Question about changing headlight bulbs

I have been fighting with my car now for a good 45 minutes and can not figure out how to get my headlight bulb out to change them. I have tried twisting, pulling, cussing (helped me more than the car) and nothing seems to be working. Is there something that I missing. I really hate to think that I would have to take my car to someone and pay them just to chane my light bullbs. Any help would be appriciated

OK, have you disconected the harness from the bulb (this is the hardest part). If not, there is a pressure tab on it, press in and pull out. You might have to pull kinda hard, or use a screwdriver to help press in the tab. Dont pull on the wires. After that. The bulb comes out real easy. There is a spring loaded thingy, that is clipped in there to hold in the bulb. All you have to do is press down on the metal piece, and move it out from the latch. You should be able to see exactly what im talking about. Im sure you know not to touch the new bulbs, blah blah blah.

No I have not disconnected the harness from the bulb. Where exactly is this pressure tab at. I looked for one and didn't have much luck finding it.

No I have not disconnected the harness from the bulb. Where exactly is this pressure tab at. I looked for one and didn't have much luck finding it.

just pull on the harness hard(you will probably hit your hands, and cuss somemore). it will come out. then you release the spring thingy, and the bulb comes right out.

WHATEVER YOU DO, DO NOT BREAK THE METAL CLIP SPRING DOHICKY.

just pull on the harness hard(you will probably hit your hands, and cuss somemore). it will come out. then you release the spring thingy, and the bulb comes right out.

WHATEVER YOU DO, DO NOT BREAK THE METAL CLIP SPRING DOHICKY.

Are you kidding, as far as I am concerned cussing and working on my car is like praying in church. It's expected. Chances are (knowing my luck) I probably will break the metal clip, but at least then I would have my excuse to buy the projector headlights I want.

Are you kidding, as far as I am concerned cussing and working on my car is like praying in church. It's expected. Chances are (knowing my luck) I probably will break the metal clip, but at least then I would have my excuse to buy the projector headlights I want.

if you haven't done it by this afternoon, i can take a picture when i get home tonight or tomorrow morning. i am going to be changing my oil tomorrow so i need something to do while the oil is draining.

if you haven't done it by this afternoon, i can take a picture when i get home tonight or tomorrow morning. i am going to be changing my oil tomorrow so i need something to do while the oil is draining.


Oil change huh??

Oil change huh??


How often do you change your oil? 3K or 5K?

How often do you change your oil? 3K or 5K?


I do mine religiously at 3k, even though full synthetic oil is good for 5k

How often do you change your oil? 3K or 5K?

10k-12k using Mobil 1 Full Synthetic Extended Performance 5w30

How often do you change your oil? 3K or 5K?

LOL was it really necessary to make two posts one after the other? Could have just said all that in one.

I do mine every 5k with the Mobile 5w30 extended life (5,000 mile oil). Use a decent filter also. Purolator Pure1 is my preference, but a lot of people who love to spend money buy a K&N.

if you haven't done it by this afternoon, i can take a picture when i get home tonight or tomorrow morning. i am going to be changing my oil tomorrow so i need something to do while the oil is draining.


Ok cool probably won't attempt it again until tomorrow or sunday. I would appreicate that.

I try to change my oil every 3-6k. Going to attempt changing my oil for the first time as soon as my new oil pan gets here. Had to replace it cause the previous owner dented it really bad. Question though if I use 10w-40 in my car would the be bad for it or would I be ok. Had bought some oil and I swore it was 10-30 but apparently the ability to read left me for a moment and I got 10-40

i use Royal Purple since i can get it for like $1 a quart
FRAM filter though
Change it evey 8k unless ive been racing alot

Ok cool probably won't attempt it again until tomorrow or sunday. I would appreicate that.

