Headlights without removing the bumper

[KingsBack]

Hey everyone, I drive a 95 Eagle Talon ESI and I recently got a crack in one of my headlights, so I decided hell, the originals are kinda ugly, lets get some new ones.

I bought a pair of black housing projector headlights for my car and I Was wondering if there is a way to remove my headlights without removing my front bumper? I actually can't find much out there in terms of how to remove headlights, I just find "how to remove the front bumper".

When I Changed the headlights on my 03 Grand prix, it was 2 bolts on top and 1 bolt on the bottom, easily accesable, and that was it.. I can't understand why you'd have to take off the front bumper to remove these headlights.. Anyone know how to do it without taking it off?

Any help would be appreciated, thanks everyone.

 

[travislaw]

I don't know how different the 2g Eclispe is from the Talon, but it is a pain in the rear to get to the "hidden" bolt behind the bumper without removing the bumper. On the 2g eclipse it is above the fog light mounting plates behind the bumper.

 

[olmytsi]

All 2gs are the same, eclipse or talon. The only difference is the appearance.

Take the bumper off, swap headlights and don't put the bottom bolt back on so that you can remove your headlights without touching the bumper in the future.

 

[KingsBack]

does it help that I Removed my fog lights so I Can put in a grill ? and if I don't want to take off the front bumper do I need to lift the front of the car and work under the car ?

I'm just really worried about taking off the front bumper

 

[Rice Over Wheat]

Fogs don't matter. You pretty much have to take the bumper off with the headlights the first time, the angle is just so hard to get at that bolt. Why you worried about the front bumper? Once it comes off the first time, you can take it off or put it on in 5 min from then on.

When I put in my fmic I removed the crash bumper and all the support garbage underneath except for the top bumper support bracket. Now only 9 bolts hold up my bumper and it's perfectly firm and stable, looks same as before.

 

[Indyxc]

You don't have to remove the bumper to get the lights off, it's just a lot easier.

The problem is the lower bolt on the headlight is not easily accesible. To get to it, you need a longer extender, and you need to bend the bumper cover downward a bit to get the right angle to remove the headlights.

Then when you reassemble, don't put that bolt that back in. It's still a pain to get the headlight out regardless, as you need bend the bumper cover a bit.

 

[MrBoxx]

It's quite possible to remove the headlights WITHOUT removing the bumper cover or bumper itself. I don't recommend it, but it can be done. I replaced my headlights without removing the bumper. To do so, I used a Sawzall blade, stuck it between the bumper and the bottom of the headlight, and sawed off the plastic lower bracket that holds on the elusive bottom bolt. Then, taking out the headlight, I removed the leftover bracket and bolt. When I put the new headlight in, I didn't bother bolting the bottom bolt, but left the bracket on the headlight. I'll warn you though, if you use too short of a saw blade or a blade with no handle, it can be very very much of a pain in the ass to do this way.

You can also remove the whole bumper assembly without breaking the tabs under the headlight. The four bolts that hold the bumper support arms onto the frame are hard to find at first, but they're accessible if you jack the car up. Pictorial write-up of how to remove the bumper as a whole. This method looks incredibly simple, and I wish I had known of it before I had done mine.

 

[dsmclipse97]

It's quite possible to remove the headlights WITHOUT removing the bumper cover or bumper itself. I don't recommend it, but it can be done. I replaced my headlights without removing the bumper. To do so, I used a Sawzall blade, stuck it between the bumper and the bottom of the headlight, and sawed off the plastic lower bracket that holds on the elusive bottom bolt. Then, taking out the headlight, I removed the leftover bracket and bolt. When I put the new headlight in, I didn't bother bolting the bottom bolt, but left the bracket on the headlight. I'll warn you though, if you use too short of a saw blade or a blade with no handle, it can be very very much of a pain in the ass to do this way.

haha i did the exact same thing. God was it a pain. Make sure your new headlights are designed to fit on the 95 and 96 2g. the 97-99 headlights and bumper were different from the 95 and 96.

