how do you change a headlight
Thread Starter
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 2001
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From: Sioux Falls & Lake Okoboji,Ia
Cruise-In 3-5-6-7-8-9-10 Vet
St. Jude Donor '03-'05-'06-'07-'08-'09-'10
how do you change a headlight
i have a daytime running light out and how do you change it
Team Owner
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 82,175
Likes: 1,319
From: McKinney TX
St. Jude Donor '21-'22-'23-'24
2006 owner's manual, page 5-53.
This is C6 General, not OT. Sometimes takes 10-15 minutes between threads. 
To replace a high-beam or front parking/turn signal/DRL
bulb, do the following:
1. Turn the wheel to allow access to the wheel well.
2. Access the high-beam or front parking/turn signal
bulbs by removing the access panel. To do this,
remove the three outer fasteners and flip back
the cover.
3. Remove the outer cover to expose the high-beam
headlamp bulb socket once the access cover has
been removed.
4. Remove the headlamp
bulb by releasing the
outer tabs from
the socket.
5. Remove the front parking/turn signal bulb by turning
the bulb socket counterclockwise.
6. Replace the high-beam headlamp bulb with a new
bulb and reattach to the bulb socket.
Replace the front parking/turn signal bulb by turning
the bulb socket clockwise.
7. Reverse the Steps 2 through 4 to reinstall.
bulb, do the following:
1. Turn the wheel to allow access to the wheel well.
2. Access the high-beam or front parking/turn signal
bulbs by removing the access panel. To do this,
remove the three outer fasteners and flip back
the cover.
3. Remove the outer cover to expose the high-beam
headlamp bulb socket once the access cover has
been removed.
4. Remove the headlamp
bulb by releasing the
outer tabs from
the socket.
5. Remove the front parking/turn signal bulb by turning
the bulb socket counterclockwise.
6. Replace the high-beam headlamp bulb with a new
bulb and reattach to the bulb socket.
Replace the front parking/turn signal bulb by turning
the bulb socket clockwise.
7. Reverse the Steps 2 through 4 to reinstall.
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 24,502
Likes: 312
From: Scottsdale AZ
As a weekend wrench-turner and knucklebuster, it's not terribly difficult . . .just challenging because of the limited amount of space in which to work inside the fender well.
Although you might be able to do it without taking off the front tire, doing so certainly creates more room to work. Then pop the push pins out and pull back the inner fender liner. This will expose the access ports and wiring sockets . . turn and pull, then squeeze to release the clips.
My 05 wiring harness was brown and fried- evidently not a unique situation, so I replaced the wiring and the socket to avoid future issues.
I seem to recall running accross a post some time ago that had photos that might be helpful - - if I can find it, I'll add it to the post.
If there's an easier or smarter way to do this, I'm sure others will chime in.
Although you might be able to do it without taking off the front tire, doing so certainly creates more room to work. Then pop the push pins out and pull back the inner fender liner. This will expose the access ports and wiring sockets . . turn and pull, then squeeze to release the clips.
My 05 wiring harness was brown and fried- evidently not a unique situation, so I replaced the wiring and the socket to avoid future issues.
I seem to recall running accross a post some time ago that had photos that might be helpful - - if I can find it, I'll add it to the post.
If there's an easier or smarter way to do this, I'm sure others will chime in.
Racer
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 284
Likes: 0
From: Sugar Land TX
That certainly is what the manual says, but I found it easier to remove the wheel. Getting those flap fasteners out is a bugger even with the wheel gone. And once you go to that much trouble, it is easier to remove the plug and bulb if you remove the whole flap.
I have done this twice so far and probably will be doing it again this week (I installed some solid state bulbs and am trying them without the resister but have decided to install them).
Maybe I am just old, blind and clumsy.
I have done this twice so far and probably will be doing it again this week (I installed some solid state bulbs and am trying them without the resister but have decided to install them).
Maybe I am just old, blind and clumsy.
Thread Starter
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 23,411
Likes: 0
From: Sioux Falls & Lake Okoboji,Ia
Cruise-In 3-5-6-7-8-9-10 Vet
St. Jude Donor '03-'05-'06-'07-'08-'09-'10
Race Director
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 11,367
Likes: 211
From: Edgewood Washington
St. Jude Donor '11-'12-'13-'14-'15
Much better cooling and easy to do by extending the resistor's cables slightly and feeding the wires through an existing hole.
It is easier with the wheel off regardless of your agility/eyesight.
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Michael S. Palmer
Race Director
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 17,066
Likes: 3
From: Milpitas ca
My blinker light went out and it took me about an hour to get the burnt out light out.
Took me about 2 minutes to install new one and put everything back together. Toughest thing is you are trying to get to everything with your cheek resting on the hood.
Took me about 2 minutes to install new one and put everything back together. Toughest thing is you are trying to get to everything with your cheek resting on the hood.
Instructor
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 147
Likes: 3
From: COLUMBUS OHIO
Pay the $35.00 the dealer chargers you and have less of a headache trying to take it out. I spent a total of $110.00 changing bulb. I had to buy a torch wrench to put the ties back on the car. But once I change the bulb the light still did not work. The dealer where I work sold me a dead bulb So I brought it back to the dealer where I bought the car and he change the bulb for $35.00
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 2002
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Tech Contributor
Cruise-In 11 Veteran
NCM Ambassador
St. Jude Donor '05-'06-'07-'10
Mike,
As noted there is a flap inside the wheel well just behind the headlight. There are some push pin closures that need to be pulled out. Once they are out just lift the flat and reach in. Raise the rubber cover on the socket and press the release and twist the socket out. Once out, swap the bulb and reverse the process. It can be done without removing the tire. It is a little more work but just turn the wheels full lock away from the side you need to change (full left lock for the right side bulb and vice versa). I did it in a hotel parking lot in Bowling Green and it took me about 20 minutes or so. It would have been a lot easier with the car jacked up and the tire off but that wasn't an option at the time.
Paul
As noted there is a flap inside the wheel well just behind the headlight. There are some push pin closures that need to be pulled out. Once they are out just lift the flat and reach in. Raise the rubber cover on the socket and press the release and twist the socket out. Once out, swap the bulb and reverse the process. It can be done without removing the tire. It is a little more work but just turn the wheels full lock away from the side you need to change (full left lock for the right side bulb and vice versa). I did it in a hotel parking lot in Bowling Green and it took me about 20 minutes or so. It would have been a lot easier with the car jacked up and the tire off but that wasn't an option at the time.
Paul
