
Unless I feel the urge to change out bulbs on the side of the highway, I still find it less hassle to just zip out the 5 or 6 screws that hold the lower access panel in place between the left and right spoiler and the front wheel wells. Then I have enough room to easily remove and replace the bulbs. I recently replaced the lens assemblies because mine had cracked, and there is enough clearance to easily remove the whole assembly through the access panel.
Drifting
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 1,320
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From: Tucson Arizona
The easiest way for me
I see you changed yours, and I've posted these pics before, but here you go, this might help someone in the future, this literally takes about 1 or 2 minutes after you have done it once, there is a tab, as mentioned that you push in while turning, it's easy. You can tell by my light I've had a few bulbs that actually exploded, getting the new clear lights later this year
Last edited by chevyvette1; Dec 5, 2006 at 03:25 PM.
Drifting
Joined: Oct 2004
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From: "Philly" Pennsylvania
Chevyvette1,
That is the easiest way and only takes a couple of minutes as you say, someone showed it to me when they replaced a bulb for me. Only problem is my forarm is too thick to get in there and reach the bulb.
That is the easiest way and only takes a couple of minutes as you say, someone showed it to me when they replaced a bulb for me. Only problem is my forarm is too thick to get in there and reach the bulb.
Drifting
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 1,320
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From: Tucson Arizona
Only problem is my forarm is too thick to get in there and reach the bulb.
It's really tight for me as well, I thought I was really stuck one time , that would have been funny, hand stuck in my car