Showing posts with label headlights. Show all posts
Showing posts with label headlights. Show all posts

Monday, November 17, 2014

How to Fix Eclipse Headlights

How to Fix Eclipse Headlights

Properly working headlights on a car are vital for your safety and the safety of other drivers on the road. Fixing the headlights on your Mitsubishi Eclipse is an easily implemented task with the use of just a screwdriver and a few minutes of your time. The specific headlight required for your Eclipse will depend on the year it was made so consult a auto parts specialist if there is any questions on the unit required for your specific car.

Instructions

    1

    Purchase you replacement headlight. Check with the auto parts representative for the correct fixture for your year of Eclipse vehicle and the proper side that you are fixing. They should be able to give you the exact part for your needs.

    2

    Turn your car off and remove the keys from the ignition. Pop the hood of your Mitsubishi and make sure that it is properly secured so it does not close while you are repairing the light.

    3

    Look at the rear of the light fixture and locate the four screws around the light perimeter that holds it in place. Remove these screws with a flathead or Phillips screwdriver, whichever that specific year of car and light fixture call for.

    4

    Place one hand on the back of the light fixture and one on the front. Gently but firmly push the light towards the front of the car. Stop pushing when you have pushed it forward 2 to 3 inches.

    5

    Work your fingers behind the light fixture and disconnect the wires that are connecting the light to the car. There will be up to three sets of wires. Pull the wires away from the unit gently to disconnect them and set the old light aside.

    6

    Remove your new headlight from the packaging and slide it into the space where the old light unit was. Connect the wires in the back of the new light, push the light into place, and secure the light into place with the four new screws that came with the new unit or the old screws.

    7

    Turn the lights on to test your new headlight. If for some reason it does not work properly, unscrew the unit and make sure the wiring is properly connected. If not, take the new unit back and get a different one to try.

Continue reading..

Thursday, January 16, 2014

How to Change the Headlights of a 1996 Toyota Camry

How to Change the Headlights of a 1996 Toyota Camry

The 1996 Toyota Camry has four headlights. One low beam and one high beam sit side-by-side on both sides of the car. The low beams are positioned in the outer corners of the headlight assembly while the high beam sit in the inner corners. The low and high beams have different part numbers (despite looking identical), since they perform different functions. Make sure to insert the correct bulbs in the correct positions.

Instructions

    1

    Apply the parking brake on the Toyota Camry, ensure the headlight switch is off and open the hood.

    2

    Reach behind the headlight lens assembly and locate the separate wire harness plugs for the low and high beams.

    3

    Disconnect the wire harness plug from the socket base of the headlight being replaced. The plugs have a locking clip that snaps over a small tab on the headlight sockets. Lift the clip up and pull the plug from the headlight socket.

    4

    Turn the headlight retainer ring counterclockwise 1/3 of a turn and extract the headlight and ring from the back of the headlight lens assembly. Discard the faulty headlight.

    5

    Put on a pair of latex gloves to avoid accidentally touching the glass bulb of the headlight. Halogen headlights use an internal gas to burn brighter, and skin oils will damage the glass.

    6

    Insert the collar of the headlight socket into the retainer ring and align the tabs on the socket to the notches in the headlight lens assembly.

    7

    Turn the ring and socket clockwise 1/3 turn until they lock in place.

    8

    Connect the wire harness plug to the headlight socket until it clicks into the locked position.

    9

    Test the headlight(s) for proper operation.

Continue reading..

Tuesday, December 10, 2013

How to Change Headlights in 2002 Town and Country

How to Change Headlights in 2002 Town and Country

The 2002 Chrysler Town and Country uses an integrated two-filament headlight to supply both low and high beams in one unit. The halogen headlight lights at excessive temperatures from the internal gases inside the bulb. Consequently, contact with the glass with hands, perspiration or dirt will damage the bulb. Avoid contact with the replacement bulb or clean the bulb with distilled alcohol and a clean cloth. The procedure to replace the bulb in the Town and Country is the same as the Dodge Grand Caravan.

Instructions

    1

    Park the Town and Country on a level surface, apply the parking brake, make sure the headlight switch is off and open the hood.

    2

    Locate the three upper headlight assembly retaining bolts on top of the assembly support bracket. They form a triangular pattern with two of the bolts on top of the inboard side of the assembly and the last one near the outer corner of the assembly near the directional light.

    3

    Remove the three bolts with the socket wrench.

    4

    Pull the headlight assembly forward and rest it on a clean shop rag on the front bumper. The rag will help prevent scratching the bumper.

    5

    Disconnect the electrical connector behind the headlight assembly that plugs into the headlight socket. Use the screwdriver to gently lift upward on the locking clip (at the top of the plug) of the plug and pull the connector away from the socket.

