How to Remove a Headlight Bulb Retainer

Series Summary

Automotive lighting is one area of mechanics and car care that might seem intimidating to the average driver when it comes to do-it-yourself repair and replacement. However, vehicle headlamps work very similarly to all the lighting fixtures encountered around the home or office: bulbs illuminate the road, and occasionally need to be replaced to ensure safety on the road and proper standards for inspection.

Replacing headlights is a pretty simple process that doesn't require many steps, but most people just don't know where to start. In this free video series, an automotive expert will teach you how to remove the bulb retainer, the retaining clip, connect the headlight to the retainer, and connect the headlight to the lens. With these simple video instructions, switching a headlight won't take you much time at all. So, follow this expert's tips and video lessons and you'll be an expert on automotive lighting yourself!

Video Transcript

"In this clip we're going to talk about the proper way to remove and replace a burned out headlight on a 2000 Dodge Stratus. In this step we're going to talk about the proper way to remove the headlight bulb retainer from the lens assembly. This here is your lens assembly and on this particular vehicle it's not necessary to remove these bolts and take it out to change the headlight. What you have here is this plastic piece. I'm going to touch both sides of it here in here that will unscrew and will allow you to pull the headlight out so you can get access to the electrical connections to change the bulb. Like I said, they just unscrew so reach your hand down here, it's going to unscrew in a counterclockwise rotation. Go ahead and grab a hold of it and give it a twist. What we have are a bunch of tabs that made into the lens. You're going to want to make sure to line those up when you reinstall it. Now you actually can't change this bulb until you get the electrical connection undone. That is the proper way to remove the bulb retainer from the lens assembly."