How the hell do they expect everyone to change the headlight bulb in this truck. I have an 2011 Ram Sport. There so much plastic and everything else thats ontop of that. I bought new bulbs to give the truck some better lighting at night. If there is no easy way im just going to have the dealer do it when I go it for an oil change. Can anyone shed some light or im screwed.

 

It's not as hard as you would think.

Tools Needed:

1. Panel Popping Tool

2. Socket Wrench

3. 10mm Socket

4. 8mm Socket

Step by step:

1. Get a panel popping tool from your local automotive store if you don't already have one.

2. Pop your hood and take off the plastic cover that covers the radiator using the panel popper tool to pull the tabs out.

3. Remove the 10mm bolts that hold the grille in place and remove the grille.

4. Remove the 10mm bolts that hold the headlights in place. Do not attempt to remove the headlights yet just the bolts.

5. In each of the front wheel wells is a little panel with a tab holding it in place. Use the panel popper tool to open up the panels. Alternatively you can remove the two 8mm bolts nearest the panels and just pull the wheel well itself back for easy access to the headlight retainer tab.

6. You should be able to see a white headlight retainer tab inside from the panels you just opened. Pop the tabs by pulling them down to release the headlights.

7. Carefully pull the headlights loose and swap the bulbs.

8. Reverse the whole process.

It is a massive pain if you don't know what you're doing. Hope this helps. I'll even throw in a video to help you out.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tjKtrGuGyuo

Skip ahead to 35 Seconds to skip the stupid intro.

 

Great write-up, super video. Thanks..... think I'll look for some projectors.

Mike

 

Thank you for the vid. big help

 

No problem!

 

It is really incredible that you have to dismantle as much as you do to just change a bulb. Totally ridiculous in a big vehicle with as much under-hood space as the Ram has.

Rob

 

GREAT right up but you don't need a panel popper tool..just pull up using your hands...that's all I did and I pulled my headlights out more than I ever wanted to...having HID's is a p.i.t.a. trying to get em perfectly level and learning the skill it takes haha.

Rob I totally agree...flippin sucks!

 

The new bulbs you bought, were they HID's? If not I wouldn't upgrade to projectors doesn't make a difference unless you go HID route

 

No Need to remove the Grill.

I just did mine the other day and just put some tape on a 10mm socket to get the bottom bolt on the side of the grill, to hold it while you loosen and pull it out. Also having a magnetic tool helps also. I put some blue painters tape around the fender also to make sure nothing got scratched. I had both buckets out bulbs replaced and back in, in less than a half hour.

 

I think its just easier to pull the grill out...the four bolts that hold it in are SOOOO hard to get out :P...then you really dont have to worry about anything, dropping the bolts not being able to get them through the grill

I just went HIDs (DIY in the section) I am a little upset that the whole inside housing moves when you go to adjust it, kinda makes it hard to set the HIDs right.

That being said, I will say tho that having everything in the whole housing makes things really nice, after you pull the grill out its just two bolts and a tab and EVERYTHING is accessible. I have seen some newer vehicles that you need to pull the gril,l fender cover, more parts just to adjust them. Not to mention they have the signal in a totally different area, or even separate housings.
Its really not too bad to pull the headlight, yes its a little more awkward then older vehicles to change the bulb. But in all reality its one of the better things to access.