Bulb Replace Method

Replacing headlight and fog bulbs today with these. is it better to pull the grill and lights or just go in through the wheel well?
Nightmare stories welcome....its October

 

You have to do both grille and wheel well. I just did mine last week.

 

Agree. Remove the grill. Makes it much easier and the grill is fairly easy to remove. You can reach the fog lights from above once you remove the headlights.

 

You can’t just remove the light surround because the loom that goes to the fog is strapped to the inside of the back of the front bumper so it’ll only come out a couple inches which isn’t enough room to change the bulb.

I tried to get to the fog via the grille only and while you can def reach it the bulb won’t come out just by twisting it and pulling it. I ended up pulling the fog surround back into the bumper trying to do it that way.

By removing the inside of the wheel well I was able to cut the strap that was keeping the fog wire/loom from coming out the front of the bumper.

 

The fog lights will come out easily through the front. The plastic black housing is held into the bumper by 2 tabs (one on top and one on the bottom). You can use a rag covered screwdriver to pry the entire surround out with the fog lights. This was taught to me by someone else on this site and how I replaced my stock fogs with the morimoto led fogs. You don't need to go through the wheel well at all to get the fogs out.

 

Appreciate the advice. This should be interesting.

 

I guess it depends on what year vehicle you have. On my 16’ they strapped the loom for the fogs to the inside of the bumper. The fogs came out easy enough, just 2 inches, which isn’t enough to replace the bulbs. So if you have a 16 you absolutely have to. Go through the wheel well.

 

Why is it so hard to change bulbs? As an engineer this baffles me, light bulbs are maintenance items, why would a manufacturere make you disassemble half the front end to change bulbs?

 

so that you take it to the dealership, and pay them to do it.

 

I don't recall the last time I changed a bulb on a car because it was burned out. Usually only did it as a mod. I guess if you don't have to do it often, making it easy to do isn't that high of a priority?

 

Good question. I tried first going through the fog hole but the wire was not long enough to get at the bulb.
Second, since the grille was already off, I tried going down the inside of the front of the vehicle. Both my friend and I couldn’t get the bulb out. It would turn but not pull out. So third we took the wheel well off and cut the freakin super strength zip tie so we had room to work and we were able to get the bulb out, FINALLY.

It was kind of a PIA but worth it, IMO. I’d def do it again if I needed to. In fact, I bought some switchback LEDs for my front turn signals that are supposed to show up today. I’ll need to remove the grille again to put those in. It’s a good thing I like working on my truck.

 

Okay. Did the bulb switch out this afternoon. First side took a while. Grill off panel under headlight off wheel well lower front panel off. The fog light release clip for the connecter needs pressure at the bottom to release. The second side I left the wheel well panel in place but was working "blind" on the fog. The headlight was basic as described in the owners manual. The zevo drl/turn signal lights do work but you might have to turn them. Check before reassembly. If not working unplug drl bulb rotate 180 plug back in. Drls are super bright. Turn signal is super bright and flashes faster than factory. I think the cpu reads the new light as being out. Still works but strobe speed. Might be a fix it ticket, not sure. Kept the old ambers just in case. NC is white turn signal up front so don't see an issue for me. Here are some pics before during after.before half and half. Don't make fun of my stuff.drl differenceshit in progressfinished color and cut offnew lights rollin out
Bonus they sent me an extra set of fog bulbs
Street coverage is basically the same as factory just more awesome looking.
Great upgrade for the money time and effort.