headlight assembly
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 3,011
Likes: 9
From: Dublin GA
headlight assembly
How many bolts (nuts) do I need to remove to take out the headlight assembly? 
I have tried for three evenings to get the new HID bulb installed in the low beam slot, and it WILL NOT go in
I had purchased some bulbs off of ebay and, as I posted here, they had narrower tabs than the ones I removed. I purchased some more from DDM (took two weeks to get them) and they look the same as the ebay bulbs.
I have replaced DOZENS of headlight/taillight bulbs and have never had any issues
All I know to do is get it off so I can look at it and see what is wrong
I have tried for three evenings to get the new HID bulb installed in the low beam slot, and it WILL NOT go in
I had purchased some bulbs off of ebay and, as I posted here, they had narrower tabs than the ones I removed. I purchased some more from DDM (took two weeks to get them) and they look the same as the ebay bulbs.
I have replaced DOZENS of headlight/taillight bulbs and have never had any issues
All I know to do is get it off so I can look at it and see what is wrong
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 1999
Posts: 6,366
Likes: 34
If you take out the black covers, and the body painted tops of the headlights. there are 2 bolts on each side of 1 headlight that when removed, allow the headlight assembly to rotate down into the nose so you can see the back of the headlights.
The bolts are a torx going into a nut towards the back of the headlight assembly. The nut is locktite on there, and really needs to be lubed to remove. there is a little nylon sleeve in there as well that needs to be looked after when you are removing them.
If you need to remove the headlight section as well to get it out of the car, it this point you just have to remove the metal pin with the lock washer on it and remove the wires from the light bulbs and that section will come out.
Be warned, if you do this, you should mod those metal pins to accept some sort of locking retaining clip. Mine fell out the next day and I had to go to ace hardware and get new pins and retaining clips. because all the parts fell out of the nose.
http://www.hidplanet.com/forums/show...-Hella-90mm%29
Check out the link for some pics
The bolts are a torx going into a nut towards the back of the headlight assembly. The nut is locktite on there, and really needs to be lubed to remove. there is a little nylon sleeve in there as well that needs to be looked after when you are removing them.
If you need to remove the headlight section as well to get it out of the car, it this point you just have to remove the metal pin with the lock washer on it and remove the wires from the light bulbs and that section will come out.
Be warned, if you do this, you should mod those metal pins to accept some sort of locking retaining clip. Mine fell out the next day and I had to go to ace hardware and get new pins and retaining clips. because all the parts fell out of the nose.
http://www.hidplanet.com/forums/show...-Hella-90mm%29
Check out the link for some pics
Last edited by bill mcdonald; Dec 4, 2013 at 07:51 PM.
Drifting
Joined: Jun 2000
Posts: 1,340
Likes: 233
From: Placitas NM
St. Jude Contributor '03 & '04
Good luck with removing the torx bolts. The older the vehicle, the more secure they will be. I finally just gave up trying to remove them and just removed the entire assembly - 6 bolts and 1/2 hour later I had it on my work bench with full access to the unit. From there I could do all the mods or access anything I needed. There are three bolts that hold the light to the vehicle's frame and three smaller nut that stabilize the unit from the back. Good luck.
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 3,011
Likes: 9
From: Dublin GA
I think it might be better to remove the entire assembly () so I don't break anything and wind up chasing parts
Where are the 6 bolts located (4 rear, one each side?)
Did you have any trouble getting it back in? This is the issue several guys have mentioned.
I cant believe I cant get a stupid bulb in a socket, but I either have cheap made bulbs, are something is wrong with the socket
) so I don't break anything and wind up chasing partsWhere are the 6 bolts located (4 rear, one each side?)
Did you have any trouble getting it back in? This is the issue several guys have mentioned.
I cant believe I cant get a stupid bulb in a socket, but I either have cheap made bulbs, are something is wrong with the socket
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 1999
Posts: 6,366
Likes: 34
I think it might be better to remove the entire assembly () so I don't break anything and wind up chasing parts
Where are the 6 bolts located (4 rear, one each side?)
Did you have any trouble getting it back in? This is the issue several guys have mentioned.
I cant believe I cant get a stupid bulb in a socket, but I either have cheap made bulbs, are something is wrong with the socket
) so I don't break anything and wind up chasing partsWhere are the 6 bolts located (4 rear, one each side?)
