2012 Headlamp Bulb Change!! Help
#2
Which bulb or bulbs have gone out? My experience has been with older models (2004 - 2008) which all have 4 different bulbs per headlight housing… so I don't know about the later models like your 2012, but my experience to-date suggests there's no "easy" way to change some or most of the bulbs... and though I haven't kept track, I've changed probably 10 - 15 bulbs in GT headlights. I've also changed 2 ballasts. Some of the bulbs I was successful in changing without removing the respective headlight housing. For the headlight housings I did resort to removing, for me involved removing the respective wing fender, by first removing the inner fender and front bumper skin. Changing the little 194 curtesy bulbs did result in me pulling the headlight housings on those that I changed. Changing a ballast seemingly absolutely requires removing the headlight housing. Generally speaking the passenger (right) side is more difficult to work on than the driver side. One thing I've noticed is my 2008 GTC has access slots in the sheet metal between the inner fender and headlight housing area that my 2004 didn't have, and I believe those slots are there to facilitate installing (or removing) the headlight housing torx head mounting bolt that threads "up" into the top back outside headlight housing mounting tab. I have since modified my 2004 to have the same respective access slots. Also one other "tricky" aspect in removing a headlight housing is releasing the retaining tab for the wiring plug to the housing... it's difficult to get to as that respective wiring harness is very short... but was seemingly lengthened some on later models. Also it's difficult to remove and install the two small machine screws that attach the front bumper skin to the wing fender in the vicinity of the headlight lenses. The rest of it goes somewhat "ok" as far as removing and installing the headlight housings go (if you've got to resort to doing that) to "change bulbs". Re-installing the front bottom mounting bracket that has the two torx head self tapping screws into the bottom of the headlight housing can be challenging. Also getting to the inside top mounting bolt that threads in from the back side is more difficult on the passenger side. What else? Oh-yea: There's the slide mount device on the bottom that the "catch needs released on" to remove that slide mount, which I've found it's seemingly best to leave the front mounting bolt installed on that, when releasing the catch on the slide mount then push the housing "back" to get past the catch, then remove the mounting bolt and let the slide mount fall off.
If you find you've gotta change a ballast, again, I haven't found an "easy method". It seems those ballasts were installed in the headlight housings prior to the lenses being installed. I was successful in changing the ballasts without removing the respective lens, but it took some doing, including modifying (enlarging) the access hole under the ballast cover/under the ballast mount position to extract and reinstall the ballast lead going to the bulb. Also I removed the metal hood covering the bulb connector on the ballast lead to get just enough wiggle room to fish the lead out of the housing and reverse for installing the new ballast.
If you find you've gotta change a ballast, again, I haven't found an "easy method". It seems those ballasts were installed in the headlight housings prior to the lenses being installed. I was successful in changing the ballasts without removing the respective lens, but it took some doing, including modifying (enlarging) the access hole under the ballast cover/under the ballast mount position to extract and reinstall the ballast lead going to the bulb. Also I removed the metal hood covering the bulb connector on the ballast lead to get just enough wiggle room to fish the lead out of the housing and reverse for installing the new ballast.
Last edited by W. M. Hellinger; 06-14-2020 at 10:39 AM.
#3
Which bulb or bulbs have gone out? My experience has been with older models (2004 - 2008) which all have 4 different bulbs per headlight housing… so I don't know about the later models like your 2012, but my experience to-date suggests there's no "easy" way to change some or most of the bulbs... and though I haven't kept track, I've changed probably 10 - 15 bulbs in GT headlights. I've also changed 2 ballasts. Some of the bulbs I was successful in changing without removing the respective headlight housing. For the headlight housings I did resort to removing, for me involved removing the respective wing fender, by first removing the inner fender and front bumper skin. Changing the little 194 curtesy bulbs did result in me pulling the headlight housings on those that I changed. Changing a ballast seemingly absolutely requires removing the headlight housing. Generally speaking the passenger (right) side is more difficult to work on than the driver side. One thing I've noticed is my 2008 GTC has access slots in the sheet metal between the inner fender and headlight housing area that my 2004 didn't have, and I believe those slots are there to facilitate installing (or removing) the headlight housing torx head mounting bolt that threads "up" into the top back outside headlight housing mounting tab. I have since modified my 2004 to have the same respective access slots. Also one other "tricky" aspect in removing a headlight housing is releasing the retaining tab for the wiring plug to the housing... it's difficult to get to as that respective wiring harness is very short... but was seemingly lengthened some on later models. Also it's difficult to remove and install the two small machine screws that attach the front bumper skin to the wing fender in the vicinity of the headlight lenses. The rest of it goes somewhat "ok" as far as removing and installing the headlight housings go (if you've got to resort to doing that) to "change bulbs". Re-installing the front bottom mounting bracket that has the two torx head self tapping screws into the bottom of the headlight housing can be challenging. Also getting to the inside top mounting bolt that threads in from the back side is more difficult on the passenger side. What else? Oh-yea: There's the slide mount device on the bottom that the "catch needs released on" to remove that slide mount, which I've found it's seemingly best to leave the front mounting bolt installed on that, when releasing the catch on the slide mount then push the housing "back" to get past the catch, then remove the mounting bolt and let the slide mount fall off.
If you find you've gotta change a ballast, again, I haven't found an "easy method". It seems those ballasts were installed in the headlight housings prior to the lenses being installed. I was successful in changing the ballasts without removing the respective lens, but it took some doing, including modifying (enlarging) the access hole under the ballast cover/under the ballast mount position to extract and reinstall the ballast lead going to the bulb. Also I removed the metal hood covering the bulb connector on the ballast lead to get just enough wiggle room to fish the lead out of the housing and reverse for installing the new ballast.
If you find you've gotta change a ballast, again, I haven't found an "easy method". It seems those ballasts were installed in the headlight housings prior to the lenses being installed. I was successful in changing the ballasts without removing the respective lens, but it took some doing, including modifying (enlarging) the access hole under the ballast cover/under the ballast mount position to extract and reinstall the ballast lead going to the bulb. Also I removed the metal hood covering the bulb connector on the ballast lead to get just enough wiggle room to fish the lead out of the housing and reverse for installing the new ballast.
Thanks for the quick reply it’s a 2012 GT and also it’s the high/low beam headlamp on the driver side. I will change both if I have to go through all of that.
#4
I manage to get them out the unorthodox way lol which was a lot faster instead of going through the hassle of taking the wings off I just unscrewed atleast 30 bolts and a few brackets in the front and took off the front section of the wheel well. Leaned the wing to the side there’s only two hex bolts for the headlight mounts in the front and two in the back and voila it comes out
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