Headlight access??
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 235
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From: San Diego CA
Headlight access??
I've been trying to get through the rear covering of the headlight assembly, located in the front wheel wells. The covering is bolted to the wheel well wall with about 8 screws. I can see a slight indentation to receive a flathead screwdriver but it's not enough to get any bite with a screwdriver, the bolt heads are basically flat with no way to get them out.
Can someone please help me? I'm just trying to replace my turn signal bulbs.
Can someone please help me? I'm just trying to replace my turn signal bulbs.
Instructor
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 176
Likes: 1
From: New Milford CT
St. Jude Donor '09
Here's a reply I received from "Shopdog" which worked for me. Patience and determination are required.
Shopdog solution--
There are 3 sockets, the things with wires coming out of them, which are exposed when you open the flap. The one furtherest to the outside of the car is the one for the turn signals/DRL. Feel around on it with your fingers down near where it enters the reflector housing. You should feel a projection. That is the tab. Depress it, then the socket should turn fairly easily in the reflector housing. One quarter turn will unlock it, and you should be able to easily pull it out. Don't use excessive force. If it won't come out with normal force, you don't have it unlocked properly. Sometimes you have to jiggle it a bit to make it come free.
Shopdog solution--
There are 3 sockets, the things with wires coming out of them, which are exposed when you open the flap. The one furtherest to the outside of the car is the one for the turn signals/DRL. Feel around on it with your fingers down near where it enters the reflector housing. You should feel a projection. That is the tab. Depress it, then the socket should turn fairly easily in the reflector housing. One quarter turn will unlock it, and you should be able to easily pull it out. Don't use excessive force. If it won't come out with normal force, you don't have it unlocked properly. Sometimes you have to jiggle it a bit to make it come free.
Drifting
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 1,937
Likes: 1
From: Costa Mesa CA
CI 6-7-8-9-10 Veteran
St. Jude Donor '06-'07-'08-'09
The fasteners are not screws, they are rivets similar to reusable mollys.
With the wheels turned for access clearance, use a fork, a pair of end cutters, or similar tool to grab the head adjacent to the two small recesses under the head and pull outward.
Not much force is required - if using endcutters, do not shear off the head.
With the wheels turned for access clearance, use a fork, a pair of end cutters, or similar tool to grab the head adjacent to the two small recesses under the head and pull outward.
Not much force is required - if using endcutters, do not shear off the head.
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 235
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From: San Diego CA
Thanks a million for the advice guys. I happen to have a pair of end cutters and I'm going to go to my car with a printout of your instructions. I'll report status later.
thanks again
thanks again
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 235
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From: San Diego CA
Got the cover off, turned out a salad fork was the easiest way to pry the bolts out.
NOW I HAVE ANOTHER PROBLEM.
The "tab" around the area where the plugs connect to the bulb housing. This is an extremely tight area that I can barely get my hands into. The turn signal plug is only half visible, the rest is pretty unaccessible. I can feel around blindly and I feel something that might be a tab, it gives a little when I press on it, but I just can't tell if it should be pressed in, or out, whether it really is the tab, whether I'm going to break something that isn't the tab, I just can't be sure.
I need a detailed explanation of WHERE the tab is so I can be sure I'm pressing the right thing with the right amount of force because I'm doing this blind.
HELP!
NOW I HAVE ANOTHER PROBLEM.
The "tab" around the area where the plugs connect to the bulb housing. This is an extremely tight area that I can barely get my hands into. The turn signal plug is only half visible, the rest is pretty unaccessible. I can feel around blindly and I feel something that might be a tab, it gives a little when I press on it, but I just can't tell if it should be pressed in, or out, whether it really is the tab, whether I'm going to break something that isn't the tab, I just can't be sure.
I need a detailed explanation of WHERE the tab is so I can be sure I'm pressing the right thing with the right amount of force because I'm doing this blind.
HELP!
Instructor
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 176
Likes: 1
From: New Milford CT
St. Jude Donor '09
I'm sure you've found the tab. You need to press it in and turn it. It took me about 1/2 hour before the darn thing finally came loose. It's a real bugger to get, but like I said patience and determination is required. It's just a very awkward position. It helps if you have a pair of thin gloves to get a good hold of it. If it's easy for you to take the wheel off, it would make the job much easier. Good luck!
