replacing car headlight bulb

Humboldt · Post by **Humboldt** » Fri Dec 29, 2006 8:44 pm

straight forward enough and I've done it a million times before.

This time I got the bulb out fine but can't get the new one to seat properly enough to get the lock ring on.

wtf? Do I just shove the damn thing?

thechemgeek · Post by **thechemgeek** » Fri Dec 29, 2006 9:02 pm

Humboldt wrote:straight forward enough and I've done it a million times before.

This time I got the bulb out fine but can't get the new one to seat properly enough to get the lock ring on.

wtf? Do I just shove the damn thing?

are they the same size? is it expensive? if not, give a little extra push and yell a curse word.

Humboldt · Post by **Humboldt** » Fri Dec 29, 2006 9:05 pm

thechemgeek wrote:are they the same size? is it expensive? if not, give a little extra push and yell a curse word.

Yes, same size and brand.
Have yelled many curse words so far, back in the parking lot at work as it was getting dark.

Am on my home turf now with a bit of a buzz, I can curse more properly now

thechemgeek · Post by **thechemgeek** » Fri Dec 29, 2006 9:07 pm

Humboldt wrote:Yes, same size and brand.
Have yelled many curse words so far, back in the parking lot at work as it was getting dark.

Am on my home turf now with a bit of a buzz, I can curse more properly now

use this...

Humboldt · Post by **Humboldt** » Fri Dec 29, 2006 9:08 pm

thechemgeek wrote:use this...

If trini's mom would give it back I would.

Sid · Post by **Sid** » Fri Dec 29, 2006 10:25 pm

Ya just got to be smarter than the socket. BTW make sure you put your sweaty, oily fingers all over the new bulb.

Humboldt · Post by **Humboldt** » Fri Dec 29, 2006 10:29 pm

Sid wrote:Ya just got to be smarter than the socket.

That's the part I'm having trouble with

Humboldt · Post by **Humboldt** » Mon Jan 01, 2007 10:23 pm

nothing else?

downhill · Post by **downhill** » Mon Jan 01, 2007 10:29 pm

What kind of bulb is it? One with screws and a ring or the twist in type?

Humboldt · Post by **Humboldt** » Tue Jan 02, 2007 10:11 am

downhill wrote:What kind of bulb is it? One with screws and a ring or the twist in type?

Twist in with a ring.
No screws.

Sid · Post by **Sid** » Tue Jan 02, 2007 10:56 am

Humboldt wrote:nothing else?

Did you check the gasket? It may have pulled away from the bottom and is partialy covering the threads.

Comtrad · Post by **Comtrad** » Tue Jan 02, 2007 11:06 am

Maybe instead of replacing the bulb to the car, replace the car to the bulb.

Randy · Post by **Randy** » Tue Jan 02, 2007 12:56 pm

Humboldt wrote:straight forward enough and I've done it a million times before.

This time I got the bulb out fine but can't get the new one to seat properly enough to get the lock ring on.

wtf? Do I just shove the damn thing?

is it a ford?

Zilog B · Post by **Zilog B** » Tue Jan 02, 2007 1:03 pm

Comtrad wrote:Maybe instead of replacing the bulb to the car, replace the car to the bulb.

Great idea. Hold the bulb at headlight level, have a friend drive the car into it.

Humboldt · Post by **Humboldt** » Tue Jan 02, 2007 3:21 pm

Randy wrote:is it a ford?

'93 pathfinder

Zilog B · Post by **Zilog B** » Tue Jan 02, 2007 4:39 pm

Humboldt wrote:'93 pathfinder

I've changed mine in my 93 nissan truck, should just go right back in. Hmmm. Is there a right side up on it?

Humboldt · Post by **Humboldt** » Tue Jan 02, 2007 8:47 pm

Zilog B wrote:I've changed mine in my 93 nissan truck, should just go right back in. Hmmm. Is there a right side up on it?

