DIY: Headlight Removal

eastwest2300 · 07-26-2011, 12:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DIGItonium

Haha it's not that bad. I've had my bumper off again for the past couple of months getting a new set of headlights modded, and I'm about to drop it again because one of the headlights is in need of repair. The scary part is popping the bumper off from each side.

I wanna do that whole paint the inner headlight housings, but I will NOT remove that front bumper myself, damn it, if you didnt live in Kansas, I'd pay you to take it off for me.

Maila87 · 07-26-2011, 02:41 AM

Really helpful DIY! Many thanks! Actually you don't have to pull down whole bumper. Mine was partly on. But all screws were down for case of breaking something. Both headlights were down (damned parking LEDs which fallen into headlight casing).

DIGItonium · 07-27-2011, 07:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by eastwest2300

I wanna do that whole paint the inner headlight housings, but I will NOT remove that front bumper myself, damn it, if you didnt live in Kansas, I'd pay you to take it off for me.

Haha! Removing the bumper and headlights is probably much less scary than working on the electronics (i.e., gauge cluster assembly). The only thing annoying is getting the underbody panel oriented properly so it can be screwed back in place.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Maila87

Really helpful DIY! Many thanks! Actually you don't have to pull down whole bumper. Mine was partly on. But all screws were down for case of breaking something. Both headlights were down (damned parking LEDs which fallen into headlight casing).

How did you manage to get to the bolt underneath the headlight? That would be a pain to stick wedge my arm between the bumper and chassis. Glad you got it! Happy modding!

F.LadyZ · 10-17-2011, 01:06 AM

nice work!
free bumpp

kk370 · 10-17-2011, 11:37 AM

bump off the car is hard job for me...
seems no way to drop the headlight assembly without bump off..
OR there is another way to do so?

thelastz · 11-06-2012, 11:13 PM

thanks to this DIY

here is my gift:

a picture of harness clip that you'r missing

snowhite370 · 01-30-2013, 07:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by thelastz

thanks to this DIY

here is my gift:

a picture of harness clip that you'r missing

Please help!! Doing this right now! Is there a special way to get this connector clip off?!?!?! Im going insane!!

DIGItonium · 01-30-2013, 09:52 PM

Long needle nose pliers, squeeze both ends of the tab and push through.

snowhite370 · 01-30-2013, 10:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DIGItonium

Long needle nose pliers, squeeze both ends of the tab and push through.

Got it haha thanks

Bonzo · 04-21-2013, 05:20 PM

The harness clip thing was a total pain in the arse. I ended up cutting the zip tie on the passenger side. Easier to replace it than take the time to pop the clip.

Bonzo · 05-06-2013, 11:25 AM

I put it all back together over the weekend.

Removing the bumper was relatively easy actually. The hardest/scariest part for me was getting that bolt inside the wheel well. After that it was a piece of cake. Going back on was much harder, but still not too bad. Definitely took 2 people to get it on each side without scratching into things. Then getting all the holes lined up, especially underneath.

Hardest part about removing the lights was that friggin' clip up in the back that holds the wires tight on the light. I can say with 100% certainty that the best way to do this is to just cut the zip tie part of the clip. Once the light is out, then you can remove the clip. When you go to put it all back in, just zip in a new tie into the clip and reattach. Super easy and eliminates all the headache.

Putting the lights back in was harder than I thought it would be. There is definitely some play to the fit, so you'll need to make some adjustments along the way. Took me about 45 minutes to get the first one just right. Second one only took about 15 minutes since I had more experience. Actually, my lights are in better alignment with the body panels and hood now than they were from the factory. I actually added 2 washers to help lift the rear of the light up a little so it sits more flush with the body panel at the back. (Now that it's more aero dynamic I'll go faster !!!!

)

Overall getting my headlights painted was totally worth it. It looks SO much better now. I'll make a post on the 180 Customs page. Until then, here some pics.

equalme · 12-09-2013, 04:00 PM

Freezing fingers + evil harness = hell.

forza370z · 03-07-2014, 09:58 AM

When you guys work on the harness from the back of the headlights, do you pop off all 3 rivets attached to the fender well in order to access to the harness or just pop off the most outer rivet and pry the fender well to get the access?

mag_black · 03-30-2014, 04:33 PM

I had very good luck using interior pry tools to pop the harness off. It took longer for me to take the front bumper off than to do the headlights. I used
Amazon.com: Amico Auto Vehicle Blue Loudspeaker Audio Dismantle Removal Pry Tool Set 4 in 1: Automotive

If you go behind the clip where you need to press the tabs, wedge this tool in there and it'll pop right out. I removed the washer tank on the passenger side to make it easier to get the clip from underneath. On the driver side, I attacked it from the top. The tools are worth every penny, it makes popping any harness off that much easier than pinching w/ your fingers.

forza370z · 04-01-2014, 07:42 PM

^^ Thanks for the tools buddy! They are really handy!

