Replacing headlight bulbs

Hi!

I was wondering if anyone out there knew how to change the damn headlights in a 2002 Trailblazer. I don't know why, but Chevy sure didn't want people to change their own headlights - which seems stupid to me. There has to be a trick to it... a way around the plastic panel that is preventing people from doing anything themselves.

Any help would be appreciated.

Thanks!

Just got my 2003 and there is nothing in the owner's manual. I fear it is a dealer item.

I know, there is stuff about the rear lights, but no headlights. And just looking under the hood it doesn't seem to be very user-friendly.

I know, there is stuff about the rear lights, but no headlights. And just looking under the hood it doesn't seem to be very user-friendly.

And its not!
To remove the headlamp assembly on a Trailblazer, remove the plastic panel that covers the hood latch assembly, remove the grill then release the retainers for the headlamp assemly.
The bottom retainers for the grill are tricky and difficult to release. you can break the grill if done incorrectly.

And its not!
To remove the headlamp assembly on a Trailblazer, remove the plastic panel that covers the hood latch assembly, remove the grill then release the retainers for the headlamp assemly.
The bottom retainers for the grill are tricky and difficult to release. you can break the grill if done incorrectly.

Remove the grill? Holy crap. I had a hell of a time just getting the plastic panel off, why would GM use plastic locking fake screws? Is it to spite me?

Thanks for your help, I guess I'll have to set aside a little longer than 10 minutes for the 'job'.

Is there a replaceable lamp? Or is it dealer only item?

Is there a replaceable lamp? Or is it dealer only item?

I have xenon bulbs for the low beams that I want to put in, I have put them in my other vehicles in minutes... the Trailblazer is a different story...

I know the feeling, I just had to replace my driver side bulb on my LHS. Turns out the idiot that owned the car before me did something to the bolts holding the drivers side headlight assembly in. :loser: I couldn't get them out no matter how hard I tried, (for at least 30 min). I ended up taking bolt cutters to the headlight housing so I could reach my hand down to the socket. What a pain in the butt.

I miss taking a couple torx screws out, and being able to change bulbs really easy. Dang, I guess this is progress!!:thinkerg:

The first problem is the damn factory locking pins on the plastic cover under the hood. It is like they don't want you touching it, I would imagine a mechanic would just cut them off and replace them with new ones when done (they are plastic). When I have an hour or two I'm going to take it off, along with the grill and headlight assembly. I don't know how else it can be done.

HI ALL,

Just replaced the drivers side LB on a 2003 TB. All you have to do is find the "round rubber cover" on the back of the headlamp, pry it out with a flathead screwdriver and the lamp is right there.

You must be crazy to listen to someone telling you you have the grill assembly off!!!

HI ALL,

Just replaced the drivers side LB on a 2003 TB. All you have to do is find the "round rubber cover" on the back of the headlamp, pry it out with a flathead screwdriver and the lamp is right there.

You must be crazy to listen to someone telling you you have the grill assembly off!!!

My friend... if this is correct - then you rock. I imagine that you had to take off the plastic cover though...

Thanks for the tip on the rubber covers inside the hood. I just replaced the low beam headlamp on the passenger side of the vehicle. On this one you have to take the cover for the air filter in order to get to the low beam cover. Take the 3 screws out of the air filter cover and remove. You will then be able to get to the back of the low beam lamp. The high beam is reachable without this hassle.

Wish they would design those things easier! :banghead:

You saved the day dude (or dudet to be politically correct). I poped the rubber cap and there the bulb was! Before I found this thread I was fuming, ready to take a hammer to my windshield. Thanks again, 15 minutes start to finish.
JW

I also have to thank everyone for this... popping the grill off was much easier than I thought and right behind those rubber caps were the bulbs. The clips were also a nice idea just to the left and right of each headlamp assembly - just lift them up and pull the light out. Simple stupid.

Boy, I sure am glad someone suggested the easy way to do this. I was reading through this post and was afraid that nobody knew the correct way to change the bulbs in these. I buy and sell Silverstars on eBay and changed mine out several times with cheap-o bulbs that kep burning out before I came across these. I'm a bit of a pro now :loser:

Gotta agree with the suggestion to skip removing the grill and go straight to the rubber caps on the back of the headlamp assembly. It takes a little bit more dexterity, but will save you from removing the grill and possibly breaking any fasteners. I figured out that the grill had to come off somehow, but didn't know how to undo the bottom fasteners and didn't want to break them. Then I found this thread and went for the rubber caps leaving the grill installed. I needed to replace the passenger side light and removing the air filter cover was the trick (3 fasteners).

Thanks for the tips.

OK, I need to change passenger side headlight bulb 02' Trailblazer. This a true pain, I will go ahead and take off the air filter cover and shimmy myself in there and change that bulb. Please wish me luck. Would hate to go to the dealership for a headlight!

This is one of the easiest things you can do on your Trailblazer. If you can't do this, you probably don't possess the motor skills necessary to operate a vehicle.

The grill pops off in a few seconds. Use a putty knife to start to pry on the ends of the chrome bar.

I have replaced the bulbs in both my low and high beams with Street Glow Xenon, and have had numerous problems with the lows, i have replaced them 5 times now, but the highs seem to have no problems. The grill is easily taken off, and the retaining clips on the top of the lights are easily pryed up for access to those black rubber covers. I have found this to be the easiest, as i have had them out numerous times. Do you all have the problems with your tail lights, they have burned out many times on me also. I replaced them with LED aftermarket bulbs, but soon realized they looked very out of place. Is there a way to get the "tinted" tail light lenses found on the SS Trailblazer?

