1994 Dakota Headlight Assembly Removal

[Tacuvito]

I need instructions on how to remove the headlights assembly in my Dakota. All help is greatly appreciated. Thanks.

[discnik]

Go to http://autozone.com/home.htm

At the top is "current vehicle" next to that is "add another vehicle". Click this. I will take you through a 4 step,"year", make", "model", "engine".
To the left will appear a list of items. Choose "repair info". Next screen on the left choose "repair guide". It will give you a list of areas, choose "chassis electrical". The replacement procedure for your's is in there. I checked to make sure.

Hope this helps.

[Tacuvito]

Thank you for your help, but I think I figured it out. I had a question as to how to remove the two cables that attach to the headlight adjustment bolts. Since the connections were made of plastic I was afraid of breaking them. I will soon upload some photos for future reference. that is if someone still drives these old trucks.

[discnik]

Glad you got it fixed

[Tacuvito]

This is a rough guide as to how to remove the headlight assembly in a 1994 Dodge Dakota Sport with composite headlights. These instructions have not been verified by an ASE certified mechanic(I refuse to call them technicians) Follow these instructions at your own risk. Good luck.

Steps and Tools.
Tools.
* 10mm socket
* swivel extension.
* 11mm socket
* 13mm socket
* Philips Screwdriver
* Slotted Screwdriver
* WD40 for loosening rusted screws and bolts.

1. There are 4 screws holding the bezel in place, two at the top of the bezel and two at the bottom.



2. Once the bezel comes loose disconect the turn signal lights housed in the bezel. the two lights come out by turning them counter clockwise 1/4 turn. There might be some struggle with side marker because the seal gets stuck.



3. With the turn light and side marker out the bezel can be removed and stored for later re-assembly.



4. Remove the evaporative emmisions canister with the help of the 11mm socket and plenty of WD40. After years of sitting in its resting place this bolt and nut tend to be a bit tough to remove. This will make access to the rear tree nuts a lot easier.



You should have now plenty of room to move your tools in place for the removal of the nuts. Use your 10mm socket for this job. This jobs come our very easy this way and with all this stuff out of the way you reduce the risk of loosing one of these nuts. The two adjustment cables that are connected to the assembly come out with by pulling on them.



I got ahead of myself and forgot to mention that you also need to remove the lightbulb. All you need to do is 1/4 counter clockwise turn and the light bulb should come out. The hardest part is to avoid breaking the connector to the light bulb. years of wear turn the plastic brittle. Mine broke at the clip at both sides but I just bought some heat resisting tape at the autopart store and my lights work fine. By the way, my replacement headlight assemblies came with new bulbs so I wasn't too worried about keeping the bulbs clean.



5. Remove the battery from the battery tray this way you will have better access to the three nuts that fasten the headlight bracket to the body of the truck on the driver side. You need a 13mm socket to loosen the battery connectors and using an 8mm socket you will remove the battery fastener. Again you will need to pre-soak the bolts holding the batter in place with WD40.



With the battery out of the way the three nuts are very easy to reach. Remove the three nuts and the headlight assembly comes out without much struggle.





6. Installation of new headlight assembly is the reverse of removal. Upon completion of this job adjust new headlights. It took me 45 minutes from start to finish.