Headlight problem

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monkeyssho

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Year... and if they are out bad then some metal damage is done... It sounds like it is a g1 as it has a grill and you can adjust the headlights without taking anything apart.


Adam
 

hawkeye18

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I had the same problem a long time ago, if you have a gen 2 (92-95) then you might have broken your headlight retaining panel, AkA 'radiator reinforcement support' or some such gobbledegook. you will have to take the grill (AKA front valance) off.

Start by going to the front of either front fenderwell. There will be a plastic clip and a screw you need to take off, it'll be pretty obvious which ones I'm talking about when you look at it. They're both on the lip of the wheel well. Then, there are two 13 (or 11, i can't remember)mm bolts that hold a little metal bracing structure to the car on either side. the entire metal structure will be coming off along with the valance.

After you've done that on both sides, there are six plastic pushtabs on the top middle of the valence, they're impossible to miss. Also, there are four more on the underside of the valance, stick your head under the front middle of the valance (you might have to jack the car up a lil) and you'll see them. once all that's off, the bumper should come off. Careful, there are hooks in the bumper that hook down right under the headamp assemblies, if it doesn't wanna come out, that's probably why. Don't force anything! the fiberglass is fragile.

If you've gotten the bumper off, then comes the hard part. The side markers are, IMHO, the hardest part of this. Use a phillips head to get the rear screw out, then there are two 10 or 11mm nuts at the forward end of each lamp. Clearance is very, very tight. Use the smalled 1/4" drive you have, or a wee little wrench. You will need a 12-point. Once you get those off, you can disconnect the bulb connectors, which are most likely incredibly filthy.

If you care about mods, if you look where the driver's side marker lamp was, you'll notice a little cone thingy that leads into the airbox. Remove it with vice grips if you want a meaner sound (it won't give you any HP tho, sorry :frown:).

Alright! Now onto the headlight support thingy. There are two bolts on either side right where the side markers were. remove those. There is one bolt on either side just outboard of the six pushtabs on the top, and two more on the bottom of the panel. That should get it off.

When I removed mine, it came off in three pieces. Where you get a new one is... well, up to you. I have one in three pieces I could sell you :evilgrin:. <p> Of course, that might not be your problem at all. This is merely a guide should you choose to replace the headlight support panel.

Oh, i almost forgot, you can use a 4.5mm socket and a 6" 1/4"drive extention to adjust the headlights. You will probably need large amounts of PB blaster to free the studs, though. Good luck...
 

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