How to Replace the Headlight Bulb on a 1999 Pontiac Montana

You noticed that your headlights are a little dim on your Pontiac Montana. You get out and check your headlights and see that one is burnt out. These are the steps to replace it.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Patience
• New Bulb
• Pliers
• Dielectric Tune Up Grease (Optional)
• WD-40 (Optional)

1. 

   Open the hood and locate the 3 screws holding the headlight lens in place.
   These are 3 large black plastic wing nuts. You may have to use pliers to loosen these. Be very gentle or you will crush the wing nut and make things more difficult for yourself. These are meant to be hand loosened and hand tightened, but, over time they may get really stuck. You can spray a little WD-40 on them and let it sit for a few minutes before you begin.

2. 

   Remove the first wing nut.

3. 

   Remove the wing nut on the top.

4. 

   Remove the wing nut (with screw attached) connected to the side marker / blinker lens.

5. 

   There is a clip holding the side marker / blinker lens to the headlight lens. It is on the bottom as shown in the picture. You have to finagle the marker / blinker lens forward, but do not remove it. This will take the most time. I have not figured out a way to release the clip. So what I did was just wiggle the marker / blinker lens up and down and back and forth until the marker / blinker lens can loose.

6. 

   Once the marker / blinker lens is moved forward, lift the entire headlight lens off the screws and tip it forward so the back of the lens is up.

7. 

   Wiggle off the blue headlight wiring harness. You can use a screw driver to gently pry up the tabs and pull off the harness.

8. 

   Grab the hexagon shaped locking collar and turn counter clockwise to loosen and remove.

9. 

   Pull the headlight out. You may have to wiggle it a bit for it to come loose.

10. 

    Put the new headlight in. You must push it in so that the rubber gasket is properly seated. Be sure to place it so the clip part of the socket is facing up.
    Be very careful not to touch the glass part of the headlight or it will prematurely burn out.

11. 

    Get the hexagon shaped locking collar and put it in position.

12. 

    Push the hexagon shaped locking collar down (which also will push down the headlight if it is not properly seated) and turn it clockwise to lock it in place. Be sure that all 5 clips are firmly attached and locked in place.

13. 

    Reattach the headlight wiring harness. You can put a dab of dielectric Tune Up grease on the metal tabs in the back of the headlight to make the harness come off easier next time.
    Test your headlights at this point.

14. 

    Tip the headlight lens back into place. Make sure that the 2 tabs on the bottom sit into the slots in the chassis. Also make sure the bolts go through the holes in the top of the lens.

15. 

    Align the clip in the blinker / marker lens into the slot in the headlight lens and slide the blinker / marker lens back into place. The tab where the screw goes is on the inside of headlight lens.

16. 

    Attach the wing nut (with screw attached) to the side marker / blinker lens.

17. 

    Replace the two wing nuts on the top of the lens and test your headlights again.

Tips & Warnings

• If all else fails, bring it to your local mechanic. He’ll have it done for you in a few minutes.

Resources

• How to Replace the Front Blinker Bulb on a 1999 Pontiac Montana