went and picked up some 9007 4100K silverstar ultras...went to put them in..

How on this planet does one go about accessing the headlamps? I thought the driver side was a joke till i went to see if the passenger side would be any easier....

 

Passenger side is easier if I remember correctly. Basically, you gatta snake your arm in behind the headlight, un-clip the harness from the back of it, then twist the ring whichever way it will go (depends on which hand you use). Then pull out the twist ring with the head light bulb. To install the bulb just do the opposite of removal, but the headlight bulb will only fit in on way. It has directional "teeth" in the headlight housing, but it will also be a snug fit because of the water tight gasket, so it will take a little bit of a push to get it in but don't force it.

 

its almost just as easy to pull the whole headlight assembly right out of the front. its a total of 5 screws (t-27? and a 10mm)

 

In the space between the corner lens and the lower parking light lens you will find a T10torx screw. Remove it and the rubber flap from the inside edge of the light assembly, then pull straight out on the parking light lens, disconnect it or let it hang by its wires. Then you will see 2 10 mm bolts on the inside edge and 1 10 mm bolt on the bottom of the headlight assembly. Remove the bolts and pull straight out on the assembly to remove it from the truck. There is a plastic ball tyoe fastener at the upper outside corner which is a tight fit to remove and to reinstall, but it should snap back together without too much trouble. It also helps to wear rubber gloves when installing the new bulbs so you don't get oil from your fingers on them.

Jimmy

 

It's tricky. I remember I had to replace a light bulb in my last dakota and it was a pain to get in behind there. I don't think I took the whole assembly out.

 

I like the removing out the front method better (i'm used to doing whole assemblies).

If I pull the 5 T-10's, will I need a new headlight alignment? Or do they bolt into the alignment ring?

on my passenger side, there's a big thick panel bolted to the frame from the edge of the radiaotr all the way to the inner fende (or is it the inner fender?) so I can't access the back at all.

 

i tried aswell, i ended up stripping all the torx screws and now the head lights are not aimed what so ever. huge pain.

 

there are only 2 torx screws you need to touch and those hold the amber marker lights in under the headlight. once you get those you pull out the marker light twist out the two bulbs and then set it somewhere. then there is 3 10 mm bolts holding the headlight assembly in. and that will just like fall out. you will not need a new headlight alignment because there are 2 or 3? more torx screws that do that adjustment and you dont touch those.

 

okay. Like I said I've done a number of unit deal so as long as I can get the whole assembly out...Cuz my big hands SAH can't get to the backs.

 

In my 98 took me 5 min tops. I have 2 holes in my fender that go right behind the light twist the ring pull out replace bulb and reinsert.