    6

    Turn the headlight retaining collar counter-clockwise to remove it and access the headlight. Pull the headlight out of the headlight assembly.

    7

    Place the 9007 automotive replacement bulb into the headlight assembly (being careful not to touch the glass bulb). Align the three notches on the socket base of the headlight to the three grooves in the headlight assembly and then replace the retaining collar (turning it clockwise to lock it into place).

    8

    Test the headlight for operation before reinstalling the headlight assembly and retaining bolts.

Continue reading..

Thursday, November 21, 2013

How to Change the Headlights in a 1985 Firebird

The 1985 Pontiac Firebird comes equipped with motorized headlights. The headlight assemblies rise to reveal the hidden headlights when the headlight switch is on. When the switch is off, this mechanism keeps the headlights hidden. All Firebirds are equipped with a manual crank to allow access to the headlights when the vehicle is not in operation. This makes accessing the headlights for replacement easy.

Instructions

    1

    Pull the hood latch and lift the hood. Make sure the hood will stay open on its own. If the hydraulic shocks are weak, use a prop rod to keep the hood open during repairs.

    2

    Locate the manual crank beside the headlight assembly. It will be a black cylinder with a rubber knob at the top.

    3

    Turn the knob on the manual crank until the headlight assembly is fully open.

    4

    Remove the perimeter screws from the metal retaining ring that holds the individual headlights securely in the housing.

    5

    Remove the retaining ring and pull the headlight out of the housing. There should be enough slack in the wiring to gain access to the connector at the rear of the headlight.

    6

    Unplug the connector and discard the defective headlight. Plug the connector into the new headlight and place it in the housing.

    7

    Replace the metal retaining ring and install the perimeter screws to secure the headlight to the housing.

    8

    Repeat this process for the remaining headlights. When finished, turn the manual crank in the opposite direction until the headlight assembly has returned to its normal resting position.

Continue reading..

Wednesday, November 20, 2013

How to Ground Headlights

A headlight is normally grounded to the chassis of a vehicle in order to allow electricity to complete a circuit and return to the vehicles negative battery terminal. If the headlights ground loosens or disconnects, the headlight will begin to blink, dim or go out completely.



Although vehicle headlights can vary drastically in look they all ground to the vehicle in the same way. Some knowledge of wiring is important to anyone trying to complete this task.

Instructions

    1

    Park the vehicle on a flat surface and set the parking brake. Open the hood and secure it in place with the hood prop. Disconnect the negative battery cable.

    2

    Unplug the wiring harness from the rear of the headlight. Trace the route of each of the wires coming from the wiring harness until the ground is found. The ground is the wire that runs directly to the chassis. If it has broken off of the chassis, it will be hanging free at the far end.

    3

    Start screwing a self-tapping screw into the vehicle chassis. Wrap the end of the ground wire firmly around the screw, then tighten the screw until the head pins the wire to the chassis.

    4

    If the end of the wire is damaged or no wire is showing, clip off an inch of the ground wire with wire cutters. Strip one and a half inches of insulation from the end of the wire and expose enough of the ground to wrap around the screw.

Continue reading..

Saturday, November 2, 2013

How to Repair Kawasaki Headlights

How to Repair Kawasaki Headlights

Working headlights are a requirement for any vehicle or motorcycle on the road. Not only is it unsafe to drive without working headlights, it is also grounds to get a traffic citation. The headlight replacement process for your Kawasaki motorcycle is a simple procedure that should take less than a half hour. You will only need a replacement headlight bulb of your choice, a flat-head screwdriver and a Phillips screwdriver to complete the task.

Instructions

    1

    Purchase a replacement headlight bulb from an auto parts store. Make sure to give them the make and model of your Kawasaki to make sure you get the right size bulb.

    2

    Go to the handlebars of your Kawasaki and look right below them. You will see a screw on the very top of the fairing there that you need to remove with a Phillips screwdriver. Also remove the screw on the base of the plastic bezel that is covering the access point for your headlight assembly.

    3

    Grab the sides of the plastic bezel and pull it firmly away from the housing to release the retention clips that hold it in place. This will give you access to the headlight assembly.

    4

    Insert the end of your flat-head screwdriver into the wiring harness slot and push the harness away from the headlight assembly. Push until the wiring harness releases from the headlight.

    5

    Grab the old bulb and turn it counterclockwise to release it from the headlight assembly. Put on a latex glove to insert the new bulb in a clockwise direction. You do not want to touch the new bulb with your hands as the oils will shorten its lifespan.

    6

    Push the wiring harness back into place on the back of the headlight until it clicks.

    7

    Put the bezel back into position. Replace any other headlight bulbs that need to be replaced in the same manner.

Continue reading..