How do you remove the headlight fixtures for a '97 Geo Metro?

Answer 1

remove screws from within the engine compartment that fasten it in place.

More detailed info is needed. There are 2 obvious screws that can be removed. But there is still one or more holding the fixture in place. How many screws are there to be removed and where are they located? Or, alternateively, how do you get to them? Is it possible that the third item is not a screw but some sort of press fit or snap in connector?

after the two screws are removed pull straight out on the plastic piece. There are two snap in plugs which will release.

Sometimes I think these answers are left by mechanics just to frustrate people. There are two different kinds of headlight assemblies on the 1997 Geo Metro. One is called the sealed beam assembly. It has a sealed beam headlight which is all one unit (like all headlights used to be). With this fixture, according to the book, there are supposedly just the two top screws and it pulls out - I wouldn't know for sure - I don't have that model. But on my model, which has the composite type of headlight assembly - the kind where the halogen bulb inserts into the back of the unit - there are three screws. There are the obvious top two screws, and another one under the unit which is a bugger to get to. The best way is to remove the blinker unit underneath the headlight assembly (it pops out with just two screws removed) and then you will be able to shine a light back there and see the 3rd screw (look straight in and then slightly up). It screws in parallel to the ground - from front to back, NOT perpendicular like the other two. You'll have to reach in from underneath the car to get to it, and you'll need the correct sized little screwdriver or driver unit for your rachet to get it out. It's the same size as the other two screws, so if your screwdriver fits good on those it's the correct size, but you'll need a short handled screwdriver to fit under there! The headlamp assembly then just pulls out (wiggle it carefully, also be sure to unplug the wiring from the two lights - the big one just unplugs - the little bulb (the running light) has a snap catch, or you can just turn the part where it attaches to the assembly and the whole bulb will come out. However, there really is no need the remove the whole headlamp assembly unit if it's just the headlight that needs replacing. To replace the halogen headlight, first unplug the wiring, then turn the snap ring until it comes off, and carefully de-latch the metal "wire" holder that holds the halogen bulb in place. You may have to loosen a screw to do this, and take great care to see how this metal wire holder is on there, because it'll just pop off of there, and you'll have a devil of a time figuring out how it went on there to hold the bulb down (at least the first time you do it - after that you'll be OK - but if you take the time at the start to note how it's on there you'll save yourself a lot of grief!) If you are replacing the headlight on the drivers side, you'll also have to remove the battery first, but in my opinion, that's still easier than removing the entire headlamp unit. Good luck - you can do it!!