But honestly, I am not going to clip the harness back on just make it easier for next time when I need to take them off again.

07-26-2011, 02:41 AM	#17 (permalink)
Maila87 Base Member Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Prague Age: 36 Posts: 138 Drives: 370Z Rep Power: 14	Really helpful DIY! Many thanks! Actually you don't have to pull down whole bumper. Mine was partly on. But all screws were down for case of breaking something. Both headlights were down (damned parking LEDs which fallen into headlight casing). 370z13 likes this. __________________ -->2005-6 Nissan Micra 1,3i CVT 72PS Red MY 98 -->2006-8 Nissan Almera 1,5i N16 96PS Red -->2007-8 Skoda Fabia Combi 1,2HTP 3 cylinder 60PS Green -->2008-11 AUDI TT 2,0TFSI FWD S-tronic 200PS Red MY06 -->2011 Nissan 370Z manual White Pearl

01-30-2013, 09:52 PM	#23 (permalink)
DIGItonium A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Kansas Posts: 3,800 Drives: 09 Z34-TT 6MT Rep Power: 42	Long needle nose pliers, squeeze both ends of the tab and push through. __________________

04-21-2013, 05:20 PM	#25 (permalink)
Bonzo Track Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Ohio Posts: 690 Drives: Finally, a 370Z!!! Rep Power: 3371	The harness clip thing was a total pain in the arse. I ended up cutting the zip tie on the passenger side. Easier to replace it than take the time to pop the clip. __________________ Finally Able To Order 2012 Model 8/24/2011 Delivered Tuesday November 15, 9:57 am!!! 2012, Auto, White, Sport, Kick Plates

03-07-2014, 09:58 AM	#28 (permalink)
forza370z A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: 403 Forbidden Posts: 2,512 Drives: 2009 NISMO 370Z Rep Power: 18	When you guys work on the harness from the back of the headlights, do you pop off all 3 rivets attached to the fender well in order to access to the harness or just pop off the most outer rivet and pry the fender well to get the access? __________________ 09 PW 370z Nismo \| K&N Drop Ins \| HKS Hi Power \| Berk HFCs \| Work Meister S1 3P \| Project Kics R40 Neo Chrome Lug Nuts \| KW V1 \| SPC rear camber arms/toe bolts \| Southbend Stage 3 daily clutch \| Southband 19Ib Steel Flywheel \| ZSpeed CSC

03-30-2014, 04:33 PM	#29 (permalink)
mag_black A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Mar 2013 Location: Massachusetts Posts: 1,400 Drives: 09 370Z MT6 Rep Power: 666	I had very good luck using interior pry tools to pop the harness off. It took longer for me to take the front bumper off than to do the headlights. I used Amazon.com: Amico Auto Vehicle Blue Loudspeaker Audio Dismantle Removal Pry Tool Set 4 in 1: Automotive If you go behind the clip where you need to press the tabs, wedge this tool in there and it'll pop right out. I removed the washer tank on the passenger side to make it easier to get the clip from underneath. On the driver side, I attacked it from the top. The tools are worth every penny, it makes popping any harness off that much easier than pinching w/ your fingers. forza370z likes this. __________________ fujimura ≠ abbeyRoadCompany ≠ fastIntentions ≠ motordyne ≠ avantGarde ≠ ecutek ≠ nismo ≠ stillen ≠ stoptech ≠ gtm ≠ spl ≠ carbonfiberelement ≠ stance™

10-17-2011, 01:06 AM	#19 (permalink)
F.LadyZ Base Member Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: Toronto, NorthYork ON Posts: 227 Drives: 40th 370Z M6 Rep Power: 13	nice work! free bumpp

10-17-2011, 11:37 AM	#20 (permalink)
kk370 Base Member Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: taiwan Posts: 33 Drives: 09-370z-white-a7 Rep Power: 13	bump off the car is hard job for me... seems no way to drop the headlight assembly without bump off.. OR there is another way to do so?

12-09-2013, 04:00 PM	#27 (permalink)
equalme Track Member Join Date: Feb 2013 Location: Kansas City Posts: 656 Drives: RCF Rep Power: 13	Freezing fingers + evil harness = hell.

04-01-2014, 07:42 PM	#30 (permalink)
forza370z A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: 403 Forbidden Posts: 2,512 Drives: 2009 NISMO 370Z Rep Power: 18	^^ Thanks for the tools buddy! They are really handy! But honestly, I am not going to clip the harness back on just make it easier for next time when I need to take them off again. mag_black likes this. __________________ 09 PW 370z Nismo \| K&N Drop Ins \| HKS Hi Power \| Berk HFCs \| Work Meister S1 3P \| Project Kics R40 Neo Chrome Lug Nuts \| KW V1 \| SPC rear camber arms/toe bolts \| Southbend Stage 3 daily clutch \| Southband 19Ib Steel Flywheel \| ZSpeed CSC

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