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Dodge Ram 2009-Present: How to Replace Headlights

If the headlights on your Dodge Ram are malfunctioning, chances are, they need to be replaced. To learn how you can perform this task yourself, read on.

By Jeffrey Bausch - July 22, 2015

This article applies to the Dodge Ram (2009-present).

If the headlights in your Dodge Ram are beginning to malfunction, whether it’s a dulling of the lit-up roadway, or an overall blackout in one or both of the headlights, it’s time to replace this component in your car. The process involves a couple of steps that are not necessarily inherent with other cars, so to save you some time (and a whole lot of headache) read through these instructions before you switch out the headlights in your Dodge Ram.

Materials Needed

  • Replacement headlight(s)
  • Socket set, including 10mm socket and 8mm socket
  • Panel popping tool

Step 1 – Take panel cover off

Open up the hood of your Dodge Ram and take off the plastic cover that covers the radiator using the panel popping tool (gets the tabs out of the holders).

Figure 1. Panel cover location.

Step 2 – Remove bolts

There are 10mm bolts holding the grille in place; remove them and take off the grille.

Figure 2. Removing grille.

Now remove the 10mm bolts holding the headlights in place. Do not remove the headlights just yet.

Step 3 – Open up the panels of the front wheel wells

Again, using the panel popping tool, open up the panels in the front wheel wells (they have a tiny tab holding them in place and this tool makes it super easy to remove). If you are without this tool, remove the two 8mm bolts nearest the panels and just pull the wheel well back.

Either which way, you now have easy access to the (white) headlight retainer tab. Pop them down to release the headlight.

Step 4 – Pull the headlight out and swap the bulb

Pretty straightforward; just be careful while handling.

Figure 3. Removing headlight.

Step 5 – Re-install headlight housing

Once the new headlight is in, place it back into the housing unit, and pop back in the headlight retaining tab. Now replace the panel of the front wheel well, or replace the 8mm bolts as appropriate.

Go back up and replace the 10mm bolts that hold the headlight in place and, if both headlights are done, replace the grille and restrain with the 10mm bolts. Close the hood and test the lights out.

Figure 4. Re-assembling headlight.

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