Changing Headlight Bulbs

[WillieEverlearn]

I'm working on a 1998 Caravan.
Is it really nessesary to remove battery and cover, then roll the fuse box over to the left, remove the headlight assembly, to change the headlight bulb on the drivers side?

Anyone know of a shortcut?
Thanks

[peterjon1]

Not at all. On my '97, there's room without removing anything. Unplug connector/remove mounting ring, remove light, replace. You will have trouble if you don't remove the connector first. There's no reason at all to remove the headlight assembly. Put bulb in, then replug connector. If you try with the connector in place, it won't fit.

[grim509]

Not sure about a 98, but on my 2000 caravan, there's an access hole in the wheel well. Take a look to see if you have one, it's a plastic cover in the front of the wheel well, and you can reach the bulb from there. Don't worry... took me a LONG time to figure it out lol

[WillieEverlearn]

Thanks for the replies.

grim 509, I think 98's are quite different.

peterjon1, I know it can be installed that way but I tried that way twice, before I took out the housing.

The problem I was having in doing it the (easy) way, was indexing the bulb to the housing. Whereas when I took out the housing I could see the indexing marks (bumps) on the housing and then line up the bulb correctly, then the retaining ring, then re-assembled the housing to the car and the the bulb was in the correct possition.

Doing it the "easy" way, I could not get/"feel" the bulb lined up properly, so when I turned on the headlight the beam shone in the wrong area. Hence the two times, before I finally took out the assembly.

Is it just my car, that it is problem then, I did notice that after the bulb was installed, the plug terminal, which should be at 12 o'clock (according the the book) was at 11:55? Maybe my housing is shot.

I had no problem doing the passanger side the easy way, just the drivers.
Thanks for your help with this.
Willie

[peterjon1]

Did you insert the bulb by feel before connecting the socket and ring? I had a devil of a time getting the bulb to line up with the housing with the connector on the bulb. Then it finally hit me to put the bulb in first, then the connector and the ring. Went from being impossible to being a snap. The bulb can be improperly indexed, and the ring will still hold it in, but the light pattern will be awful.

[WillieEverlearn]

Hi There
Yes I also tried it by "feel" and I did not have the wire plugged in at the time.
But I installed the bulb indexed wrong and the retaining ring that way, then the plug. Then I saw that it was installed wrong.
1. This is the first time I changed the bulbs.
2. I didn't know just what kind of indexing was required, if any.
3. I couldn't identify any indexing from the bulb itself.

The space between the retaining ring and the power box is only a few inches. You must a very small hand.
TTFN

[peterjon1]

No, I have trouble finding gloves large enough -- but I do have long fingers. The flat spot on the bulb connection should be at 12:00. If I remember correctly, there are small tabs on the light which fit in slots in the housing -- or vice-versa.

[sak22]

peterjon1 is correct... Unplug connector and move it out of the way... Twist and remove mounting ring... Then remove the light. It may be seated in there pretty good so you may have to pull it firmly. Installation is the reverse procedure. As stated, it's kind of difficult on the drivers side because there is very little little room to work with (passenger side is a breeze). When installation is complete, the bulb socket will be just slightly off of 12 o'clock. Hope this helps.

[WillieEverlearn]

Thanks everyone for your input.
Next time I'll try it without removing the battery
Thanks Again
Willie