Trouble replacing '02 Elantra headlight bulb.....

Hi folks,

I am having trouble replacing the (driver's side) headlight bulb on my 2002
Elantra. The problems are twofold:

1). There is barely enough room to fit your hands, (actually there is not
enough room). Even with the shield removed, there is only about 2 1/2 inches
between battery & bulb housing.

2). Directions (in manual) state to push in on bulb to remove. Unless I
cannot exert enough force (due to problem # 1) the bulb doesn't seem to be
about to come out......


I would appreciate any tips anyone can offer. I don't mind going to a dealer
for certain repairs, but I do not feel that "replacing bulbs" should be one of
them.

Thanks,
J. M.

 

Just take it in and let them do it. It's covered under the warranty.

 

I'm not sure it's "covered under warranty." Some things are
considered norma wear and tear and are the owner/operator's job to
keep up. I mean, the oil in my engine needed replacing at about 3,000
miles, by Hyundai said that wasn't covered under the warranty? What's
up with that? The floor mat under the driver pedals is starting to
show serious wear under the gas and clutch pedals and Hyundai won't
replace it for free? What's up with that? Get the point?

The bulb on the driver side supposedly can be replaced without
removing the battery, but I can't see how and neither could any of my
mechanic friends. I found out the easiest way was to disconnect the
battery, loosen the bold that hold down the battery (between the
bottom edge of the front of the battery case and the front of the car)
which can be an adventure in itself, then change the bulb. With that
battery out of the way the bulb swap takes no time at all.

If that's worth paying a mechanic to do to you, OK, that's your
business. I seriously doubt Hyundai will do it and allow you to claim
it as a warrantable repair.

Oh, and both lights usually blow real close time-wise to each other,
so you might consider purchasing two bulbs so you already have the
other bulb when the passenger side headlight blows.

 

Yes it can. I have replaced the bulb several times (due to upgrading) and
have not moved the battery. I have medium hands but short fingers. A
non-pudgy hand with longish fingers would do this even better than I did.

Once the shroud is removed, and the snorkel-shaped vent for the air intake
system is pulled off, the cap over the bulb housing can be screwed off.

With that off, you have to use your fingers to find the metal wire clip that
holds the bulb in place. Once the clip is disengaged and swung out of the
way, the bulb can then be pulled out -- again using the fingers of one
hand -- of the headlamp assembly. Once out you can use both hands to remove
it from the socket.

Replacing the bulb is actually trickier than taking it out, since you have
to figure out how the wires to the socket go between the wires forming that
wire clip. Once that is done, it is essentially left to placing the bulb in
the reflector, swinging the clip back into place and locking it, and then
screwing back on the cap, etc.

I have new bulbs to put in the indicator/park lamp sockets. Now *that*
should be a 'joy'. I have set aside time this coming weekend to do that one.

 

Mileage on the car is only 20K ....I would be very interested to learn if this
is covered by the "bumper-to-bumper" warranty. Actually I never considered the
notion that bulbs may be covered. Thanks again to all who responded.......
J.M.

 

The headlamp bulbs are covered under the 5/60 bumper to bumper warranty.
Your local dealer will be happy to replace it for you.

If you want to try it yourself, you can take the cover off the back of the
headlamp. This is about the only part that isn't tricky. Unplug the lamp
first. The clip holding it in should be enough to hold the lamp in place
while you press the connector off with a finger. You may wish to take the
cover off the other side so you can get a better look at the clip setup.
You can only get a couple of fingers in there unless you have very small
hands. Once the lamp is unplugged, then unclip the bulb by pushing in on
the latch side of the clip wire and pulling it up a little. The bulb
should then come out. I typically install the new bulb with two fingers
holding it at the plug end so as to not touch the glass. The tab on the
bulb will need to be at the top. It falls into a slot at the top of the
headlamp. Clip the bulb into place by pressing the clip wire over the
latch and down into the slot. This will be difficult and will be very
difficult if the bulb is not in place properly. I typically have to hold
the bulb in place with one finger while clipping it with another. You can
check the bulb for proper installation through the front of the lamp. It
should appear evenly set in the bulb hole all the way around the edge of
the hole. Plug the bulb in and reinstall the cover.

If the above is still too difficult, the next easier way is to remove the
entire lamp assembly. It is held in by 3 bolts with 10mm heads. Two are
directly on top of the lamp and one goes in from the top behind the lamp.

 

The headlamp bulbs are covered under the 5/60 bumper to bumper warranty.
Your local dealer will be happy to replace it for you.

If you want to try it yourself, you can take the cover off the back of the
headlamp. This is about the only part that isn't tricky. Unplug the lamp
first. The clip holding it in should be enough to hold the lamp in place
while you press the connector off with a finger. You may wish to take the
cover off the other side so you can get a better look at the clip setup.
You can only get a couple of fingers in there unless you have very small
hands. Once the lamp is unplugged, then unclip the bulb by pushing in on
the latch side of the clip wire and pulling it up a little. The bulb
should then come out. I typically install the new bulb with two fingers
holding it at the plug end so as to not touch the glass. The tab on the
bulb will need to be at the top. It falls into a slot at the top of the
headlamp. Clip the bulb into place by pressing the clip wire over the
latch and down into the slot. This will be difficult and will be very
difficult if the bulb is not in place properly. I typically have to hold
the bulb in place with one finger while clipping it with another. You can
check the bulb for proper installation through the front of the lamp. It
should appear evenly set in the bulb hole all the way around the edge of
the hole. Plug the bulb in and reinstall the cover.

If the above is still too difficult, the next easier way is to remove the
entire lamp assembly. It is held in by 3 bolts with 10mm heads. Two are
directly on top of the lamp and one goes in from the top behind the lamp.

 

Only problem is that you have to re-aim the headlights, right?

 

(CincyPSU) wrote in

Acutally it is...I tried putting in a new bulb once and screwed it up. So
I brought it in to the dealership thinking I'd have to pay something and
they said it was under warrentee. In fact he said that next time I should
just bring it to them.

 

You shouldn't. The amount of play in the headlamp bolt holes is about
zero.