How to Change a Dodge Pickup Headlight

Whether your Dodge pickup model comes with halogen bulb or sealed beam type headlights, they are easy to replace. Just follow these steps, along with the precautions provided, to avoid damaging the lamps or disturbing the lamp adjusting mechanism. When replacing a halogen bulb, keep the unit in its package until you are ready to install it. If you are replacing a sealed beam lamp, make sure you have the right replacement for your particular model.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Phillips screwdriver New halogen bulb or headlamp

Halogen Bulb Replacement

1. Park the pickup truck in a safe place with enough room at the front where you can work.

2. Open the hood and reach behind the headlight, through the engine compartment, and disconnect the electrical connector from the headlamp. You might need to slightly lift a locking tab to pull the connector. Be careful not to break the plastic lock.

3. Grasp the bulb retaining ring and rotate it about 1/8-inch counterclockwise, towards the driver's side of the vehicle, and gently pull it out of its mounting base.

4. Pull the halogen bulb out of its socket and discard it.

5. Remove the new halogen bulb from its package being careful not to touch the lamp with your fingers. Oil traces from your fingers left on the new lamp may cause it to fail prematurely. Insert the bulb on its socket.

6. Install the socket by grabbing the retaining base and align the locating tabs with the grooves on the mounting base. Push the socket in place and rotate the base about 1/8-inch, turning it clockwise, towards the passenger side of the vehicle.

7. Plug the electrical connector, making sure the lock tab snaps in place, and then close the hood.

Sealed Beam Headlight Replacement

8. Park in a safe place with enough room for you to work at the front of the vehicle.

9. Use a Phillips screwdriver to remove the attaching screws from the bezel around the headlamp you need to replace. Set the bezel in a safe place.

10. Remove the headlamp ring. Attach the screws and set the ring in a safe place. Make sure not to touch or disturb the headlight aiming screws.

11. Pull the headlight from its mounting base just enough to unplug the electrical connector. Plug in the new headlight.

12. Set the headlight on its mounting base and install the ring and bezel.

Tips & Warnings

• If you touch the surface of the new halogen bulb by accident, clean it with rubbing alcohol to avoid premature failure.

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