Drivers Side Headlamp Change....solutions?

Cowcatcher · **Posted:** Tue Dec 19, 2006 5:42 pm

I burned out my 1 year old SilverStar on the passenger side low beam and decided to replace both lamps with SilverStar Ultras. Is there a better way to reach the drivers side lamp then the one that involves a great loss of knuckle skin and donation of blood? Can you pop the circuit breaker box off and lay it back over the battery? I posted here as I don't know if the under hood layout on the regular Liberty is the same as a CRD. Thanks in advance.

rjmaype · **Posted:** Tue Dec 19, 2006 9:50 pm

I free the CB box and place it on the battery.

I use four small screwdrivers to free the tabs and lift out.

Much more room.

oldnavy · **Posted:** Tue Dec 19, 2006 11:54 pm

Take 30 seconds to remove the Grill, then loosen the fog lamps. Next remove the 3 headlight screws, and pull the light assembly out and then replace the bulbs. This whole process for both headlights takes my 61+ year old arthritic hands about 20 minutes. :wink:

PS: And no scratched knuckles either.

KJbob · **Posted:** Wed Dec 20, 2006 11:18 am

oldnavy wrote:

Take 30 seconds to remove the Grill, then loosen the fog lamps. Next remove the 3 headlight screws, and pull the light assembly out and then replace the bulbs. This whole process for both headlights takes my 61+ year old arthritic hands about 20 minutes. :wink:

PS: And no scratched knuckles either.

Ditto. This process is not difficult.

Cowcatcher · **Posted:** Wed Dec 20, 2006 12:54 pm

I have had the grill out before and in an '06 that is not a simple task either since screws have been replaced by tabs that are hard to release. Of course on the fogs you don't have a choice. I will try the CB box per rjmaype's suggestion the next time if I need to just do the drivers side.

Thanks for the solutions.

oldnavy · **Posted:** Wed Dec 20, 2006 2:52 pm

Cowcatcher wrote:

I have had the grill out before and in an '06 that is not a simple task either since screws have been replaced by tabs that are hard to release. Of course on the fogs you don't have a choice. I will try the CB box per rjmaype's suggestion the next time if I need to just do the drivers side.

Thanks for the solutions.

Hey fumble fingers :wink:

the '05 & '06 grills both have tabs and they pop right up and out, I can have the grill out in about 15 seconds, 10 if my arthritis isn't acting up. From that point it is take 3 screws out that hold the head lights in place and just loosen up the one fog light screw and then take the head light out and switch bulbs. Like I say if going slow from infirmanities of age like me, both lights can be done in 20 minutes.

PS: CC to remove the tabs easier, push forward on the grill to make the popping off the tab's easier.

jinstall · **Posted:** Thu Dec 21, 2006 4:05 am

The grill is a Snap-Fit setup. When my bulbs finally go I am exchanging the assy for the E-spec ones as the light beam pattern is much better.

oldnavy · **Posted:** Thu Dec 21, 2006 9:50 am

jinstall wrote:

The grill is a Snap-Fit setup. When my bulbs finally go I am exchanging the assy for the E-spec ones as the light beam pattern is much better.

Let me know if they fit, I have heard they are mounted different or something. If they do I may want you to pick up a pair for me if you can or find a dealer there willing to ship to US.

I had the Euro lights in my wifes Jetta TDI and she has complained loudly about the lights on the Jeep. I have the HIR lights in my Magnum and they beat the light output of several of my friends OEM HID's easly, and mine only cost $120 vs the HID's BIG bucks cost.

Jeger · **Posted:** Thu Dec 21, 2006 10:03 am

Arent the E-spec ones height adjustable from within the cab? If so are you going to add that little trick as well?

oldnavy · **Posted:** Thu Dec 21, 2006 11:53 am

Jeger wrote:

Arent the E-spec ones height adjustable from within the cab? If so are you going to add that little trick as well?

Most likely a option still, they are on VW's.

jinstall · **Posted:** Fri Dec 22, 2006 2:52 am

Oh yeah that is a must when towing. I actually need it when I have a full tank as well. I think I will add headlight washer kit to it also. The headlights seem to attract dirt like crazy.

