Can't figure this headlight thing out :(

[Jason6688846993]

Okay. Before I get into it, here's a picture of what we're working with just so a few facts can be established. For example, that my car is a white '99 GAGT.

http://www.paseopimp.com/~Joe/thecar.JPG

Right then. So I decided my first mod would be to replace the boring stock headlights with some that are ever-so-slightly cooler-looking. (Xenon.) Now ... I read the DIY's on this site (and in the car's manual) but ... I've hit a snag. That snag is, the step that comes after removing the big plastic shroud thing that says "RAM AIR" on it. I have pictures of both sides' worth of headlight:

http://www.paseopimp.com/~Joe/leftside.JPG
http://www.paseopimp.com/~Joe/rightside.JPG

So . . . the instructions in the manual say to "lift up the speed clips" but I don't know what a "speed clip" is ... and the picture in the manual is pretty worthless I think. Anyway, I've got to do this "speed clip" thing and then I should probably be good to go. Can somebody point me in the right direction, in detail if you don't mind? (I'm horrible at this stuff.)

[rabidpanda69]

These are the clips, grab them with a pliers cuz usually theyre' kinda stuck (atleast mine were) and pull slightly back and up.

[tenspeed]

The speed clips have a small protrusion that keeps them in place. You can see it in the left clip in the picture. You have to pry the clip toward the rear as you pull up to release it.

[Jason6688846993]

Ahh!! Cool. Thanks for your help, fellas.

[Jason6688846993]

...Update:

Now, having gained an understanding of how to lift those "speed clips," I managed to replace my headlight bulbs!!

1 - The "cyber whites" I bought are easily as bright white as any old schoolbus.

2 - On the driver's side, I now have a gap between the bumper cover and the bottom of my headlight.

3 - I managed to break one of those "retaining rings" by putting it wrong-side-first around the bulb -- the three little tabs in it were snapped off before I even knew what I'd done.

Fortunately, thanks to (1), this is a project I'll be repeating within the next few days and can maybe at least set that headlight in place properly somehow. ...Somehow...

[JoeyK]

eh, ya live n' learn. I can't tell ya how many times I've broken a clip or pieces & parts here & there while fiddleing around w/ my numerous cars over the years. All part of the hobby & ya just gotta learn to take it in stride.:)

[Payam81]

Sorry to add insult to injiury but you've probably manged to screw up your headlight's aiming too. So you might wanna check it out.

[PARKERBOT]

As for the gap between the headlight and bumper...check on the head lamp assembly. There will be three clips (adjustment screws or whatever they're called). Two on the back sider outer portion of the assembly and one on the back side inner portion of the assembly. I know when I first changed my head lights out I missed the second outer clip and came up with the same results...large gap between lower portion of the assembly and bumper.:D

[rabidpanda69]

:agree: Took me like 8 tries to get those in there right.

[PARKERBOT]

hrm....dang refresh button got stuck :lol:

[rabidpanda69]

:???:

[Jason6688846993]

Oh, I can fix that!?! Excellent!!! I'll do that then, probably. And ... any idea what it takes to adjust headlights? I mean, I can pull up to the garage door and measure out 15* or whatever it's supposed to be, if I have the tools to point the things.

[PARKERBOT]

adjusting those headlights is easy. Just locate the gold hex shaped screws on the headlight (there will be two per light assembly) and I used a 1/4 socket with an extension to adjust them...they make special screw drivers for them but why buy when you can use something else. I believe the screws that are closest to centerline of the vehicle control left/right movement and the ones furthest control the up/down movement. I just fiddled with em till they looked right. Theres a formula for measuring but I never to took the time to find it. Hope that helps. ;)

[sunrunner_pei]

Yeah, you have to be careful when putting them back in that the outboard clip snags both adjustment 'blocks'. It;s very easy to miss the bottom block, which throws off the alignment and gives you some nasty gaps, as well as one very loose headlamp. Be sure that all 3 blocks are caught properly before fiddling with the adjuster screws!! :)

[tenspeed]

Originally posted by sunrunner_pei
Be sure that all 3 blocks are caught properly before fiddling with the adjuster screws!! :)

AMEN! If you didn't turn those screws, leave them alone. Make sure all three legs are where they should be first.

