headlight

does anyone know an easy way to change the headlight without
pulling half the car apart. the instructions are awful. on a pontiac grand
am gt 2000

Welcome tigger4teen. The headlights are really easy to change accually. The black plastic cover over the radiator and lights, pop out the plastic push pins that hold it down. you can just remove the three on the end by the fender. I'll post a pic.
http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b346/roboticgod/headlamp1.jpg
then two clips hold in the headlamp assembly. you might want to use a screw driver because there are sharp edges on these clips and can cut you. hers a pic for those clips.
http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b346/roboticgod/headlamp2.jpg
Once they are out, the HL assm. will pull straight out. unplug the HL remove the black ring and the bulb will pull out. note how the bulbs aligned in the housing , it only goes in one way.

Thought I'd just throw out - it's a lot easier to get the black metal clips out if you pull them toward the engine, and then up. They won't release unless you push them that way.

Be carefull of the bulb retainer. I changed one this weekend and all three of the little clips on the ring broke . I am scrambling to find new ones.I hope the duct tape works till I find them.

ya i forgot the damn retainer ring, they do get britle, from the heat I believe, and break easily. I could only find them at a Stealership, around $12+-. Duct tape might be a temporary fix(couple days). I had thought about casting one, then making/pouring them aluminum. never got to that project started.