Contour Enthusiasts Group Archives Forums General Troubleshooting Got new headlights, can't get the old ones out.

It's a little embarrassing but I can't get the lights on our car out. I got some replacements while at wal-mart today and was hoping I'd be able to drive home with em, oh well.

I just tried pulling the plug off (downwards - they're 9006 lights) but the darn plug wouldn't come loose. Obviously I couldn't take the light out of the socket without unplugging them, so I didn't bother, and knowing that you can break them and cause a big mess real easy, I let off figuring I wasn't doing this right.

There was a thing kinda like a clip on the plug facing the firewall side but when I tried pushing/pulling that, it still didn't come loose.. That dang thing's got a death grip!

Was going to look in the Haynes manual but figured it wouldn't discuss a stubborn plug. These have probably been there since the beginning of time because that's about as good as they look.

The replacements, FWIW -- are blue-ish ghetto lights. I don't like the way they look, but after driving in the rain at night and at many points having to put on the brights to figure out where the lines were on the street, I decided to get the brightest suckers I could.

Set was a $16 fake xenon set -- they did have silverstars and some other sylvania bulbs, but I've seen so many comments about how those don't seal properly/last very long so F that, might as well grab the funky ones in the plastic case. Anyone ever try those?

I guess I'll put em in in the morning and have a nice show when it gets dark.

Hopefully I'll have some time to go to the parts store and grab a new coolant temp sensor too. Riding around with the temp at L is .. Then again, if I can't get the headlight plug off who says I'll be able to replace the ECT sensor?!

I'm not sure what year you have, and if the pre98's are the same as the post 98's... The bulbs and sockets on my car just twist out. Turn about 1/4 of a turn (not sure which way) then pull out. I have been able to get the wire/ socket off of mine prior to removing the bulb as well.

It's hard to tell from your description what you might be doing wrong, but you didn't mention turning...

Good luck. I LOVE my Silverstars, and have had no problems with them.

Try the Autozone website to see if it helps.

http://www.autozone.com/servlet/UiBroker?ForwardPage=/az/cds/en_us/0900823d/80/1b/d1/3a/0900823d801bd13a.jsp

You might have to remove the whole lens, if a 98-newer, to get access.

Tis' a 95 and yeah I tried rotating the bulb the only direction it would go (counter clockwise I think) -- but the wire wouldn't allow me to turn it all the way as it was too taut.

I'll check it out when I go outside in a few to see if maybe having sunlight helps

*edits* Wohooo! Got the new ones in! Unfortunately they don't seem a hell of a lot better than the old ones (and except for a blueish tint to the "yellow", they aren't blue at all.

Maybe I should have gotten the "cool blue" bulbs

Oh well, at least they're new, and thus so brighter than my old ones (they do suck more power and such so yeah).. Mighta been that my lights weren't bright because the car wasn't on... nah that wouldn't be it because the high beams were still way brighter.

I think I got ripped off. Does walmart take returns on headlights?

Wait till night and see (better), also polish up the lenses..

http://www.talesmud.com/2382.jpg

http://www.talesmud.com/2381.jpg

Note: They're not blue after all. After reading an article a car-freak friend of mine sent me about blue headlights, I'm actually happy about that

They do have a very light shade of blue on the glass itself though, aka "ZOMG IT'S SUPER WHITE!" <- it's so not, but it works

Turn each bulb counter clockwise 1/4 turn and they will line up where the slot opens up. They come out really easy. Unplug them after you get them out one at a time. The metal round retainer is very brittle and sharp. It is very easy to damage the back of the plastic assembly they rest in. You will probably have to remove your battery to get the driver's side.

I run bright cool blues, they work well.
Next spring I'm going to wet sand the inside of the lens.