Did you have any trouble getting it back in? This is the issue several guys have mentioned.
I cant believe I cant get a stupid bulb in a socket, but I either have cheap made bulbs, are something is wrong with the socket
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 959
Likes: 50
From: Peters Colony Republic of Texas
Mine were virtually welded together. Got them off but rounded off the torx slots.Fortunately, JW Motoring sells replacement torx bolts - 4 bolts are contained in each kit. [Here is the link: http://www.shop.jwmotoring.com/C5-Co...ngeBoltKit.htm ]. Better yet, each bolt in the JW kit includes a new metal collar, which is good since the stock nylon collars also tend to wear out. I bought one set and used all four bolts/collars to replace the stock ones. And I bought an extra set of torx bolts/collars to keep around - just in case.
The JW Motoring solution is also vastly less expensive than purchasing replacement torx bolts/collars from a dealership (but I guess we all could have predicted that, right?).
The Lizzard
Intermediate
Joined: Nov 2013
Posts: 28
Likes: 0
From: ny
A bit of subject but...I had my 2000 coupe get installed HIDs...the next day I used it at night the lights wouldn't go up 40 % of the time. The performance shop claims the rubber bussings (4 on each side) where bad. Think its true? I bought new ones and waiting on them...
http://www.ecklerscorvette.com/2000+...1997-2004.html
http://www.ecklerscorvette.com/2000+...1997-2004.html
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 959
Likes: 50
From: Peters Colony Republic of Texas
The performance shop claims the rubber bussings (4 on each side) where bad. Think its true? I bought new ones and waiting on them...
http://www.ecklerscorvette.com/2000+...1997-2004.html
http://www.ecklerscorvette.com/2000+...1997-2004.html
Here are a couple of links to the headlight area that might educate you regarding disassembly of the headlights and their moving parts:
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c5-g...s-of-pics.html
and
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c5-g...otsa-pics.html
It sounds to me like the pivot bolts are binding, but...In any event, you'd best open up the headlights and take a look before spending too much money on repairs for problems you don't have.
The Lizzard
Last edited by LoneStarLizzard; Dec 10, 2013 at 02:57 PM.
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Intermediate
Joined: Nov 2013
Posts: 28
Likes: 0
From: ny
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 959
Likes: 50
From: Peters Colony Republic of Texas
Trust me...take these headlight units apart and you can readily see how they are supposed to work, mechanically speaking. [I am a CPA...if I can figure this out, anyone can.
]The Lizzard
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 1999
Posts: 6,366
Likes: 34
first thing I would do is listen to the motors when you turn them on. If they are not turning when they do not go up, you may have a resistor issues with HID's.
It would be pretty easy to check for mechanical issues such as over tightening the pivot bolts. those bolts have a stop on them. I don't know what it is called at this time, but you can only tighten them so much, then the nut stops on the bolt. The threads don't go all the way up to the bolts head.
On my HID kit, I ordered the wiring harness that bypasses the stock stuff, and leaves the driver side headlight low beam bulb connector open. I put terminals on the resistor from another HID bulb, and plugged it right into the stock low beam connector. this solved my head lights up and down issues. When I tapped the wires with the supplied connectors that cut into the stock wires, it was not doing the job. And I was very aware of how I was doing it.
Another thing I read about the HID's, if you turn them on or off with the highbeams activated, they usually work correctly. I don't know as I never got to this point.
It would be pretty easy to check for mechanical issues such as over tightening the pivot bolts. those bolts have a stop on them. I don't know what it is called at this time, but you can only tighten them so much, then the nut stops on the bolt. The threads don't go all the way up to the bolts head.
On my HID kit, I ordered the wiring harness that bypasses the stock stuff, and leaves the driver side headlight low beam bulb connector open. I put terminals on the resistor from another HID bulb, and plugged it right into the stock low beam connector. this solved my head lights up and down issues. When I tapped the wires with the supplied connectors that cut into the stock wires, it was not doing the job. And I was very aware of how I was doing it.
Another thing I read about the HID's, if you turn them on or off with the highbeams activated, they usually work correctly. I don't know as I never got to this point.
Intermediate
Joined: Nov 2013
Posts: 28
Likes: 0
From: ny
Thanks, they called and claim they never took housing out. So must be resistor issue I would think. car covered and snow, so ill check later if they go up and down with high beams on and will replace bumpers anyways. we shall see... thanks again, much appreciated.