If the bottom leg isn't where it should be, the light will point up. The bottom leg is the hardest to seat. Get that one in there first and use a needle nose pliers on the star adjuster to get the top leg into its seat.

[sunrunner_pei]

Hard to believe, but the dealership here had the headlamp out (On my old GA), and didn't put it back in right. I took it back, saying that headlamp was high. They 'adjusted' it, and gave it back. 3 trips back to the dealership, and I finally discovered that the bottom leg wasn't caught. :roll: :banghead:

[erimar77]

yeah, the guy at the dealership told me how crappy those black plastic rings are, as he was selling me two of them. the crazy thing is they're like $9

[sunrunner_pei]

I haven't broken one yet, but I can see how they'd be easy to break. :( Might have to pick one up to have as a spare just in case, since I do most of my car work on weekends and the parts stores aren't open.

[Gimli]

Originally posted by PARKERBOT
adjusting those headlights is easy.

Headlights should NEVER need to be adjusted unless you get into an accident that bends the body. If they're not pointed in the right direction it means they haven't been put back in right.

[Jason6688846993]

Well, GAOCers, since this thread is still alive I will update.

Since the "cyber whites" just weren't all that white and certainly not cyber by any means, I went straight up to my local goodies interest and purchased a set of Sylvania Silver Stars. Forty bucks later, I get home to install these things.

It's much easier the second time, lemme tell y'all. I bet I had all nine of those big fat plastic staple things unplugged in under a minute-thirty. That's ten seconds apiece. Not bad, I say.

The only part that gave me trouble was those ridiculous "speed clips." They're still a pain, probably always will be.

As for that "retaining ring" ... I give up. I don't think I need it really ... I mean, there's a little rubber ring around the bulb that forms a seal between the headlight lense and the outside world. And it's snug. So . . . in the interest of symmetry, I removed the one that wasn't broken as well. :D

Oh and y'all were talking about getting those three . . . uh . . . leg things (?) lined up properly to avoid gaps. GOOD CALL. Looks much better now. As for needing to re-aim it all, I suppose some night driving will determine the necessity of that, but y'all say that it shouldn't need it? Hah. Well, good.

My next purchase will be some matching 880 Silver Star foglight bulbs. I wonder ... does anyone here have those?

OR . . . on some N-body site, I saw a DIY project where you're supposed to like . . . put yellow saran wrap over the heated fog and then blow-dry it for a tight fit . . . anybody ever tried this? (May need to start a new thread on that.) I wonder if it looks good. The Silver Star looks good (at least . . . well . . . in the pics on back of the box) but just the little fog bulbs are twenty bucks a pop. Insane. That would be eighty dollars just to get the forward-pointing lights whitened out. Hmph. Thoughts?

[rabidpanda69]

:uhh: that saran wrap thing doesn't sound like a good Idea.

[Jason6688846993]

Yanno, I hadn't thought so either, but . . . hey, can't hurt to ask, I figure.

[rabidpanda69]

Yeah, I mean it might work, but it just seems... I dont know... Like using duct tape for racing stipes.

[unfknreal]

Originally posted by Jason6688846993
As for that "retaining ring" ... I give up. I don't think I need it really ... I mean, there's a little rubber ring around the bulb that forms a seal between the headlight lense and the outside world. And it's snug. So . . . in the interest of symmetry, I removed the one that wasn't broken as well. :D

That was pretty dumb. What do you think holds your bulbs in the housing? If theres no ring, theres nothing stopping the bulb from slipping out. You should replace the one that broke and reinstall the one you removed. Jeez man, It can't be any more than a few bucks at a dealer.

[erimar77]

yeah, after you drive around a little, that headlight will slide out and point upwards at like a 45 degree angle. at least that's what mine did