Replacing A Headlight Bulb In My Car

[hekawi]

usually it is pretty simple to replace a headlight bulb on a car. but not my Chevy HHR!! i opened up the hood and could find no access to the bulb. thankfully, this instructional video on youtube was there to show me that you HAVE TO TAKE THE WHEEL OFF to get to it:

 

[boris bubbanov]

There were some Cadillacs where you had to take the chromed bumper off to change the taillight, signal or brake light bulbs. Road salt could make those fasteners a real test.

This procedure is actually not that crazy and besides, at least you're somewhat away from the heat and stupidity of the engine compartment (ever had the cooling fan come on crazy late while working nearby and from underneath?)

 

[telleutelleme]

My wife has an HHR. Fortunately I've reached the age where I can claim lack of knowledge or senility and send her to the dealer. I remember having to remove a cross brace on her last car, a Buick Regal just to replace the battery. Whatever happened to slant-6 engines where you could stand in the engine compartment and work on them?

 

[tap4154]

Got duct tape and a flashlight?

image removed

 

[AirBagTester]

That's pretty annoying.

The instructions for replacing my passenger-side headlight say to "remove the battery" to get access. No thanks, I'd much rather try and fish my fingers in between there and drop things 4-5 times for half an hour!

 

[6942]

I could replace BOTH headlights in my old '74 Chevy Nova in about 10 minutes.
Now days, you practically need an EE degree to do it!?


That's progress for ya......................................................................

 

[Slow Reflexes]

...you HAVE TO TAKE THE WHEEL OFF to get to it

Same with the newer Hondas, and PT Cruisers, and scads of other newer vehicles.

Well, maybe not take off the wheel necessarily - but you do have to take the mudguard loose from the inside of the wheel well, and have scrawny arms if you don't want to remove the wheel.

 

[stratofortress]

Thank goodness for shortcuts.....

 

[beach bob]

thankfully, this instructional video on youtube was there to show me that you HAVE TO TAKE THE WHEEL OFF to get to it:

Hey you didn't think there wasn't a price to pay, to being able to talk like a pirate when someone innocently asks you what you drive, did ya???

"I drive an ARRR!"

Seriously, those youtube vids are all over the place, and a lifesaver. Just the other day I replaced the rubber window lining on my wife's Corolla; it was all goofed up and causing massive wind noise at highway speeds. The YT video I found showed me exactly how to do it. I probably saved $300 by finding a five min. video.

I am amazed at all the instructional videos for DIY car repairs that are out there; there's another one that shows exactly how to replace the rear deck speakers in wifey's car (on my to-do list)... not a small undertaking (you have to pull out the back seat)... but it's hard to beat seeing it done; better than reading a manual with iffy drawings.

Consider all the car models out there; I've always been able to find a video showing this or that repair for the exact make and year car. Amazing.

 

[Colo Springs E]

On my wife's Honda Civic you have to either take off the bumper or the fender to change lens assembly, not sure about the bulb.

 

[Boubou]

I could replace BOTH headlights in my old '74 Chevy Nova in about 10 minutes.
Now days, you practically need an EE degree to do it!?

That's progress for ya......................................................................

IIRC my Nova was. 1976

 

[raito]

On my last minivan, you didn't have to do anything weird to change the headlight bulbs (except not have short sausage fingers like me). But the idiot designers had a left-handed and a right-handed blub. And the idiot sales guy gave me 2 rights.

 

[chuck_zc]

Thats what I like about my Aveo. I can change a headlight bulb in about 30 sec!

 

[LeftyAl]

I remember the old headlight, Just had to remove a couple of screws that held the chrome retainer ring around the lamp.Done in a few minutes. Most of the cars I owned back then,I never even changed a headlight.

 

[LeftyAl]

On my last minivan, you didn't have to do anything weird to change the headlight bulbs (except not have short sausage fingers like me). But the idiot designers had a left-handed and a right-handed blub. And the idiot sales guy gave me 2 rights.

Do you remember when Chrysler had the lefthand thread lug nuts ? They went under,How many times?And They are still around

 

[chauncy]

Youtube is a godsend. The dealer wanted 360$ to replace the door roller on my chevy uplander. i found a video that showed how to do it in ten minutes.

 

[bluesfordan]

I love how they try to minimize the scope of the job.

"While it's true that you have to take your wheel off, it's not that big of a job."

Sure, if you have a hydraulic lift at your house, it's not that big of a job.

Where's the face palm smilie?

 

[getbent]

the prius is not easy on the passenger side... and if you have giant hands.. it is really no fun.

 

[bender-freak]

I own an '02 FireBird. It is a freakin' NIGHTMARE to do much of anything on it. Headlights, front turn signal bulbs, the front end has to be "invaded".

I had a fuel pump go out on it a few years ago. It cost somewhere around $1200 to get it replaced....because....wait for it.....the whole, complete REAR suspension had to be removed to "get to it". The geniuses at GM apparantly never thought it MIGHT be a good idea to make an access panel in the trunk "floor" to "get at" the fuel pump if the need should arise. MORONS.....

I had a smaller 4 wheel drive GMC "Jimmy" back in the 90s that for some reason decided it didn't want to go into 4 wheel drive; found this out the HARD WAY in a major snowstorm. Come to find out it was a $6 relay switch that was at fault, but the whole complete driver's side fender, wheel/tire/drum assembly had to be removed to get to it...!? Cost was over $500 to replace a $6 relay.....

 

[boris bubbanov]

I own an '02 FireBird.

I had a fuel pump go out on it a few years ago. It cost somewhere around $1200 to get it replaced....because....wait for it.....the whole, complete REAR suspension had to be removed to "get to it". The geniuses at GM apparantly never thought it MIGHT be a good idea to make an access panel in the trunk "floor" to "get at" the fuel pump if the need should arise. MORONS.....

GM gummed up the Saab 900, the "New Generation" one from '94-98, in a similar way. They stamped the floor with an access hole in one place, then later found a cheaper vendor for the fuel tank (whole different design) and so the access hole and the current fuel pump positions were totally mismatched. But the bean counters wanted the cars shipped cheap, the "Saab" people were overruled and at somewhere around 150-200,000 miles, you had an unpleasant surprise waiting for you. This issue may have carried over to the '99-03 Saab "1st Gen. 9-3" but I could be mistaken about that.