I would just like to thank all of you guys (and gals) for the great information you provide me on my TB. Everytime I take it to my dealer for an oil change, I ask about some of the problems I read about on here and they are amazed I know so much (for a lady that is) ha ha. Thanks again, and keep the info coming....

Thanks for the help, It was easy with your directions. Thanks again keep up the good work.

Thanks for all the info on the headlamps...I just bought a used 2002 TB and was looking at what it would take to change the headlamps. It sure looked like it could be a pain. I have not had to do it yet. I do however have a passenger sidemarker lamp that needs to be replaced. I can see it from the top, but I don't know if the connector just unplugs or needs to be turned to the left or right. Thanks for any further info

The grill pops off in a few seconds. Use a putty knife to start to pry on the ends of the chrome bar.

ICAP, you say to use a putty knife to start to pry on the ends of the chrome bar. Are you referring to the middle piece of chrome between the top and bottom part of the grill? How is this fastened to the rest of the grill?

Thank you!

Changing the bulbs by removing the grill and plastic "radiator cover" is actually very simple. I drove myself crazy until I broke down and bought a Chilton's manual. To change all four bulbs and remove/replace all the necessary plastic only took about 20 minutes... a small price to pay for knowing the correct way to change them. I do a fair bit of maintenance on my 02 TB. I recently heard someone tell me they paid $120 to have their fuel filter changed. The Chilton manual, Fuel filter and 15 minutes only cost me $40. By the way, the Trailblazers are great Trucks! If you don't want to buy a manual, e-mail me and I'll try to help you out by referencing mine. :iceslolan

OK everyone. Here is the official way to change the headlight bubls right from the mechanics who do it. DO NOT pull the grill off. DO NOT, I REPEAT DO NOT pry the chrome piece off, it's connect with clips except two spots where it's heat shrunck right to the grill. If you try to pry off the chrom piece, then you will eventually break the heat shrunk pieces and then end up replacing the entire grill. Here is what you do as posted before in this forum. For the passenger side, there is an air filter. Take the 3 screws off that holds the cover on and then remove the cover. Now move the hoses out of the way and reach behind the headlights and you will feel two round rubber covers. Pull these off. You should be able to pull them off with your fingers but if you can't use a flathead screwdriver. Now you have easy access to the bubls. Just turn the bulbs to unlock them from the headlights and replace your bubls. Once you have replaced them, reverse the process, put the rubber covers on, put the hoses back in place and put the air filter cover back on and screw it on with the 3 screws. Now the passenger side is done. For the driver side, just reach behind the headlights, pull the rubber covers off, turn the bulbs to unlock them, replace the bulbs and reverse the process. You're all done. Average time to replace all 4 bulbs is 15 minutes and no grill to take off.

Any questions, feel free to email me at [email protected]

I have to take mine apart every week. The insert that holds the bulb got hot and melted and had to rewire another one (little piece of GM plastic cost $21.00 that the bulb goes in) and now everytime I crank it the bulb is out, but if I give it a bang the light will come on. May be o.k. for a day and sometimes it will last a week or so then bang it again. As usual it melted right after the warranty went out. I will prob end up hving to buy a complete head light assembly and I'm sure that's about 175.00 not to mention the problem with the fan clutch staying engaged until I reach 50mph and if you don't think that sucks more gas then GM.

Note to self:
Sell Trailblazer the day a headlight goes out.
:loser: :banghead: :gives: :rofl:

I just bought a pair of silverstars... How are these compared to xenon. xenon seem to be a bit cheaper. does xenon bulb get really hot and melt the light assembly?

I just replaced the passenger side low beam in about 15 mins. Thanks for the easy way!

wow! I don't know, but I think you guys are making it seem a lot harder than it really is!

Pop your hood (disregard the plastic thing on top). There are two metal tabs on each headlight, take a flat-head screwdriver and pry up on them (they only go up and down). Pull forward a bit, remove the side marker bulb, and if you are pulling gently from the headlight the grill will come off with NO PROBLEM, I got both headlamps and the grill to come off with no problem (both headlight housings and the grill acted as one piece), changing all four headlight bulbs took a whole of 2 minutes.

Pull headlights/grill assy out and rest on bumper, pop off plastic covers and replace bulbs. Replace rubber covers, put marker lights back in, pop everything back into place, slide tabs down to lock headlights in, close hood.

I can take pictures if needed.

wow! I don't know, but I think you guys are making it seem a lot harder than it really is!

:lol: I thought the same thing. This thread is 3yrs old though.

Joel

:lol: I thought the same thing. This thread is 3yrs old though.

Joel

:banghead:

If I would have only known. I wasn't exactly in the best of moods and mindsets last night when I wrote all of that other wise I would have posted a "holy old-post Batman!!!"

Dear Awallach,

I know you posted this a LONG time ago, but THANK YOU for the help in replacing the headlight bulb in my TB. Last summer I screwed up the headlight assembly in my wife's Lexus to the point where I had to take it to the local mechanic so he could fix what I broke.
When the headlight in my TrailBlazer went out yesterday, I started getting flashbacks. Rather than just dive into the repair, I read this forum, found your post and had the bulb replaced in less than 20 minutes, including the trip to the car parts store! You saved my sanity.
Thanks. I'll be back!

Greg

Welcome to AF. This is over a year old, please note the dates before posting.