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replacing car headlight bulb
Posted: Fri Dec 29, 2006 8:44 pm
by Humboldt
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?
Posted: Fri Dec 29, 2006 9:02 pm
by thechemgeek
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.
Posted: Fri Dec 29, 2006 9:05 pm
by Humboldt
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

Posted: Fri Dec 29, 2006 9:07 pm
by thechemgeek
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...

Posted: Fri Dec 29, 2006 9:08 pm
by Humboldt
thechemgeek wrote:use this...

If trini's mom would give it back I would.
Posted: Fri Dec 29, 2006 10:25 pm
by Sid
Ya just got to be smarter than the socket. BTW make sure you put your sweaty, oily fingers all over the new bulb.
Posted: Fri Dec 29, 2006 10:29 pm
by Humboldt
Sid wrote:Ya just got to be smarter than the socket.
That's the part I'm having trouble with

Posted: Mon Jan 01, 2007 10:23 pm
by Humboldt
nothing else?
Posted: Mon Jan 01, 2007 10:29 pm
by downhill
What kind of bulb is it? One with screws and a ring or the twist in type?
Posted: Tue Jan 02, 2007 10:11 am
by Humboldt
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.
Posted: Tue Jan 02, 2007 10:56 am
by Sid
Humboldt wrote:nothing else?
Did you check the gasket? It may have pulled away from the bottom and is partialy covering the threads.
Posted: Tue Jan 02, 2007 11:06 am
by Comtrad
Maybe instead of replacing the bulb to the car, replace the car to the bulb.

Posted: Tue Jan 02, 2007 12:56 pm
by Randy
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?
Posted: Tue Jan 02, 2007 1:03 pm
by Zilog B
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.
Posted: Tue Jan 02, 2007 3:21 pm
by Humboldt
Randy wrote:is it a ford?
'93 pathfinder
Posted: Tue Jan 02, 2007 4:39 pm
by Zilog B
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?
Posted: Tue Jan 02, 2007 8:47 pm
by Humboldt
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.
Posted: Tue Jan 02, 2007 9:32 pm
by blebs
9007 has a driving light position and the 9004 does not. Don't interchange them as you may fry some wiring or your relay.
Posted: Tue Jan 02, 2007 9:36 pm
by Humboldt
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?

Posted: Tue Jan 02, 2007 9:39 pm
by blebs
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
Posted: Tue Jan 02, 2007 9:41 pm
by Humboldt
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.
Posted: Tue Jan 02, 2007 9:43 pm
by blebs
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.
Posted: Tue Jan 02, 2007 9:44 pm
by Unholy
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.
Posted: Tue Jan 02, 2007 9:46 pm
by Humboldt
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

Posted: Tue Jan 02, 2007 9:55 pm
by downhill
Well I suppose that might explain why you had a hard time getting it in........
Posted: Tue Jan 02, 2007 9:58 pm
by Humboldt
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

Posted: Thu Jan 04, 2007 6:53 pm
by joecool169
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.
Posted: Fri Jan 05, 2007 8:51 am
by joecool169
ah, wiring is different as well. But both are high and low beam.
Linky