How do you replace a 2003 Subaru Forester fog light bulb?

Answer 1

I have a 2002 Subaru Forester. After reading all the comments, I thought I would go to an auto shop and do it. Given when I called the auto shop, it was $30 to install the bulbs. So I went into the owners manual and see what they are saying and compare all the advices. Below are the steps and it took me 20 min to do it all and I am computer programmer. Tools used were a pliers, 13/32 bit (ratchet), and a flat head screw driver (btw, there are no screws).

NOTE: On the left, an air tube was running. I had to use the bit to remove that. At the end I put that back.

1. Remove the power connector from the back. It took little bit of blunt force using my programming hands.
2. Shake the rubber surrounding the bulb. Once you feel rubber is lose, pray the top area and unlock the retainer lock. These are like two metal clips that you push.
3. Once that unlocks, the rubber and bulb are in your hands. Remove the bulb. Make sure to remember the way bulb goes into the rubber container.
4. Replace the bulb in the rubber container. You may want to be care full here. I kind of felt, if I would have forced, the rubber would rupture. Also make sure you know which side of the rubber and bub are top. Otherwise you may have to force the connector later.
5. Once that is done, put the rubber and into the canape. Make sure the three legs in the bulb goes into the appropriate slot. Once they are there, use the flat head screw driver to push the retainer into place.
6. Once both retainers lock, just make sure the the rest of the rubber are in place and you are done.
7. Go to the other side.

I went to Auto zone to pickup standard bulbs and he didn't give much advise. Just start opening is what he said. Again, thanks to every ones info I was able to understand and replace the lights. The bulbs were $20.

Shrini Viswnathan

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Confirmed. On 2000 Subaru Forester. You only need to remove the battery in order to pull out the headlight lamp. Meanwhile, in case you don't have the user manual. You can access it on my.subaru.com after registering.--------------------------------------------Actually it doesn't have to be this complicated. It took me quite a few tries but I was able to get to the bulb simply by pulling the rubber covering away from the bulb assembly. Once you do this you can loosen the spring clamp by squeezing it. This takes a little dexerity but once you do it, it is surprising how simple it is. I was not able to pull the bulb out of the electrical connector until I uncovered it from the rubber cover. The arrows on the rubber say squeeze, presumably so you can get a good enough grip to pull the connector from the bulb but I was not able to do this, and rolling back the rubber is much easier in any case. I found the owners manual of no value for this task.--------------------------------------------Someone wrote in an earlier writeup that you can access the headlamp bulb rubber cover without removing anything else. You can't. You will need clearance to pull out a long bulb assembly. I think it might be possible to remove the battery and have clearance, but I didn't try that. The USER MANUAL couldn't be more worthless - it gives advice like "remove the bulb" without giving the slightest clue how to do it.

This is not a trivial job. I would recommend you get all four bulbs for whatever side you are replacing - do them all. The dealer-dude didn't have the orange turn-signal bulb in stock, and said they don't see too many replaced. I guess that's probably right since it was about ten years ago when I last saw someone actually use their turn signal.

So step one - go get 3 (or 4 if you replace turn signal) bulbs. The front marker and side marker are the same bulb type.

Step two - remove the middle grill. The top connectors are visible and you can use a flat-bladed screw driver to compress the side or top and jiggle them so they pop loose. One you get the top part of the grill loose - DO NOT just pull outward - you will break the non-visible two lower connectors and get to go to the dealer again to get new ones. Instead, to remove the grill once the top part is loose, PULL UP. These light gray lower connectors are inbedded in the Head Lamp assembly.

The exterior trim piece is next. The two top black poppers need to be jimmied up 1/4 inch and then they pull out. The trim piece has 3 additional attachment points that are hidden. About the middle and a few inches to the outbound side, there are 2. They have an outbound facing notch, and the trim piece needs to be tapped towards the outward direction (side of the car) until it is free of them. This piece can flex a bit - its OK - but don't overdo. The final attachment is at the outermost corner that is a 1/4" male that plugs into a female fitting - This can be carefully pulled out and the trim piece is off.

The next part is the Head Lamp Assembly. There are 3 screws which the owners Manual actually correctly identifies. These come out. And the assembly is basically loose, but attached by 4 cables going into the Assembly. The Marker lights and turn signal are easy - just untwist them. When you reconnect them - they have VERY different slot keys, so you won't have trouble remembering which is which. The tough one is the headlamp.

The connector to the bulb has a rubberized cover. You can't see it while it is in place,but it has the word "PUSH" and two arrows on it pointing at the sides. You need to press in on the sides, a little higher than the middle, and disconnect the bulb connector. I had to gently use channel locks to do this.

When the connector is removed, you can remove the rubber dam material surrounding the light. It may stick, but this entire thing will come off, making removal of the bulb a much simpler task.

Once this is removed, you will see a wire latch holding the lamp in. Squeeze the wire latch (like pinching a clothes pin - kind of) at the top and it should release the bulb, which can now be simply removed from the enclosure.

Replacement is the reverse and will be much easier now that you see all the parts that were previously hidden.

This applies to the 2003 Forester as well - probably good on the 2002 also.

I agree with the second comment, I just changed the bulb in my 2003 forester. I did not remove anything except the light bulb and the rubber casing. Just disconnect the bulb, pull back the rubber to expose the wire latches that is holding the bulb in place. Once it was out, it took some time to get the rubber casing off the old light bulb.

A few improvements to the above: While replacing the driver's side headlamp on the family '01 Forester I was sidetracked by the label "PUSH" on the back of the electrical connector. This is a useless label, as I simply had to use brute force and a screwdriver blade to separate the old bulb from the connector- there's no hidden clamps or secret procedures to getting the connector off the bulb. I was able to do this WITHOUT REMOVING THE GRILL OR THE BATTERY! You do not have to remove anything except the rubber boot that holds the lamp assembly in the center of the plastic gismach that is the back of the headlamp. There is a spring clip that needs to be unclipped before you approach the electrical connector with the useless "PUSH" label. Hope this saves somebody a lot of time.