Gen1 Headlight Assembly Removal

[sperold]

Took a look at changing the headlights on my 90. The top 2 clips are OK to get, but how do you remove the bottom clip? What has to come out / off to make this possible? And then how do you get the bottom clip back on when you have changed the headlight assembly?

 

[intimdatr]

Small hands.

A small pick seems to work well for me, reach down a pull the little tabs up. I re-install with a small pair needle nose pliers.

 

[K-Dawg]

I think I threaded a wire through the clip and yanked on that.

 

[rubydist]

The official way to do it is to reach down there with a snap ring pliers that has 90* bent tips on it, spread them, and pull up on the pliers. However most snap ring pliers don't fit in the space....

What I typically have done is use a screwdriver to bend the locking tabs out so they no longer engage, then reach down with a needle nosed pliers to pull up on the clip.

Then I install a clip that does not have the locking things on the sides, so they are easier to get out the next time...

 

[Irish Pride]

Then I install a clip that does not have the locking things on the sides, so they are easier to get out the next time...

This^^. When you go to reinstall them, break the side tabs off so all it does is slide into place. It's a pretty tight fit so you don't need to worry about it coming back out. With those tabs gone, next time all you need is a 90 degree pick or something similar to pry it back out.

 

[sperold]

Just so that you know.... when you buy the "Help" pack from Dorman (Part no. 42190), there are 2 retainers in a pack, so you only need 3 packs to replace them all.

 

[Irish Pride]

Just so that you know.... when you buy the "Help" pack from Dorman (Part no. 42190), there are 2 retainers in a pack, so you only need 3 packs to replace them all.

For a while, every time I would go to the junk yard I would grab some off other cars. I have a nice little collection now.

 

[rubydist]

and one of the top factory one does not have locking clips, so I tend to only collect those.

 

[BasedBidoof]

Rage and a long pair of needle nose pliers