Remember when changing headlights in your car was easy?

Mailman

Mailman

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My wife’s car is nine years old and the finish was looking a little sad. A few days ago I spent an entire day buffing , polishing and detailing her car and to complete the look, a new set of headlamp assemblies to replace the yellowing originals. I had already polished them a couple of times and they came back pretty good but they were just beginning to look sad. So, I ordered new light assemblies and this morning I installed them. Can you believe this is what is necessary to R+R them? :wtf: Three hours of being oh so careful to not break any plastic parts and a lot of head scratching trying to figure out where hidden clips are and how to release them. It came out nice though, in the end.
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There was a certain Mazda that you had to remove the bumper, grill, fender, and move the core support away from the inner fender to change the headlight assy. 4.4 flat rate hrs if I remember correctly. There were a couple of body shops in Topeka that would not work on a Mazda at all.:shrug:
 
Mailman said:
My wife’s car is nine years old and the finish was looking a little sad. A few days ago I spent an entire day buffing , polishing and detailing her car and to complete the look, a new set of headlamp assemblies to replace the yellowing originals. I had already polished them a couple of times and they came back pretty good but they were just beginning to look sad. So, I ordered new light assemblies and this morning I installed them. Can you believe this is what is necessary to R+R them? :wtf: Three hours of being oh so careful to not break any plastic parts and a lot of head scratching trying to figure out where hidden clips are and how to release them. It came out nice though, in the end.
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Yup, made to assemble quick and cheap in the factory, not for service/repair. What I love is the fact that all car makers decided that having a lighting system that required a source,switch, relay and a bulb was too freakin' simple. They had to use a computer!
 
JesseeS said:
New cars are just all a pain in the ass now. My cars battery is in the perfect spot. In the trunk, under the mat, and under the spare tire and tools. Nice and accessible
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Batteries are another story. The battery in my Cadillac Allante is in the right rear quarter panel and you have to remove the upholstery and carpet to replace it.:thumbsdown:
 
halfmile said:
There was a certain Mazda that you had to remove the bumper, grill, fender, and move the core support away from the inner fender to change the headlight assy. 4.4 flat rate hrs if I remember correctly. There were a couple of body shops in Topeka that would not work on a Mazda at all.:shrug:
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The joke at the Audi dealership my buddy worked at was that to change a tail light, you started by removing the front bumper.
 
Mailman said:
My wife’s car is nine years old and the finish was looking a little sad. A few days ago I spent an entire day buffing , polishing and detailing her car and to complete the look, a new set of headlamp assemblies to replace the yellowing originals. I had already polished them a couple of times and they came back pretty good but they were just beginning to look sad. So, I ordered new light assemblies and this morning I installed them. Can you believe this is what is necessary to R+R them? :wtf: Three hours of being oh so careful to not break any plastic parts and a lot of head scratching trying to figure out where hidden clips are and how to release them. It came out nice though, in the end.
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Been there done that Bob. A failing head light on my Lexus GS450 Hybrid started off as a DIY job; I bought a new complete headlight unit and started to dismantle the front end. Like you bumper and many components removed, only to be thwarted by Lexus specialist tool No: F*ckU2

Reinstalled many removed parts and booked into Lexus Cardiff for a quote to do the work: Oh thats just £900 to you sir said the lovely service lady. And your rear shocks need replacing for a total of £1,700.00. +VAT. I choked on my macchiato and left.

Toyota Newport said they would do the job for £500 with my supplied part.
Car was dropped off and two days later they phoned to say they couldn’t complete the work as they don’t have the tool: F*ckU2. Also the ballast unit for the light was faulty and needed replacing, another £200! On inspection the ballast had been damaged by their repair attempt.

A negotiated deal between Toyota, Lexus and myself got all the repairs done at Lexus Cardiff for £1,500.00 with payment by 3 monthly instalments.

That car was the best I had ever owned (had Mercedes / BMW / Audi previously) but that experience killed it for me. So I chopped the GS in for a VW Amarok............ WayHay baby.
 
46th Georgia said:
Yup, made to assemble quick and cheap in the factory, not for service/repair. What I love is the fact that all car makers decided that having a lighting system that required a source,switch, relay and a bulb was too freakin' simple. They had to use a computer!
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Yes. A friend had one headlight go out on his Dodge that was about 12 years old. He needed to replace a computer module that cost $1000. And labor was on top of that. Good golly.
 
I have a 2012 Ford Focus. I will soon have to do the same job. I don't know what to expect, but it could be the same job.

Last weekend, the windshield wipers quit working while we were visiting Georgia. I considered shotgunning parts then thought better of it. I was lucky to find a shop near my daughter's house willing to drop everything and squeeze us in. As it turned out, the wipers didn't work because failed voltage sensor and battery cable. Since the battery was out, I had them replace that too. (It was 10 years old.) We got out of that for a little over $500 and I hate to think how that would have gone out on the road. We got real lucky, especially finding that shop!
 
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Replaced the headlight housings on Sue's '06 Grand Prix a few yrs back.
2 connectors, 2 screws and 4 sliding clips.... done.
Takes longer to read this thread than it took to change 'em both. :cautious:

Edit: Oh... and I had to pop the hood up too. :wink2:
 
2012 Prius; the 12 Volt battery does little more than allow the computer to fire up. About 4 years ago it was shot, Toyota wanted $286. It's not bad to get at IF you can open the electric rear hatch release............... Course with a dead battery NOPER.
Little kludging and a $30 garden tractor battery slipped right in. While I was in there I installed an SAE charging cable I can get at under the rear carpet. Still working great. F em!
 
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Oldschool said:
Yes. A friend had one headlight go out on his Dodge that was about 12 years old. He needed to replace a computer module that cost $1000. And labor was on top of that. Good golly.
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I'm old and I'm cheap so my "spare" car is a 97 Mercury Grand Marquis. Turnsignals/brake lights quit. Lighting control module NOS Ebay $450, used $50. Works perfect.
 
jetmechmarty said:
I have a 2012 Ford Focus. I will soon have to do the same job. I don't know what to expect, but it could be the same job.

Last weekend, the windshield wipers quit working while we were visiting Georgia. I considered shotgunning parts the thought better of it. I was lucky to find a shop near my daughter's house willing to drop everything and squeeze us in. As it turned out, the wipers didn't work because failed voltage sensor and battery cable. Since the battery was out, I had them replace that too. (It was 10 years old.) We got out of that for a little over $500 and I hate to think how that would have gone out on the road. We got real lucky, especially finding that shop!
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The old Focus was a good car for the money. We had an '07.
 

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