headlight removal questions

silver.r/t · Post by **silver.r/t** » Tue Nov 15, 2011 2:56 pm

alright so i was trying to get my headlights out to put new bulbs in... the rusty bolt head snapped off only two of the 4. 1 on each light of course :/

how can i get these out? i cant get them with a vice grips, and the little drill bit to remove them just snaps off as well. tried penitrating oil and WD-40 nothing is working. if i have to ruin the headlights to get em out oh well ill buy a new pair.

any ideas?

Gnuserup · Post by **Gnuserup** » Tue Nov 15, 2011 5:02 pm

Do you mean the XL-Bolt of the headlight which you see on one of your pictures ?

If so, this one holds only on top of the frame, on the bottom it grasps only behind a latch you maybe could imagine on this picture

silver.r/t · Post by **silver.r/t** » Tue Nov 15, 2011 5:08 pm

it would be the one that goes through the clip above the turn signal on both.

Danteneon · Post by **Danteneon** » Tue Nov 15, 2011 5:11 pm

I have removed them by using needle nose vice grips and turning the lower part of the bolt till it comes up through the hole. It takes forever, but it works.

Be sure to soak where the bolt is broken with PB Blaster first.

silver.r/t · Post by **silver.r/t** » Tue Nov 15, 2011 5:13 pm

how do i get at the lower part of the bolt?

luckily i ordered new bolts so i can put the new ones in after

Danteneon · Post by **Danteneon** » Tue Nov 15, 2011 5:17 pm

The bottom of that bolt sticks out of the lower hole a good 3/4"

silver.r/t · Post by **silver.r/t** » Tue Nov 15, 2011 5:19 pm

ill have to take a look one of these days hopefully itll work

ThatKevin · Post by **ThatKevin** » Tue Nov 15, 2011 5:55 pm

Same thing happened to me, I ripped out the bottom end of the bolt and then just re-tapped a new screw and it holds fine. I did this back in April

UriahRR · Post by **UriahRR** » Tue Nov 15, 2011 7:15 pm

From hitting stuff with the right side of the car, I just have two short screws holding in the headlight. So the whole bottom of the light is free to move in and out. Has held fine for months now. Doesn't flop around or anything.

Post by **occasional demons** » Tue Nov 15, 2011 7:33 pm

New bolts and anti seize Are your friends with these. Once they begin to rust, even anti seize seems to have its limitations with these for some reason. Breaking them loose every 2 months would help too, but who remembers to do that? Meh, write a note on your oil filter.

silver.r/t · Post by **silver.r/t** » Tue Nov 15, 2011 8:22 pm

write a note on the filter is the best idea ever! haha

Paul56 · Post by **Paul56** » Thu Nov 17, 2011 4:05 pm

When I did this one mine or more appropriately, had it
done, I purchased new bolts and new headlight housing
and dumped it all with my mechanic who did the grunt work.

Oh wait, I did spray the bolts with penetrating oil a few days
before giving him the job.

He complained about it afterwards but I had an emptier wallet.