I had a headlight bulb go out yesterday morning so decided to replace both main beam bulbs for something a bit brighter, I bought a pair on the way home from work and embarked on what I thought would be a simple ten minute job in the garage after tea last night.


What a nightmare trying to get those wire clips back in!! the passenger side was fiddly enough, but the drivers side was a complete swine, how on earth do they expect anyone to get their fingers in to the clip and actually see what they are doing with the wretched coolant tank in the way?


Over an hour later with skinned fingers and gashed knuckles the job was finally done, but it fought me all the way, at one point I lost the clip into the headlight unit but managed to fish it out again with a piece of wire.


I can only assume that Chrysler advise the removal of either the coolant tank or the headlight unit to do that side?


Is there an easier way for next time? I'm thinking of replacing both dipped beam bulbs for better ones too, but after last night I wont be going through that again until they actually blow.

 

Haven't done mine yet, but it sounds like my Wife's Tribeca. Those wire spring clip things are fun, especially when you can't see what you're doing.

 

Its certainly not like the old days when you could just pull onto a petrol station forecourt, buy a headlight bulb and chuck it in.


The coolant tank really gets in the way on the drivers side, after losing the clip into the headlight and managing to fish it out again I decided to loop a length of thin wire around the clip until it was in place, just in case it got away from me again, then once the clip was in place you can gently pull the wire through and away.

 

When you think about it you'll realize that using the regular bulbs you do not have to remove the clip, just swing it out of the way.
Yes the coolant tank is moved out of the way.

 

I tried to get the bulbs past the clips but couldnt seem to get them out witbout removing the clips completely.

 

I believe that moving the header tank is simply removing 1 or 2 10mm bolts and pulling it clear of its locating plugs. This would save you a lot of blood sweat and tears. I'll try and take a look this evening.

 

Yes i looked at it but with the hose which runs into the bottom of the tank restricting its movement I was concerned that I may end up having to lean the tank over quite a bit to get it out of my way and so possibly introducing an airlock into the cooling system which would have been another problem to sort out.

 

I hear this all the time!!! Don't know what you are doing wrong, I changed my bulbs the other week. Took all of five minutes!!!!


I did not remove the clip, just unclipped it from one end using a mirror to see what I was doing.

 

Very simple...pry clip from hook...swing out of way...unplug wiring from bulb...put new bulb in with rectangular piece to bottom, and repeat the aforementioned process in reverse...viola!!

 

Not quite right.
After removing cover.
1, unplug wire from bulb, as the wire is through the clip. Use needle nose pliers for gripping socket.
2, pry clip from hook.
3, swing clip out of way. Up for the low beams or down for the high beams.
4, remove bulb.
5, put in new bulb with tab at the bottom for low beams or at the top for the high beams.
6, carefully locate tab in pocket. Most important.
7, reinstall clip.
8, reinstall plug onto bulb.
Reinstall rubber cover.

If a clip does come off, then I found it easier to put a finger tip on one hand over the clip hinge and slide the clip end under the finger tip. You can feel the end of the clip slide into the hinge, do the same with the other end. Tie some cotton or light string on the clip so it dos not get lost easily, remove it when done. If you study the area where the clip goes you can imagine what is happening when you do it without looking.

 

Stand corrected, 180... I was alluding to the low beam light minus the minute details...Your're right...Carl

 

Think yourself lucky I had a 2nd generation Ford Mondeo Diesel in late 90's and headlamp bulbs were a job for the dealer and if a washer bottle pipe came off it meant removing front bumper to get at it Worst company car I ever had (in fact had three Fords all bad)

 

I just take mine to halfords and they change it on the spot. Life is too short. Costs about 5 quid labour.

 

I agree that this is a less than quick and easy process. When I replaced mine I removed both headlight assemblies and replaced all 4 bulbs at once, hopefully to avoid having to go through the process again anytime soon. It was not easy to remove the headlights either, the 2 attachment points on the underside are tough to get to through the fog lamp door in the fender well but it can be done and saves the knuckles somewhat.