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Headlight removal on 2000 having problems..

Old Dec 27, 2007
  #1  
melj2000's Avatar
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From: Chatsworth, GA
Headlight removal on 2000 having problems..

I've got my clear corners and bumper lights installed, but when it comes to removing the headlights on my truck I am having some trouble. They seem to be held in by two clips on top and it looks like a special tool is needed to release them. Is this true and is there any way around this problem? I tried to just pull on the clips, but I was afraid that I was going to break something. Any help would be great on this.
 
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Old Dec 27, 2007
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For me, two small bolts to remove the plastic cover over the headlight bracket. Then pull up like a ****. I had to use vice grips to pull cause of corrosion siezed the piece on. Once the bracket lifts up, the headlights slide out the front.
 
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Old Dec 27, 2007
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Yours is a 2003 and mine is a 2000. If I am not mistaken the removal of the headlights is different on these two models.
 
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Old Dec 27, 2007
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Oops, my bad.
 
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Old Dec 27, 2007
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no problem thanks for trying to help. Can anyone else help me out?
 
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Old Dec 27, 2007
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From: Demorest,Ga
I went to autozone and got some needle nose pliers that have a 90 degree bend at the end of them...I had to grind the needle nose end a little so it will fit in the holes of the clip, then you just pull the handles apart from each other and pull up. Look at the clip real closely and you'll see how its made.

They look exactly like this.
 
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Old Dec 27, 2007
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No the removal is the same on both. All you do is pull those 2 pieces that your talking about up pretty hard and then jiggle them around and the clips should release the screw things holding the headlight in. I just took mine out 30 min ago, once you do it once its easy.
 
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Old Dec 27, 2007
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From: Demorest,Ga
Originally Posted by 04blackedge
No the removal is the same on both. All you do is pull those 2 pieces that your talking about up pretty hard and then jiggle them around and the clips should release the screw things holding the headlight in. I just took mine out 30 min ago, once you do it once its easy.
I dont see how you can just simply pull up on them hard...the clips have little prong like things that go into the notches on the plastic things on the headlight adjusting studs.
 
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Old Dec 27, 2007
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i will be doing the same thing as soon ans the place that sent me mine gets back to me cause i ordered up the black halo projectors w/ the black corners and the sent me one chrome corner and one black corner. i was pissed cause i want to put these things in so bad.
 
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Old Dec 27, 2007
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Just a little advice, don't pull on them hard!!!! I tried that and all i got was the top tab broke off the clip. I went and bought a set of snap ring pliers with the 90 degree end, but they do not pull apart far enough to open the clip. Now I guess I am going back to buy some needle nose with the 90 degree end. Whoever would of thought it would be so difficult to replace a set of headlights. If the needle nose dont work I'm gonna put a call into NASA!
 
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Old Dec 27, 2007
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I pulled the header panel to do this. It was just faster with air tools on hand.

Just be warned the bolts going into the fender may break, they seem to rust quickly.
 
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Old Dec 27, 2007
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From: Demorest,Ga
Originally Posted by melj2000
Just a little advice, don't pull on them hard!!!! I tried that and all i got was the top tab broke off the clip. I went and bought a set of snap ring pliers with the 90 degree end, but they do not pull apart far enough to open the clip. Now I guess I am going back to buy some needle nose with the 90 degree end. Whoever would of thought it would be so difficult to replace a set of headlights. If the needle nose dont work I'm gonna put a call into NASA!
ya, snap ring pliers dont open up anywhere as much as it is needed...i was lookin at them at the store back when i was taking the headlights out, and noticed they wouldn't work.
 
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Old Dec 27, 2007
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Biz's Avatar
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i banged them *****es till it poped. worked for me...i uses a screw driver and a pair of linesmens to bang em
 
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Old May 17, 2024
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Rock auto has a retaining clip removal tool fairly cheap or you can get one from your local auto parts store
 
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Old May 17, 2024
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