I try to change my oil every 3-6k. Going to attempt changing my oil for the first time as soon as my new oil pan gets here. Had to replace it cause the previous owner dented it really bad. Question though if I use 10w-40 in my car would the be bad for it or would I be ok. Had bought some oil and I swore it was 10-30 but apparently the ability to read left me for a moment and I got 10-40

i have no idea about the 10w40. i will say that it won't destroy your engine if you use it.

here are pictures for you. my suggestion is to take the whole headlight assembly out the first time. you will get a better understand(and be able to see) of what you need to do to the the light out. these are pictures taken with the headlight housing out. to get the headlight housing out, remove the 3 screws holding the housing in, pull the wiring harness out, then you can remove the black rubber thingy. you will have to pull the housing hard to get it out. you will heard a pop, but you won't break anything.

http://img82.imageshack.us/img82/2166/img0292fixed3ey.jpg
http://img82.imageshack.us/img82/3826/img0296fixed2kw.jpg
http://img82.imageshack.us/img82/8184/img0298fixed3mh.jpg

here is the metal clip things that you need to pop off. just press down on the end and it will come unlatched.

Ok simple enough hopefully I can manage this without destroying something

if that doesn't help i can try making a vid. for it, its not terribly complicated but it can be tricky

Ok well I some what successfully changed them. I ended up breaking one of the wires off as well as one of the connects off of the wiring harness on the driver side light. But with a little extra wire and some electrical tape I fixed that problem. Still have to go back in though cause I took off the metal clips holding the light into place and realized it yesterday when I pulled into my garage and my headlights where pointing in oposite directs. Feel bad for other drives. One was pointing straight up into there faces and those Silverstar are extremely bright.

I struggled to remove the bulb too and thanks, 'cause this post helped alot. To clarify for future readers, there are two pressure tabs on the left and right side of the connector. If you squeeze those really hard you'll feel them depress and then the connector comes off (still take a tug though). From that point, the rest of this topic covers it.

Good luck -- and be damned if you have to pay someone to change your headlight bulb!



OK, have you disconected the harness from the bulb (this is the hardest part). If not, there is a pressure tab on it, press in and pull out. You might have to pull kinda hard, or use a screwdriver to help press in the tab. Dont pull on the wires. After that. The bulb comes out real easy. There is a spring loaded thingy, that is clipped in there to hold in the bulb. All you have to do is press down on the metal piece, and move it out from the latch. You should be able to see exactly what im talking about. Im sure you know not to touch the new bulbs, blah blah blah.

so far as i kno o'reilly will change them for free (or at least the nicer ones do)

glad the info helped out!

i have no idea about the 10w40. i will say that it won't destroy your engine if you use it.

here are pictures for you. my suggestion is to take the whole headlight assembly out the first time. you will get a better understand(and be able to see) of what you need to do to the the light out. these are pictures taken with the headlight housing out. to get the headlight housing out, remove the 3 screws holding the housing in, pull the wiring harness out, then you can remove the black rubber thingy. you will have to pull the housing hard to get it out. you will heard a pop, but you won't break anything.

here is the metal clip things that you need to pop off. just press down on the end and it will come unlatched.


Hey, thanks for the step by step. It was a lot easier than I thought it'd be.

Hey, thanks for the step by step. It was a lot easier than I thought it'd be.

no problem. i've seen too many posts about how somebody has broken the metal clip trying to get the lights out. so i figured i would save people the headache by just posting some pictures. its not as hard as people try to make it. i can change my bulbs in about 4 mins. it only takes that long because i don't take the assemblies out to change the lights. when i pull the wiring harness out, i usually bust a knuckle or scrape my hand so it takes a minute to jump around and cuss a little.

no problem. i've seen too many posts about how somebody has broken the metal clip trying to get the lights out. so i figured i would save people the headache by just posting some pictures. its not as hard as people try to make it. i can change my bulbs in about 4 mins. it only takes that long because i don't take the assemblies out to change the lights. when i pull the wiring harness out, i usually bust a knuckle or scrape my hand so it takes a minute to jump around and cuss a little.


LOL. Well at least I know now that I'm not the only one that acts like that when I hurt part of me on my car.