My driver's side headlight is out on my 2005 Pontiac Bonneville. I went to AutoZone and got the bulb it needed. I opened up the hood and was lost. Does anyone know where I start to replace the bulb?

Answer 1

I am not familiar with your make and model, but on the later model vehicles the procedure is generally about the same, so these instructions will have be generic until someone who knows can provide make and model specific instructions. Most headlamp assembly bulb replacement is from the rear of the assembly. The lamp-holder is inserted into a socket at the rear of the headlamp assembly. The lamp-holder usually has two or three locking tabs which hold the lamp-holder in the headlamp assembly. The holder is usually removed by turning it counterclockwise [anticlockwise] about a quarter turn [or less] to release the locking tabs, and then remove the holder by gently pullingit out of the assembly. Once the holder is clear of the assembly, the bulb can usually be removed by simply pulling it out of the holder, but to be safe examine both the replacement bulb and the old bulb in the holder to try to determine IF it may have a press and turn socket. If the bulb has small locking pins on the base, that type of bulb is removed by gently pressing the bulb into the socket and turning counterclockwise. The new bulb is inserted in the reverse. The final step is to replace the lamp-holder into the headlamp assembly, gently twisting clockwise to lock the tabs, and then test the headlights for proper operation.