 

[MrBoxx]

2gb headlights will fit into a 2ga bumper, but not the other way around. There will be a small, slightly noticeable gap. Only other Eclipse owners point it out, though. No one else has ever said anything about it. The fact that I have a black car and black housing headlights might diminish the look of the gap, though.

Edited: Sorry, I was typing too fast and got confused.

 

[Defiant]

Thank goodness Boxx showed up.
And here's the headlight difference thread:
http://www.dsmtuners.com/forums/showthread.php?t=136800

 

[KingsBack]

ok, well, here we go

 

[KingsBack]

I couldn't even see the tabs or anything.. I may try and take off the bumper later, I saw a picture of where the last bolt is found, so we'll see what I can do

 

[KingsBack]

It's quite possible to remove the headlights WITHOUT removing the bumper cover or bumper itself. I don't recommend it, but it can be done. I replaced my headlights without removing the bumper. To do so, I used a Sawzall blade, stuck it between the bumper and the bottom of the headlight, and sawed off the plastic lower bracket that holds on the elusive bottom bolt. Then, taking out the headlight, I removed the leftover bracket and bolt. When I put the new headlight in, I didn't bother bolting the bottom bolt, but left the bracket on the headlight. I'll warn you though, if you use too short of a saw blade or a blade with no handle, it can be very very much of a pain in the ass to do this way.

You can also remove the whole bumper assembly without breaking the tabs under the headlight. The four bolts that hold the bumper support arms onto the frame are hard to find at first, but they're accessible if you jack the car up. Pictorial write-up of how to remove the bumper as a whole. This method looks incredibly simple, and I wish I had known of it before I had done mine.

how far in is this clip? also, is it just plastic?

 

[KingsBack]

ok, so I think I may have found the bolt from behind my headlight that I need to take out.. My sprocket wont lock on to it though, will I need a universal fit sprocket to remove it ? it's like a screw going through a nut at the back.. should I Take a picture so you can all re-assure me that this is the right on

 

[MrBoxx]

Especially considering I suggested cutting the tabs before Boxx did.

I didn't suggest cutting the bumper tabs. I suggested cutting the actual headlight plastic bracket by slipping a saw blade between the bottom of the headlight and the top of the bumper. The bracket is about five or six inches in, about 1/4" thick, and about an inch wide, so it's quite a bit of cutting. While cutting or breaking those tabs would work, I wouldn't recommend it due to the possibility of bumper damage.

how far in is this clip? also, is it just plastic?

Yeah, it's probably about six inches in, under the headlight. And it's just plastic.

 

[Rice Over Wheat]

Ah ok, I stand corrected...however I did warn about tearing the bumper tabs under that headlight bolt. I didn't damage the integrity of my bumper and I just pulled on it until both tore, then cut them clean off when I had the bumper off. That polyurethane is extremely durable and is very hard to tear the wrong way...it gives way at weak points, like around bolts.

 

[Defiant]

how far in is this clip? also, is it just plastic?

Did you look at the pictures in the supplied link?

 

[talonracn49]

but b's will fit into a's.

The 1995 headlights are longer than the 1997's. The post above is incorrect. The 1997 to 1999's will fit into a 1995-1996 bumper, but the 1995's are too long to fit into a 1997 to 1999 bumper. You can cut the bumper cover to make them fit, but then it just looks dumb.

 

[MrBoxx]

talonracn49: Thank you for pointing out my mistake. I've edited my post accordingly. Sometimes I type faster than I think, and sometimes vice versa.

 

[talonracn49]

I have the same problem sometimes

 

[No_Skillz]

There's another way to do this...

Using a rachet, you need a pretty long drive, and you will need to attach the correct size socket and a swivel head. Additionally, use some duct tape to secure everything on the rachet, otherwise something WILL come off and drop into the abyss. Also does not hurt to stuff some duct tape into the socket, sticky side out, to make sure the bolt stays on it when you manage to get it out.

Finally, find a four leafed clover and poke around with assembled contraption to find the bottom headlight bolt and take it out.