How do you change a burned out headlight bulb?
01-13-2006, 07:11 AM
#1
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How do you change a burned out headlight bulb?
My right dipped headlight is out according to the warning light.
The car is out of warranty and it has standard halogen bulbs (not xenon).
I looked under the hood and there appears to be an air intake preventing access to the light from inside the hood.
I also noticed two screws in the front of the car securing the headlight housing to the car.
Changing a standard lightbulb should be a trivial matter, but the manual provides no instructions. Rather, it tells me my life would be in danger and I should take it to the dealer.
I suspect others have had to change a headlight bulb before. How do I do it? Do I remove the air intake and come in from the backside? Or, do I take the headlight housing out from the front?
Also, are there any unusual things with regards to these lights that would actually make this dangerous as stated in the manual?
The car is out of warranty and it has standard halogen bulbs (not xenon).
I looked under the hood and there appears to be an air intake preventing access to the light from inside the hood.
I also noticed two screws in the front of the car securing the headlight housing to the car.
Changing a standard lightbulb should be a trivial matter, but the manual provides no instructions. Rather, it tells me my life would be in danger and I should take it to the dealer.
I suspect others have had to change a headlight bulb before. How do I do it? Do I remove the air intake and come in from the backside? Or, do I take the headlight housing out from the front?
Also, are there any unusual things with regards to these lights that would actually make this dangerous as stated in the manual?
01-13-2006, 07:31 AM
#2
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You need to take the whole housing out...
There are 4 screws: 2 up top you can see, and 2 down low at the back that don't need to be completely removed but just loosened. After you pull the housing out, open it up to access the bulb.
01-13-2006, 07:53 AM
#3
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From the front?
Thanks for your help.
If I understand you correctly, I do not need to remove the air intake. Rather, I can just remove the screws on the front of the headlight housing (i.e., the most foward side of the housing that is made of "glass")
If I understand you correctly, I do not need to remove the air intake. Rather, I can just remove the screws on the front of the headlight housing (i.e., the most foward side of the housing that is made of "glass")
01-13-2006, 08:10 AM
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No, the intake has to come out
<center><img src="http://images8.fotki.com/v138/photos/1/193504/1645319/Picture041-vi.jpg"></center><p>you can see 2 out of the 4 screws in this photo. the other 2 are down lower by the back of the headlight. They are torx bolts so be prepaired
01-13-2006, 08:12 AM
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<edit> You do need to remove the intake "pipe"...
Which is held on by a single screw at the front opening of that piece.
Just so we're on the same page, there are 2 torx screws on the top side of the housing close to the front (just as you definied it), and 2 more at the back on the bottom side of the housing. Remove the 2 top screws, and loosen the rear ones to pull the housing out towards the front of the car.
Hope this helps
Just so we're on the same page, there are 2 torx screws on the top side of the housing close to the front (just as you definied it), and 2 more at the back on the bottom side of the housing. Remove the 2 top screws, and loosen the rear ones to pull the housing out towards the front of the car.
Hope this helps
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01-13-2006, 08:19 AM
#8
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If you remove the entire assembly, dont' the lights than need readjustment?
If you remove the intake tube, than remove the clip housing the cover, than pull the wire off ( plug in) than remove the clip housing the bulb you can change it from inside. This sounds easier than it is, as there is'nt much room. If akula's way of pulling the assembly out works without realligning your headlights do it his way.
01-13-2006, 08:19 AM
#9
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So was I :) I stand corrected though: I was thinking I didn't need to take anything out...
the most recent time I pulled the housing, but I conveniently forgot I'm not running the stock airbox and thus have no snorkle standing in the way...
01-13-2006, 08:24 AM
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Are there no screws holding the cover on halogen housings?
I know with my bi-xenons there are, and given the size of the things it's impossible to reach those, and so it's impossible to change anything without taking the housing out...