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Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 235
Likes: 0
From: San Diego CA
no i cant take the wheel off, gotta do this in the garage with no jack.
The tab, again, is it on the side of the socket most towards the outside of the car? If that's the tab I can only get one finger on it because it's in such an awkward area. Again, do I push it out (away from the socket) or in (towards the socket)?
Thanks for the quick replies
The tab, again, is it on the side of the socket most towards the outside of the car? If that's the tab I can only get one finger on it because it's in such an awkward area. Again, do I push it out (away from the socket) or in (towards the socket)?
Thanks for the quick replies
Drifting
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 1,937
Likes: 1
From: Costa Mesa CA
CI 6-7-8-9-10 Veteran
St. Jude Donor '06-'07-'08-'09
the tab is on the housing - look at your new bulb.
It has been a year since I switched turn signal bulbs, bit I believe that you pull the tab away from the bulb base, not push it in.
Then a 1/4 turn of the bulb base will align it for removal.
It has been a year since I switched turn signal bulbs, bit I believe that you pull the tab away from the bulb base, not push it in.
Then a 1/4 turn of the bulb base will align it for removal.
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 235
Likes: 0
From: San Diego CA
i have to pull the plug out of the housing to get at the bulb correct??
There is no tab on the bulb, I don't know what your talking about.
a picture or diagram is worth a thousand words. Got any? Myabe you can draw a quick sketch by hand, scan it in and post it for me? Maybe you can do something quick in Paint and post it? I need visual information.
There is no tab on the bulb, I don't know what your talking about.
a picture or diagram is worth a thousand words. Got any? Myabe you can draw a quick sketch by hand, scan it in and post it for me? Maybe you can do something quick in Paint and post it? I need visual information.
Drifting
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 1,937
Likes: 1
From: Costa Mesa CA
CI 6-7-8-9-10 Veteran
St. Jude Donor '06-'07-'08-'09
There is a locking tab on the bulb assembly.
It is curved along a little less than 1/4 of the circumference.
Push it inward towards the center of the bulb assembly, hold it down, and rotate the entire bulb assembly about 1/6 turn while the locking tab is held compressed.
It is curved along a little less than 1/4 of the circumference.
Push it inward towards the center of the bulb assembly, hold it down, and rotate the entire bulb assembly about 1/6 turn while the locking tab is held compressed.
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 235
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From: San Diego CA
thank you that was much more clear.
Any chance you would know which direction you rotate it? Guess I can easily figure it out. Reaching the said tab is VERY difficult! I have to squeeze my whole arm in the wheel well and feel around. Even with my figertip on the tab my finger is bent in a weird angle that doesn't feel too healthy.
Any chance you would know which direction you rotate it? Guess I can easily figure it out. Reaching the said tab is VERY difficult! I have to squeeze my whole arm in the wheel well and feel around. Even with my figertip on the tab my finger is bent in a weird angle that doesn't feel too healthy.
Drifting
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 1,937
Likes: 1
From: Costa Mesa CA
CI 6-7-8-9-10 Veteran
St. Jude Donor '06-'07-'08-'09
I don't remember the rotation, but counterclockwise for removal is my first choice in most cases.
Failing that, try clockwise - LOL - gotta keep your sense of humor.
The bulb housing rotates less than a quarter turn and will hit a detent - do not force it - it does not rotate much to clear the locking flange.
When the housing is out, the bulb pulls straight out for replacement.
Failing that, try clockwise - LOL - gotta keep your sense of humor.
The bulb housing rotates less than a quarter turn and will hit a detent - do not force it - it does not rotate much to clear the locking flange.
When the housing is out, the bulb pulls straight out for replacement.
Drifting
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 1,482
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From: Bridgewater Corners Vermont VT
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 235
Likes: 0
From: San Diego CA
HERE ARE SOME PICTURES of BEFORE AND AFTER. Sorry no Install Photos, ENJOY!
http://nicoscorvette.blogspot.com
http://nicoscorvette.blogspot.com
Last edited by nicosuave; Apr 8, 2007 at 10:10 PM.