Replacing pass. side headlight bucket

Hello all! Great forum! I need to replace the whole headlight bucket on my '98 Venture. I bought one, but can't get the old one out! It seems as if I have to remove the turn signal/side light first. I see two spots where the side light goes into the fender and it looks as if there is one spot near the outermost "perch" of the headlight. I have spent about an hour staring at the replacement headlight and trying to figure out what the deal is with the side light. I have removed the two screws on top and the one on the side for the turn signal. Still won't budge! Any advise is greatly appreciated. It would just crush my ego to have to bring it to mechanic to change a headlight!
Thanks!

Hello all! Great forum! I need to replace the whole headlight bucket on my '98 Venture. I bought one, but can't get the old one out! It seems as if I have to remove the turn signal/side light first. I see two spots where the side light goes into the fender and it looks as if there is one spot near the outermost "perch" of the headlight. I have spent about an hour staring at the replacement headlight and trying to figure out what the deal is with the side light. I have removed the two screws on top and the one on the side for the turn signal. Still won't budge! Any advise is greatly appreciated. It would just crush my ego to have to bring it to mechanic to change a headlight!
Thanks!

VentureMan,

Don't sweat it - these things can be a pain if you've never done it before. Here is a basic description and instructions.

The side marker/turn signal assembly is held in by two "spring fasteners" (don't know the technical name) and a wing nut. The wing nut holds the side marker assembly to the main headlight assembly.

To remove the side marker assembly just REMOVE the wing nut and then PULL the assembly STRAIGHT OUT.

The main headlight assembly is held to the body by two bolts/wingnuts AND slides into a "slot" in the body.

To remove the main headlight assembly just REMOVE the two wing nuts and then LIFT the assembly UP and OUT.

Once you have it out, you should be able to figure out how to do the rest.

Installation is the reverse.

Oh yeah - be careful not to put your fingers on the bulb(s) - use a paper towel or kleenex. The oil from your fingers will reduce the life of the headlight bulb.

Take care,

PS. I can take some pictures if you need them.

Thanks. That's what I thought needs to happen; I'll try it again. When you say "spring" fasteners...is there a tab or something to release them or just pull straight? I'll try again and let you know.

Its kind of a tab. When U pull it out it may come out with the bracket. When putting new one on take it off from the old one and put the tabs on the new assy and insert it back. Unless of course you bought it from a wrecker then it may come with the tabs already.

OK - I put the pictures up on the web. You can see them here:

http://www.links-to-golf.com/van/headlight-turn-signals.html

Take care,

Thanks a lot GregA. A picture is worth a thousand words!

I got it! Swapped them out last night, with the print out from the web by my side! Thanks again!

I got it! Swapped them out last night, with the print out from the web by my side! Thanks again!

Isn't the internet wonderful :rofl:

Glad I could help.