Replacing a headlight, as well as its structural elements, is not an easy task for a motorist, especially if he does not have experience in carrying out such manipulations. The apparent simplicity of the headlight is deceiving - on some car models, dismantling and replacing the headlight is complicated by their design features. However, in most cases, the car owner is still able to carry out this procedure on his own.
Any manipulations with the headlight of the car, such as replacing the lamp itself or installing a new light bulb, will require disconnecting the battery terminals. Dismantling and installing a new headlight is best done in a dry room with a closed roof.
In most cases, a set of open-end wrenches and a screwdriver will be required to carry out work on removing and installing the lamp. On many vehicles, removing the headlight does not require removing the bumper. So in this case, it is only necessary to dismantle the radiator grille, as this will provide more space for unhindered access to the headlight itself.
Then you need to unscrew all the bolts holding the headlight to the car body with a wrench. They are located on both sides of the case. If the bolts are stuck, then you will first have to treat them with an anti-corrosion agent.
Then you need to get the headlamp out of the mount. Lever may be required at this point, it is best to use a plastic or wooden spatula wrapped in cloth to prevent damage to the body paint. The spatula must be inserted into the gap between the headlight itself and the body, and then take it to the side and remove the headlight from the body. Next, you need to dismantle the lantern from the bracket, which serves as its fastening, and then you should disconnect the plug with the wires going to the headlight holder.
On many vehicle models, removing the headlight will require removing the vehicle's front bumper. It is better to dismantle the bumper by placing the car on the "pit", since from below you will have to unscrew and remove the bolts securing the bumper to the fenders and fenders of the car.
It is necessary to disconnect the plugs with wires from foglights, headlights and turn signals. After that, the bolts are unscrewed, with the help of which the decorative grille is attached to the bumper. Further, it is necessary to identify and disconnect additional bumper fasteners to the car body - they can be made in the form of ordinary bolts, as well as in the form of plastic latches. Further removal of the headlights is carried out in the same sequence as in cases without dismantling the bumper.
Installation of a new headlight is carried out in the reverse order of dismantling. First you need to connect the plug with wires to the new headlamp, then install the headlamp in the bracket, then you should mount the lantern in the car body. The size of the gap between the headlamp and the body should be 5 ± 2 mm, between the headlamp and the wing - 3 ± 2 mm. Then you need to fasten all the bolts with which the headlight is attached to the car body. Then the decorative radiator grill must be returned to its place.
If, when removing the headlight, you had to dismantle the bumper of the car, then you will have to return it to its place. These actions are also carried out in the reverse order of how the body element was dismantled. Since the wheel arch liners are often destroyed when the bumper is removed, it may be necessary to replace them with new ones.
Replacing the fog lamp
Since the fog lights are installed in the front bumper of the car, in most cases it will be necessary to dismantle this part of the body to replace the fog lights. By disconnecting the bumper, you can deal directly with the fog lights. To dismantle them, you need to disconnect the mounting bolts or plastic connectors with which the headlight is attached to the bumper body. It is necessary to remove the plug with wires going to the headlight socket.
Installation of a new headlight is carried out in the reverse order. A plug with wires is connected to the fog lamp. You need to attach the bumper back to the car body. If the old liner fails during installation, you will have to install a new one. To do this, you will need to drill new technological holes in it, fix it to the wing, and then screw on the bumper mounting bolts.
How to change glass
Sometimes a stone flying out from under the wheels of another car can break the glass of the headlight without damaging other elements of the headlight. A minor accident can lead to similar consequences. In such cases, replacing the entire headlight will be impractical. Especially if it is expensive. The car owner can only try to replace the headlamp glass, although this is more difficult than simply replacing the headlight assembly.
To replace the glass, it is necessary to completely dismantle the headlight from the car. After that, remove the damaged glass from it by "unfastening" the plastic latches with which it is attached to the headlight. This must be done carefully, as they can stick to the headlight housing. In addition to the latches, the glass of the lantern is attached to the body with a heat-resistant sealant, so you may have to pry it off with a screwdriver, or even cut off the glass with a glass cutting disk.
It is necessary to clean the edges of the headlight housing from the remnants of the factory glue-sealant using a cleaner. Alternatively, you can try using gasoline or White Spirit thinner.
Apply a coat of new sealant to the headlamp housing and insert a new glass with the clips fastened. Then you should put the lantern with the glass down, so that with its weight it presses the glass to the headlight housing. It will take at least a day to dry the sealant. Having checked the strength of the glass to the body, you can proceed to reassembling the headlight in place.
For any manipulation of the flashlight, two conditions must be met:
- do not touch the headlamp reflector, as its slightest contamination will lead to incorrect operation of the lantern;
- it is necessary to achieve complete tightness of the headlamp after gluing the glass - otherwise condensation will form in it, and the lantern itself will sweat.
How to replace a light bulb
To replace the light bulb in the headlight, you need to open the hood of the car and find a cartridge on the back wall of the headlight housing. You can identify it by the bundle of wires that fit the removable cover. First you need to disconnect the plug with wires from the cover. Next, you need to remove the cover block itself. In most cases, it is attached to the headlight housing in the following ways.
- Plastic clip. In this case, a plastic lever should be located at the top of the cover. By pressing on it and at the same time pulling the cover towards you, you can disconnect it from the headlight housing.
- Metal clip. In this case, you just need to pull the cover towards you - it should easily move away from the headlight housing.
- Screw cap. This is the most common way to attach the cover to the headlight housing. In this case, you just need to turn it counterclockwise until the moment when it moves away from the case.
The bulb itself is attached to the inner surface of the blocking cover, so after the block cover is detached from the headlamp housing, you can install a new lamp. To get a burned out light bulb from the base, you just need to pull it out of the groove, in some cases you will have to turn it a little counterclockwise.
It is necessary to screw in a new halogen bulb with gloves, as even the slightest dirt or a fingerprint on the glass can lead to a quick lamp failure. The rest of the installation procedure is done in reverse order. The cover block is installed in the back of the headlight housing, and then a plug with wires is connected to it.
Unfortunately, on some car models, replacing a light bulb requires completely removing the headlight. In such a case, the above actions are carried out on the headlight already disconnected from the car. An even more difficult case is when replacing a light bulb requires dismantling the radiator grille and front bumper, as when replacing a bulb in the headlight of a Volkswagen Golf IV.
