How do I replace the headlight assembly?

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(rocketman7 @ Oct 25 2006, 11:02 PM) [snapback]338388[/snapback]</div>

If you have the replacement one in hand, can you see any places on it that look like they could be brackets for additional bolts, or clips where it might just snap in, etc.? I'd hope this would be a simple repair for you, but you never know.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(rocketman7 @ Oct 25 2006, 06:02 PM) [snapback]338388[/snapback]</div>

The '06 Manual says first disconnect the negative ground of the 12v battery then wait 90 seconds to prevent activation of the seat belt and airbags, then remove the fender liners, then remove the bumper cover, then remove the three screws and pull out the headlight toward the front of the vehicle. Then there is a long list of instructions for disconnecting connectors and removing bulbs.

Do you have a self leveling system in your headlights? If so, this adds to the complication of R&R becaused that must be reset and readjusted.

Remember when you reconnect the battery you will need to perform an Initiaization. You will also need to restore any electronic instructions you have given to the car such as "beep" removals as they will return to the their default settings.

Are you sure that the headlight you purchased matches the one on the other side of your car? I am referring to the light it makes not the fit to the car even though they both matter.

By the way Congratulations on the new baby boy!!!!!

 

I take back what I said about this should be a simple repair. Remind me to be really careful with my headlights. I replaced one on my Tundra, it seemed to almost snap in. Well, actually that procedure doesn't sound that bad, but definitely more like "free afternoon" than "spare 20 minutes." Do you have to go back to the dealer for the HID levellling setup, or can that be done by a DIYer without special tools? I'm interested becuase I seem to need a windshield or headlight lens at least every other year on one of our cars.

 

you have to take the fender liner out. then there is a screw near the edge of the bumper in the fender, that holds the bumper cover to the fender. take that screw out. then you can pop the bumper cover out away from the fender, and there will be a 3rd 10mm bolt there. take that out too.

next step, unplug all wire from it and CAREFULLY slide it out. don't force it, but it won't just slide off like nothing. you're supposed to remove the whole bumper cover but that's a huge affair and you can get away with this.

i think you should be able to get the rest from there.

congrats on the new son! let us know how the replacement goes.

 

I believe it's possible to get at the third headlight-assembly bolt
by simply loosening enough of the fender-liner and the big plastic
front schnoz piece to pull them slightly aside. We did this at the
last tech-training thing; it was actually fairly fast. But you do
have to get behind there just enough to unbolt it.
.
Experienced auto techs are good at finding all kinds of shortcuts
for only partially loosening things that are in the way and shifting
them aside, but at the occasional expense of bending them in funny
ways. My own LHS fender-liner got a little mangled a month or so
ago when one of the trainees *really* wanted to have a look at the
thermos bottle and he was somewhat ham-handed... it's only plastic,
but some guys aren't quite as careful as they should be.
.
_H*