Headlight Replacement

[terceltoy]

II've searched to forum but couldn't find out how to remove the plastic bezel in order to replace the headlight. I removed the applicable screws and can see the 2 clips holding the bottom but can't get the clips to release. I don't want to break them as I have other plastic fasteners on the car.
Terceltoy

[blade]

are you replaceing the light or the lense??

[terceltoy]

It's a '83 and I'm replacing the sealed beam headlight. No seperate lense.

[ARCHINSTL]

Don't take offense - but did you remove the grille and side marker assembly? You have to. It's pretty straightforward from there.
The grille is held in with five "press clips" and one screw. The side marker screws are visible. Put a dab of silicone on the screws when replacing.
If probs, make a post and I'll scan the Owner's Manual and put up the pages. It's not covered in the FSM.
Tom M.

[terceltoy]

I've done all that. As I said in my original post, it's the two clips at the bottom (in back) of the plastic bezel that I can't get to release. I've shot them with WD40 but still can't get them to release. I don't want to break them.

Terceltoy.

[teranfirbt]

If you get a long and thin flat head screw driver in there, you can see 2 projecting tabs on the front of those clips. Pry up on the tabs so they match up with the larger openings and then pull on the bezel to release the clips. do them one at a time, there's enough play.

[sdoan]

If the other tips don't work for you, here's my explanation: The plastic clips have a square tab that sticks through the bezel. It you push down the tab the bezel will pull forward (if you can see it you will see the slot for the head of the tab in the bezel). This will release the bezel from the tabs and leave the plastic clips in the steel light bucket.

Exactly the same clips are used for the grill.

Reassembly is NOT the reverse of disassembly - snap the clip into the bezel first then press the bezel in to the light bucket so that the clips fit into their holes in the steel light bucket.

Hope this helps.

[MootsMan]

I had to replace my right headlight last night.....and it seems like I have to replace one every 4 months, so I'm beginning to wonder if I'm having voltage issues ( anybody have any ideas ?...also loose driving light bulbs on a regular basis, not sure if it's just cheap quality bulbs or again, some sort of voltage issue ), but I digress.....

Back to the headlight replacement. I have found that I can get the sealed beam out without taking the housing and bezel completely out. Here's what I did last night:
1. Removed the two screws in the side marker lamp and pulled it out a bit
2. Removed the two screws in the top of the headlight housing.
3. Slid a long, thin flathead screwdriver between the bumper and headlight bezel and released the clips, one on
each side. If you're afraid of losing the clips by virtue of them falling out, put a piece of cardboard under your
work area or park the car on a concrete/flat/clean surface....not the gravel driveway ! haha
4. Now you should be able to pull the plastic headlight housing out away from the sealed beam. If possible, take the
plastic clips out of the body and insert them back into the headlight housing ( then when you re-assemble, all you
have to do is just pop it in place...same thing works for the grill if you ever have to remove it )
5. Remove the two SMALL screws on top of the headlight bezel ( the chrome piece which surrounds the sealed beam ).
I've been able to pull it forward and down enough at this point to remove the sealed beam unit ( after it's unplugged,
of course ) and replace it, without removing the two SMALL screws on the lower side of the headlight bezel.
6. Re-assemble in reverse order.

The most difficult thing for me is getting the headlight housing out from under the upper front corner of the front fender...for some reason, this always gives me fits, and this process as I've described gets me around having to do that. Maybe I'm just missing something , but it's always difficult for me to work it out, and then get it back in place.

Whenever I see one of these cars at the junkyard, I try to get every clip from the grill and headlight housings that I can, seems like they are always easy to break or lose in the process of changing headlights/removing the grill.

Hope this helps a bit !

[terceltoy]

I got mine done. Thanks for the help everyone. I'm looking for extra clips now too.

[Snax]

I didn't realize this was such a hassle. It has me thinking I should just order some E-code H4 housings as replacements. H4s are an easy upgrade/replacement option and a good E-code housing handles the light so much better.

Edit: Susquehanna Motorsports has the housings for $34.95 each + shipping.