How to Change a Chevy Malibu Headlight
The Chevy Malibu was reintroduced in 1997 by General Motors. Unlike its original design (1964-1983), which employed sealed beam unit headlights, the modern version uses halogen bulb inserts. While replacing vintage Malibu headlights consisted of simply removing a thin bezel wrapped around the unit from the outside, the halogen inserts on the modern Malibu are a bit more complex to change. The halogen inserts burn brighter and last longer than the sealed beam unit predecessors.
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Instructions
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Make sure the ignition key is in the off position and the headlight switch is off. Release the hood latch.
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Open the hood and locate the top of the headlight assembly where you intend to change the headlight. If a plastic shroud is present, locate the center bolt and remove it with a ratchet and a socket. Lift the shroud out of the way to access the headlight assembly retaining brackets. Some later models may feature a snap-release shroud requiring no tools to remove.
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Locate the brackets on the top rear of each side of the headlight assembly. Lift them all the way up to align the hole on the bottom of each bracket to the retaining tabs on the assembly.
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Pull the assembly forward away from the Malibu, but be careful not to scratch the bumper. There are three guide pins that require unseating. The guide pins are what aim the headlights and it may take some wiggling to get the pins from their seats.
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Support the assembly with one hand and then reach behind the unit with the other. The low beam bulb is on the outside, the high beam bulb is on the inside. You can also replace the parking light if desired. Locate the wire harness connection. Un-clip the wire harness from the back of the bulb socket. Remove the bulb by turning it counterclockwise 1/3 of a turn to align the release tabs of the ring and the assembly. Wiggle the bulb out of the assembly.
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Place the latex gloves on your hands before opening the package of the replacement bulb. Oil in our skin can damage the glass bulbs of halogen headlights.
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Carefully insert the new bulb into the ring and then align the tabs of the ring to the tabs of the headlight assembly. Push inward and then twist clockwise 1/3 of a turn to lock the bulb in place. Reattach the wire harness. Rest the headlight assembly inside its cavity and test the operation of the headlight before securing the headlight assembly in place. Be sure to turn the lights and ignition back off.
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Align the three guide pins to their seats and push the assembly back into them gently until they snap into place. Replace the retaining brackets by pushing them downward to lock into place. Replace shroud, if applicable. Remove the tools and old bulb and close the hood.
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Tips & Warnings
To remove the entire headlight assembly, simply remove the two headlights in the same fashion. The small socket for the parking light turns counterclockwise as well. Once the three wire harnesses and bulbs are extracted from the assembly, you can replace it.
Older vintage models of the Malibu held the headlights in place with a thin metal bezel with small retaining screws. Use a Phillips head screwdriver to remove the screws and then bezel. This will allow the entire sealed beam unit to be pulled forward. The wire harness plugs directly into the back of the unit. Simply unplug and then replug the new one in, replace the unit in the cavity and then replace the bezel and screws.
