Changing headlights

[damnit_dave]

I have a 2004 Aveo and can not figure out how to change the headlights. I bought the car used and it does not have an owners manual. I have been to the local Auto Zone and Advanced Auto and neither has a manual for my car. Can anyone help please??

[rodentman]

Disconnect the wires and depress the metal retaining clip. Bulbs come right out, very accessible. Aveo owners are lucky! My Dodge Caliber headlights cannot be replaced unless taken to a dealer. Too much stuff needs to be removed.

But on the Aveo you need to remove the headlight pods to change the side marker and directional lights. If one of those goes out, I'd replace them all at the same time.

[mikedudley17]

there are 3 screws on each headlight. 2 on the top of the radiator support and 1 on the sides of the headlights. remove those screws, take headlight assembly out, disconnect wires, remove rubber boot, undo the wire clip, pull out bulb, insert new bulb and then follow these directions backwards.

Originally Posted by rodentman

Disconnect the wires and depress the metal retaining clip. Bulbs come right out, very accessible. Aveo owners are lucky! My Dodge Caliber headlights cannot be replaced unless taken to a dealer. Too much stuff needs to be removed.

But on the Aveo you need to remove the headlight pods to change the side marker and directional lights. If one of those goes out, I'd replace them all at the same time.

you dont have to remove the headlights to remove the sidemarkers. all you need to do with that is take some duct tape and wrap it around the base of the side marker, and either push it forwards or backwards (cant remember which) and it will poop right off.

[rodentman]

I am not speaking of the side marker lights that stand along by the door hinge. I am addressing the little bulbs (168 I think) that are part of the pod.

And I have very easily replaced the headlight bulbs without removing the pods. It's a snap-totally accessible. Trust me, if I can do it, anyone can do it.

[mikedudley17]

my hands are too big to slip in the lil spaces to remove the hedlights. i havent taken my turn assemblies out and had to change any bulbs in them, are yo saying that there are 2 different sizes of bulbs in those assemblies? and to be clear, you arent talking about the side markers in the fenders?

[rodentman]

Ah the stinking manual does not list the bulb numbers and I cannot recall what they are. I know I replaced 3 in each side, not counting the headlight bulb. I am not speaking of the pop off lights on the fenders by the door hinges.

I'll check my records tonight and see if I wrote down the bulb numbers. I should have. I know there were 3 on each side. There is a running light, a directional light, and a side marker light all as part of the pod.