Secret to changing headlight?

[boem25]

Hi.

I Have a 97 Probe GT with standard dual sealed halogen headlamps (retractable).

Last year I replaced a headlight with a Standard GE 4666 with no problem. Don't remember specifically what I did, but I know I basically just unscrewed it and plugged in a new one.

Now I'm trying to replace the other one and I can't remove the headlight.
Can't figure out what I'm doing wrong. There are four screws (not counting the two to adjust the light). These screws are not easily accessible (they hold the metal casing in and are sort of hidden). I did manage to get to them and remove them, but that hasn't done me any good except that now I don't have the screws anymore (as they fell down somewhere). They were so hard to get to that I'm not sure they are even the right ones, but they are all I saw.

Is there another access to these lights? I don't remember it being so complicated.

Thanks for your help. I really need to change this headlight. Miriam

[a1waytrip]

basicly, there is no secret to changing a headlight... should only be like 4 screws holding that metal shroud on iirc then pop it out, unplug, plug new one in, and reasemble
-Tom

[boem25]

Hi.

Thanks for replying to my post. I managed to change the headlight, and I am going to post what happened so that everyone reading this can feel good about themselves no matter how much they screw up.

The black plastic wraparound looked to me like it was a serious part of the car and I couldn’t believe that it came off. So I took off the four screws holding the light without taking off the plastic and of course, I lost all four screws, and I still couldn’t get to my headlight. Pulled and poked, etc. and it’s a miracle I didn’t break it.

A week of web-browsing and found a post that told me that I had to remove the black plastic wrap around, and how to do it. OK…

Removed the wraparound, took out the light (found 1 screw that had fallen), plugged in the new light, put in the 1 screw figuring I would buy three more and that would be that.

Lowered retractable headlight covers, light popped out (not enough screws), jammed in the retractable cover. Another hour, unjammed. Minor miracle. Bent metal framing around headlight, but no permanent damage

Bought screws at Bolt Store, put in headlight, put back plastic. Didn’t work. Forgot to plug in light. Everything back out. Ok, now it’s done…..NOT

Went to adjust headlight, found that adjust screw was missing. I had turned it too many times and it had fallen out. Went to Ford to buy another. After Market… they didn’t have one.., so told me to order one online for $12.00. Then very nice Ford guy went out with me and looked down my headlight and we saw the large screw down below and I got it out.

Back to my garage, got the screw in (still not sure how it works because it doesn’t really seem to attach to anything) and went to start my car.

Battery was dead because the lights were left on too long. Triple A.

Read more on internet. Worried now that battery was low because I didn’t think it should have drained in 20 minutes. Four years old, so went to Sears to buy another.

Asked how much it cost to change a headlight.. $7.00

For anyone needing to change a Probe retractable headlight. Take out the two screws on either side of the plastic wraparound. Pull the wraparound side out sideways (like wings) because it’s set into holes. Then move it forward to get it off. Then take out the four screws, etc. etc.

Two weeks – one headlight- one battery… Can’t wait for the other one to go.

[a1waytrip]

uhmm... sorry to hear you had such a problem changing it... took me about 10 mins my first time... lol, maybe you should pick up a haynes manual, or subscribe to www.probetalk.com (free), there are alot of knowledgable people on there if you should run into any other problems. anyway, well, atleast it's over with! enjoy your probe!
-Tom