After disconnecting the wire harness, how do you remove the bulb it selfe. It won't turn.

 

Does anyone know how to change the headlamp bulbs?

 

Turn the black round part thats around the bulb, it just turns, if it doesnt, try to make it I don't think it would cause any harm. The black piece is what holds the bulb in.

 

What a pain in the azz just to change out the bulb. I had to pull the radiator cover off, loosen the front fascial, pull the turn signal lamps out and work the headlamp out real carefully.

 

George,

Standing in front of your headlamps, look for 2 black tabs on top of each headlight assy. Pull them up! I have a '02 also and they are a tight b#tch to get up and out.... The whole headlight assy. eventually slides right out the front and it's easy from there.

Be warned though, those 3 mounting/retention prongs are a **** to get lined up and back in there again. You'll see what I mean.

Ronald

Good luck and have some "liquid encouragement" !

I now have Sylvania Silverstars (9005/9007) and these bulbs are white/bright! I had to get rid of the "beer-****" yellow stockers.

 

The bulbs on the F150 are some of the easiest to change on any vehicle. Once you pull the lamp as explained above( that is how the parts are designed to work) the bulbs are right there.
There are some vehicles on the road right now that you have to be a contortionist with 4 elbow joints to reach, with hands the size of a 5 year old!!
Skuter99.

 

LightningToGo,

Take a look at the owner's manual.

Just lift the tabs and the whole light asembly comes out.

 

Headlights:

Find the black tabs (2) above each headlight. Push them slightly back towards the cab of the truck, then pull up. They should move up about 3/4".

Place masking tape on painted surface below each headlight so you do not scratch the paint when you pull the headlight out and push it back in..

Gently slide the headlight forward out of the truck. You may need to push it out from behind a little.

When the headlight is fully out, disconnect the plug from the bulb. The headlight should now be completely free of the truck.

There is a large plastic ring surrounding the lamp. Rotate it counter-clockwise to remove it. It takes very little effort so be careful.

Once the ring is removed, remove the bulb from the headlight housing by pulling it directly out. It will give you some "rubbery" resistance - wiggling it slightly helps. BE CAREFUL NOT TO TOUCH THE GLASS OF THE BULB!

Insert the new bulb into the headlight housing. There are grooves and tabs that need to line up. Again, DO NOT TOUCH THE GLASS OF THE BULB.

Replace the plastic ring and reattach the plug.

Carefully replace the headlight assembly back into the truck. You may need to move the alignment bolts around a bit to get them back into the holes. (This will be apparent once you're doing it.)

Make sure the rubber grommets are all the way inside their mounting holes, then slide the two black levers down into place.

Check headlight aim when done.....

 

Unless a Lightning is substantially different than my '01 SCrew, you can change the passenger side bulb from the back without even removing the headlight. On the drivers side, if you just remove the one screw at the top of the marker light and slide it out of the way you can lineup all the headlight tabs with no problems when you re-install it.

-Mike-

 

Changing the bulbs on an L is an easy procedure once you know how to do it. I could not get my passenger side bulb out as you suggest. Important thing in changing bulbs the right way is the masking tape to protect the paint or I can almost guarantee paint/clearcoat will be scratched. otherwise bulb changes is easy, easy..

 

I have to agree with the concensus that the more you change the bulb the easier it will get. You should pull the turn signals out every time you change the headlamp bulbs, trust me it will help with visibility in getting those prongs lined up and with sliding the headlamp out. There is no need to take off the intercooler shroud or loosen the front fascia. It sounds like you're doing all the things that I did when I first tried to take the headlamps out. I definetely agree with taping off the paint around the headlamps since it does scratch easily (not that I would know......). And to make you life easier try not to move the prongs when pulling the headlights out, and when inserting the headlamp back in think to yourself that you have to line up the prongs and get the plastic "guiders" on the sides of the prongs around the metal. You'll know what I'm talkin bout after tryin for an hour to get the headlamps back in and finally examining the headlamps out of pure frustration

 

Yep, in retrospect, maybe I shoulda' put tape down on the painted pieces of the fascia, but I was extremely careful not to scratch it. Good suggestion!

We haven't heard from George since him first posting. He must still be out there trying to figure it out! J/K !

Ronald

I replace my fogs too and that was a cinch.