Removing headlight housing - am I being dim?

[lapin_windstar]

Hi guys

I am trying to track down a persistent shorting/fuse blowing in my turn signals. One of the things I am trying to do is look for corrosion/water entry/bad bulbs in the turn signals. The rear light housings/clusters came out easy enough, but I just can't get the front headlight housings out.

Haynes manual says to pull out the two retaining clips on each housing, then just pull it out from the front. But when I do that, it wiggles around but just won't come out without too much force - and I don't want to push too hard because i am scared of cracking it. There's a third retaining clip at the back (i.e. engine side) of the unit but it doesn't appear to clip the unit to the body, just to the incoming wires.

Am I missing something obvious? Also, anyone else have a problem with turn signals circuit shorting constantly? It only seems to happen when signalling right...

[lapin_windstar]

Should have said - this is for a 95.

[wiswind]

If you have water getting into one of the lens housings, you should see some cloudiness.....water droplets inside the lens.
This would be visible without removal of the assembly.
It is also possible that you may have a shorted filament inside one of the light bulbs.
You will need to remove the bulbs/plugs before trying to remove the housing.

Side marker lamp bulb and plug is removed by turning 1/4 turn counter clockwise and pulling out.

The headlamp/park&turn lamp lens has 3 clips that look to be at the TOP of the lens assembly....from looking at the diagram.
With the 3 clips removed AND the 2 wire harnesses (headlamp and Park/Turn lamp) disconnected, the unit should come straight out the front.

For my '96, it says that the side marker lamp lens has a retaining NUT in the engine compartment, at the TOP of the lamp assembly.
Then you rock the lens unit out and DOWN.

[lapin_windstar]

Originally Posted by wiswind

You will need to remove the bulbs/plugs before trying to remove the housing.

D'oh - such a basic error!!! That explains everything, thank you so much, wiswind!

I don't see any cloudiness in the lens and I've replaced the rear turn signals already, so I am really hoping it's a blub in the front - if it's not, then the short is going to be buried in the wiring somewhere and it'll be a hunt to find it.