Auto Maintenance: Benefits of Keeping the Car in Shape

How To Remove A Car's Broken Headlight

30 December 2014 by Brent Porter

Headlights today are made from an almost indestructible hard plastic. They can still break, however, and need to be replaced. If a headlight is broken on your car, below are the steps you can take to remove it yourself. Once removed, you can replace it with a new one. You may want to consider going ahead and replacing both headlights so they will match. This is especially true if your headlights are foggy, and/or have a film on them that is hard to remove.

Remove The Headlight

Open your hood, and look at the area right above the headlight, which is where you should see a long pin.  This pin is easy to remove, as it is angled and acts as a lever. Rotate the angled area upward, and then use it like a handle to wiggle the pin back and forth. Once it is loose, carefully ease it out of the socket. Be careful that the headlight does not fall when you remove the pin.

If you have problems removing this pin, refer to your car's owner's manual, and follow the directions.

Once the headlight is removed from the socket, the assembly tilts toward you. Now it is time to remove the headlight bulb. In most vehicles, you simply have to twist it out. Rotate it 1/4 to 1/3 turn counter-clockwise. You should hear a click as you twist it. Pull the bulb straight out to remove it from the headlight lens.

You can leave the bulb hanging from the wires as long as you are careful and do not smash it. If you are worried that you will do this, disconnect the bulb, and place it in a safe place. When handling the bulb, use a tissue or rag. The oils from your hands can damage it.

Remove the Headlight From The Mounting Bracket

When you remove the headlight, you will see a mounting bracket with a lot of holes. To remove the headlight from this mounting bracket, simply pull the tabs out of the holes. Do this gently, as they may be brittle.

The headlight is now removed from your vehicle. Purchase a new headlight from an auto parts store, and install it going in reverse order.

Now that you have replaced your broken headlight, you may want to consider replacing the bulb with a new one.  Look in the user's manual to determine the type of bulb you need, and purchase it at an auto parts store. Speak with experts like those at Moyer Motor Cars Inc. for more information.

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