*first off, please move this to the automotive forum if possible, I forgot we had it*

there's a right side up, where there's a ridge for the wiring to clip and latch into place.

Finally got it, but it was only after a bunch of bitching. I tried again, couldn't get it, trini and I tried, nada, took the other good bulb out and swapped them, wouldn't fit...then trini finally got it. The other bulb went in the first socket just fine. Whatever.

Now there's something totally weird going on though. Turns out the first is a Sylvania cool blue 9004, the new one is a Sylvania 9007 that says on the box "not interchangable with 9004"

When I have them on now the high beam indicator comes on in both regular and high beam positions, and it looks like only the old bulb is actually coming on when the highbeams are on.

Any ideas?
I'm going to grab another 9004 tomorrow anyway I guess.

blebs · Post by **blebs** » Tue Jan 02, 2007 9:32 pm

9007 has a driving light position and the 9004 does not. Don't interchange them as you may fry some wiring or your relay.

Humboldt · Post by **Humboldt** » Tue Jan 02, 2007 9:36 pm

blebs99 wrote:9007 has a driving light position and the 9004 does not. Don't interchange them as you may fry some wiring or your relay.

Ahh, thanks blebs

just found this at another site

The Number of the bulb denotes it's type. 9005 is a high beam with a 90° connector, 9006 is a low beam with a 90° connector. The 9004 is a straight connector with a low/high beam bulb and the 9007 is a low beam bulb.

which is what you just said.

Think Kragens might take this 9700 back?

blebs · Post by **blebs** » Tue Jan 02, 2007 9:39 pm

I had to double check, 9004 is used as a low and high beam where the other is not, but you found it before I did. Thanks.

This guy has the best 411:

http://forums.maxima.org/showthread.php?t=312531

Humboldt · Post by **Humboldt** » Tue Jan 02, 2007 9:41 pm

What do you think are the chances of blowing the wiring having the 9700 hooked up if I kept it as an emergency spare? Either that or I throw it out.

Kragens auto parts prob. won't take it back as it's been opened and I don't have the receipt.

blebs · Post by **blebs** » Tue Jan 02, 2007 9:43 pm

Its too easy to cause costly damage to the wiring. I'd keep a hold of it if they won't take it back. One of your friends is bound to need it one day.

Unholy · Post by **Unholy** » Tue Jan 02, 2007 9:44 pm

Humboldt wrote:Ahh, thanks blebs

just found this at another site
which is what you just said.

Think Kragens might take this 9700 back?

There's a 9700 bulb out now?

You should really

next to the bulbs.

Oh yeah, Sylvania cool blue are crap since the coating cuts down the output of the light.

Humboldt · Post by **Humboldt** » Tue Jan 02, 2007 9:46 pm

Unholy wrote:There's a 9700 bulb out now? You should really next to the bulbs. Oh yeah, Sylvania cool blue are crap since the coating cuts down the output of the light.

trini bought it for me during his lunch break last week.

And yes, thanks for pointing out the obvious

downhill · Post by **downhill** » Tue Jan 02, 2007 9:55 pm

Well I suppose that might explain why you had a hard time getting it in........

Humboldt · Post by **Humboldt** » Tue Jan 02, 2007 9:58 pm

downhill wrote:Well I suppose that might explain why you had a hard time getting it in........

no, they're shaped the exact same. Well, the housing is at least. Thanks for the move, dhd, I asked for it a few posts back and didn't thinkit warranted a pm.

NM
looks like the guy in the link blebs posted says parts of the housing are indeed different. So yes, it does make sense why the damn thing wouldn't fit

joecool169 · Post by **joecool169** » Thu Jan 04, 2007 6:53 pm

9007 has two beams low and high. Housing is slightly different in size, need caliper or other measuring device to tell. Other than size of housing they should be the same bulb but do not interchange, the smaller one, I forget which will not make a tight seal.

joecool169 · Post by **joecool169** » Fri Jan 05, 2007 8:51 am

ah, wiring is different as well. But both are high and low beam.

Linky