C5 headlight bulb replacement?
Tech Contributor
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 19,384
Likes: 87
From: Horncastle Lincolnshire, England
2023 C5 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
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
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.
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.
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
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.
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.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 401
Likes: 0
From: Down in the west Texas town of El Paso TX
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
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.
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.
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
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.
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.
Anyway, it doesn't sound too hard. If it makes enough of a difference, i'll do the driving lights too. Thanks for the tip.
Safety Car
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 3,854
Likes: 8
From: Pearland, TX
Cruise-In VIII Veteran
St. Jude Donor '03 thru '20
You won't get much of an improvement with silverstars.
Go with the HID replacement and you'll get a huge difference and you will be able to see alot better.
I went the silverstar route ... but was disappointed.
Go with the HID replacement and you'll get a huge difference and you will be able to see alot better.
I went the silverstar route ... but was disappointed.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 2,332
Likes: 31
From: Silver Spring MD
Big hands are NOT a BONUS
Tried replacing my low and high beams when I first got the C5. Was a TWO DAY JOB. Couldn't see or feel the correct position trying to reinsert the bulbs and sockets and managed to bend the somewhat fragile aluminium prongs holding the sockets to the lamp assembly.
Had to get my shop manuals out and DISASSEMBLE the housing to get to the bent sockets. Pulled them out and rebent the prongs with a pair of needle nose pliers. What a PITA. Have changed bulbs on countless cars and never had such a tough time as with the vette.
A cheap and good modification to lighting is replacing the 889 or 893 low wattage fog lamp bulbs with 885 50 W bulbs. Cost me about $1 a bulb and then you re-aim the lights by parking about 15 to 20 feet in front of a garage door or similar wall. You will get a lot more light using your low beams with the fogs. Been using them for over 2 years now and the 885s cause no problems. Used the headlights as a guide and have never been flashed when using the fogs so they are not searchlights.
BIGHANK
Had to get my shop manuals out and DISASSEMBLE the housing to get to the bent sockets. Pulled them out and rebent the prongs with a pair of needle nose pliers. What a PITA. Have changed bulbs on countless cars and never had such a tough time as with the vette.
A cheap and good modification to lighting is replacing the 889 or 893 low wattage fog lamp bulbs with 885 50 W bulbs. Cost me about $1 a bulb and then you re-aim the lights by parking about 15 to 20 feet in front of a garage door or similar wall. You will get a lot more light using your low beams with the fogs. Been using them for over 2 years now and the 885s cause no problems. Used the headlights as a guide and have never been flashed when using the fogs so they are not searchlights.
BIGHANK
7th Gear
Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 7
Likes: 4
From: WA
You'll get three suggestions
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.
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.
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.
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.
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Racer
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 319
Likes: 13
From: Macomb Michigan
St. Jude Donor '12-'13-'14
I have in installed both upper and lower Silver Stars and feel they do a very good job. Most importantly, do not touch the bulbs with bare hands.I found latex gloves were very helpful in installing them. Bare hands excrete oils and acids that are harmful to the life of the Silver Stars. Trust me ! 
Drifting
Joined: Jan 2012
Posts: 1,265
Likes: 16
From: Lakeside AZ
I also used piaa bulbs with some improvement. Like big hank, (I have big, fat, wide hands) I too also thought the bulb changeout was a huge pita...even when removing the black trim ring.
With my bad night vision, I finally installed a set of 110w piaa driving lights in the front license plate area. I need all the help I can get.
With my bad night vision, I finally installed a set of 110w piaa driving lights in the front license plate area. I need all the help I can get.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 2,479
Likes: 36
It's the price you pay for a brighter burning bulb. Compared to the normal halogen bulbs, they have a life span that is about 10 times less. So, use them sparingly.
Racer
Joined: Jan 2014
Posts: 357
Likes: 29
From: Central/Eastern NC North Carolina
I also wanted better lighting, so a few weeks ago I put 9006 HID conversion in my low beams. I took the whole bucket assemblies out so that I could lube and free-up my (4) seized/tight adjusters at the same time.
The combination of HID and smooth adjusters has made an incredible difference.... Literally a night & day difference!
If I were you I'd set out to do more than just silverstars - - that improvement is probably only slight and they didn't last that long on one of our previous cars....
The combination of HID and smooth adjusters has made an incredible difference.... Literally a night & day difference!
If I were you I'd set out to do more than just silverstars - - that improvement is probably only slight and they didn't last that long on one of our previous cars....
2nd Gear
Joined: May 2014
Posts: 2
Likes: 0
I had new Silverstars installed by a Vette mechanic. They light but one aims at the ground about 20 feet in front of the car, the other (right one) aims about 5 feet in front. Low beams (stock) are fine. Anyone help me as to why or how to fix?
Ge 2002
Ge 2002
Drifting
Joined: Jan 2012
Posts: 1,265
Likes: 16
From: Lakeside AZ
You can do a search on the internet to find how to adjust the lights. it might require some lubing on the adjustors first so you do no damage.
Before that though, knowing the tight fit just to get the bulbs in you might want to dbl check to see if the low bulb was not quite installed all the way in correctly. Mine had the short issue and I found the bulb was not in the slots correctly.
Before that though, knowing the tight fit just to get the bulbs in you might want to dbl check to see if the low bulb was not quite installed all the way in correctly. Mine had the short issue and I found the bulb was not in the slots correctly.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Apr 2012
Posts: 7,780
Likes: 2,253
From: Brighton MI
Had the same issue after I first installed my new bulbs. Getting them seated properly can be tough because room for your hand is very limited.
Team Owner
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 87,302
Likes: 1,583
From: Western NY
I have in installed both upper and lower Silver Stars and feel they do a very good job. Most importantly, do not touch the bulbs with bare hands.I found latex gloves were very helpful in installing them. Bare hands excrete oils and acids that are harmful to the life of the Silver Stars. Trust me !
I went with the SilverStars several years ago, before I retired, and I used to leave for work when it was still dark. I found them to be a decent upgrade, but since I retired, I hardly ever have the car out in the dark anymore, so I'm glad I didn't spend a lot of $$$ on headlights.