Headlights Replaced- No More Yellow

thomsonc · Jan 11, 2009

The headlights were so yellow, it was ridiculous in addition to their water being in one. Now, we may actually be able to see something while we drive.

Has anyone replaced their headlamp assemblies before? I'm in the process of doing mine and I managed to get the right one out and put back in fairly easy. When I put the new plastic headlamp in, I'm having trouble with it sitting too high.

For some reason, I can't get the bottom 10mm screw out the bottom left headlight and I can't figure out how to get that one off without removing the bumper. It seems that I can't get the socket in there, there just isn't enough room.

Any suggestions?

rayjj · Jan 11, 2009

Did you take off the bottom turn signal part? That needs to come out first, then no reason you can't get a socket in. If you had 1pc lights in there, just get a long thin extension, 1/4 inch if possible, but I was able to use a 3/8 extension with no issue. May have to slide the extension from the innermost part of the light while the hood is open to get clearance.

IndyDurango · Jan 11, 2009

+1. Marker lights pop out first. It's one small allen on the stockers and usually a phillips on the aftermarket side markers. Then pull straight out to get them to release.

Also, you can get to that lower bolt from underneath on your back if you had to. 4 sets of lights here and counting. No need to ever take off the bumper or bumper fasia.

IndyDurango

loudrango · Jan 11, 2009

check the marker lamp screw so you don't strip it.As Indy stated his was an allen head but mine on both my D's was a small torx head.

thomsonc · Jan 11, 2009

The marker lamp screw would be the one at the bottom, right? All of mine appear to be torx. I ended up stripping both of them and had to go to Napa and get replacements which fit good. I stopped at the dealership before going to Napa and they didn't even have them. So if I take it back off and unscrew that bottom, the headlight should seat right? When I was putting those screws back in on the top and side it seamed to move it up too far and now the headlight is way off.

I see what my problem is on the driver's side - I'm using a 3/8" extension instead of 1/4." The 3/8" worked fine on the passenger side but clearly not for the driver's side. There's that metal bracket right in front that's blocking it as well which doesn't help. I'll give it a try with the 1/4"

Thanks for the advice. I'll see if I can't post a couple of pictures of my disaster. Well, I guess it's not that bad but that's what it feels like.

thomsonc · Jan 11, 2009

Okay, I went outside and took some pictures in the full moon to see if I can't explain more what's going on. This photo shows the large gap between headlight and turn signal lights. Because of this, the beam is way off.

Side view:

Look at the big difference, that's once I can get the thing in there right:

MWeed · Jan 11, 2009

If you check the archives from several years ago, you'll find a writeup about how to fix that. There's a screw on the back of the headlamp assembly that can be adjusted for that fitment problem. Also, you'll need to aim your headlamps properly once they fitting correctly with the screw at the top of the middle of the lamp and the inside middle of the lamp. These control up and down and side to side adjustment respectively for the headlamp assembly. They'll look great.

DCDAD · Jan 11, 2009

thomsonc said:
Okay, I went outside and took some pictures in the full moon to see if I can't explain more what's going on. This photo shows the large gap between headlight and turn signal lights. Because of this, the beam is way off.

I believe you've missed the two channels that the light slides into to connect the corner to the headlamp. remove the corner lamp and try again,paying close attention to the two slide channels on top of the corner/parking lenses. looks like in the picture, the headlamp is on top of the channel, not slid into it.

Ron

IndyDurango · Jan 11, 2009

I did say allen, however it may have been torx. I'm not sure, it was a few years back. Probably torx if the others all are. Thanks for the corx Don.

IndyD

thomsonc · Jan 11, 2009

DCDAD said:
I believe you've missed the two channels that the light slides into to connect the corner to the headlamp. remove the corner lamp and try again,paying close attention to the two slide channels on top of the corner/parking lenses. looks like in the picture, the headlamp is on top of the channel, not slid into it.

Ron

I think that's it! By sliding in the headlight properly with the corner lamp, and getting a 1/4" extender, I think I'll be able to get this accomplished tomorrow. There's nothing more frustrating that starting a job and being unable to finish it. I wonder what the dealer would have charged for all this? By the way, when I was in there I replaced the parking light bulbs as well so I don't have to go back and do this all over again.

Thanks for all the help with my project. I'll take another photo tomorrow after completion. I guess you can see I'm a stock kind of guy.

DCDAD · Jan 11, 2009

thomsonc said:
DCDAD said:

I believe you've missed the two channels that the light slides into to connect the corner to the headlamp. remove the corner lamp and try again,paying close attention to the two slide channels on top of the corner/parking lenses. looks like in the picture, the headlamp is on top of the channel, not slid into it.

Ron

Click to expand...

I think that's it! By sliding in the headlight properly with the corner lamp, and getting a 1/4" extender, I think I'll be able to get this accomplished tomorrow. There's nothing more frustrating that starting a job and being unable to finish it. I wonder what the dealer would have charged for all this? By the way, when I was in there I replaced the parking light bulbs as well so I don't have to go back and do this all over again.

Thanks for all the help with my project. I'll take another photo tomorrow after completion. I guess you can see I'm a stock kind of guy.

I think that's the ticket! Glad we could help ya out. Let us know how it went.

Ron

thomsonc · Jan 11, 2009

Not sure what happened, but I took everything apart and had the same results. Feel pretty bad about spending so much time on it and nothing to show for it. I think what I should have done is just purchased the entire unit or at least the headlight assembly so that this couldn't happen. The problem seems to be when I screw in the three 10mm bolts, that it seperates even more. The top screw on the headlight assembly seems to want to add more space in between the headlight and turn turn signal. I'm not going to mess with the left one if I can't get the right one correct as that probably will just cost more to repair- I sure hope the dealer doesn't charge an arm and a leg for this.

DCDAD · Jan 11, 2009

If the lights themselves spread apart, than they're not connected together via the channels, you may need to remove both, and slide them together, install the small torx screw to hold them in place, than install as one assembly. Your not in the channels. Try again, you'll get it.

Ron

Neil · Jan 11, 2009

Did you purchase the entire assembly? The screws you have in the picture are the adjusting screws and aren't the screws to remove the assembly. The assembly screws are the larger bolts. You have to remove the corner lamp to get at the headlight assembly mounting bolts. The headlight assembly bolts are two top/bottom at the grille opening and one at the bottom outter edge.

thomsonc · Jan 13, 2009

Well, I'm going to give this another look but not until the end of February. I have to leave to go back East for a few weeks and then will retackle this project when I return. Nothing like leaving a project undone. Thanks for all your help, I'll let you know what happens.

qwassy111 · Jan 13, 2009

I replaced my headlight bulbs by removing the 2 or 3 screws and then had a problem with alignment afterwards.

I just bolted it back up and did the garage door light test. Wasn't off by that much but one beam is slightly higher than the other. Just left it like that. Come to think of it, maybe that's why people are always flashing their lights at me on the road at night.

Neil · Jan 13, 2009

To change the bulbs, remove the entire housing per the bolts I identified above and not the adjusting screws. Removing the assembly won't affect the aiming and a few people have broken parts removing the adjusting screws.

Headlights Replaced- No More Yellow

thomsonc

rayjj

IndyDurango

loudrango

thomsonc

thomsonc

MWeed

DCDAD

IndyDurango

thomsonc

DCDAD

thomsonc

DCDAD

Neil

thomsonc

qwassy111

Neil

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