Oldnavy as soon as I can narrow down a good price I will let you know. I can square you away on a set. The next time the guys from Baumholder come over I will pull the grill and see what the difference is. I was very lucky my Ford Focus and Geo Tracker both were able to do the e-spec light conversions as well as tailight conversions.

jinstall · **Posted:** Fri Dec 22, 2006 2:56 am

Jeger wrote:

Arent the E-spec ones height adjustable from within the cab? If so are you going to add that little trick as well?

Every vehicle you can put a trailor hitch on has this option avalible.

BTW Hella just produced a set of lights for the MK1 (C170) Ford Focus that has HID and Dynaview(cornerlighting) that has a internal yaw sensor to peek around corners. If enough KJ owners got together I am sure Hella would make a set of HID assy for the KJ. I am very sure that it would sell well in Europe.

oldnavy · **Posted:** Fri Dec 22, 2006 9:52 am

jinstall wrote:

Oh yeah that is a must when towing. I actually need it when I have a full tank as well. I think I will add headlight washer kit to it also. The headlights seem to attract dirt like crazy.

Oldnavy as soon as I can narrow down a good price I will let you know. I can square you away on a set. The next time the guys from Baumholder come over I will pull the grill and see what the difference is. I was very lucky my Ford Focus and Geo Tracker both were able to do the e-spec light conversions as well as tailight conversions.

Hey that would be cool I like the idea of the auto levelers, just not sure they would be necessary because we do not tow anything. The headlight washers with wiper blades will kill the plastic lens on a car in short order, plastic lens should only have a squirter. From what people I know that have those they say they are almost worthless.

vtdog · **Joined:** Fri Sep 30, 2005 11:27 am **Posts:** 640

Cowcatcher wrote:

Quote:

I burned out my 1 year old SilverStar on the passenger side low beam and decided to replace both lamps with SilverStar Ultras.

I was thinking of changing to silver stars to try and get better lighting, but have heard that they have poor longevity. I checked on their website and they side step the issue by stating that all bulbs degrade over time and should be replaced after a year, etc. (what bs). Does ANYONE ever replace headlamps in a year? I know I never have.

What has been the experience of silverstone users here. Do they go bad in just a year?

jinstall · **Posted:** Fri Dec 22, 2006 11:11 am

oldnavy wrote:

jinstall wrote:

Oh yeah that is a must when towing. I actually need it when I have a full tank as well. I think I will add headlight washer kit to it also. The headlights seem to attract dirt like crazy.

Oldnavy as soon as I can narrow down a good price I will let you know. I can square you away on a set. The next time the guys from Baumholder come over I will pull the grill and see what the difference is. I was very lucky my Ford Focus and Geo Tracker both were able to do the e-spec light conversions as well as tailight conversions.

Hey that would be cool I like the idea of the auto levelers, just not sure they would be necessary because we do not tow anything. The headlight washers with wiper blades will kill the plastic lens on a car in short order, plastic lens should only have a squirter. From what people I know that have those they say they are almost worthless.

They are not "auto" levelers. There is a switch near the left speaker that allows you to adjust the headlight in a downward motion in set steps.

As forr the wipers, no one uses those OEM as you mentioned the pastic issue. Squirters are required on all verhicles with Xenon lighting.

Cowcatcher · **Posted:** Fri Dec 22, 2006 12:20 pm

vtdog wrote:

Cowcatcher wrote:

Quote:

I burned out my 1 year old SilverStar on the passenger side low beam and decided to replace both lamps with SilverStar Ultras.

I was thinking of changing to silver stars to try and get better lighting, but have heard that they have poor longevity. I checked on their website and they side step the issue by stating that all bulbs degrade over time and should be replaced after a year, etc. (what bs). Does ANYONE ever replace headlamps in a year? I know I never have.

What has been the experience of silverstone users here. Do they go bad in just a year?

My SilverStars are dramatically brighter (and whiter) than the OEM's but I read enough going in to know that they often fail in about a year and one of mine did. The new SilverStar Ultra is supposed to be brighter and last 20%>30% longer and that is what I changed to but I do not see them as brighter. They are a little different color, blue or purple cast I would say.

Old Navy. Maybe I don't know how to release the grill but I had putty knives, screw drivers, pry bars and butter knives stuck all over the place to try to get one tab to release and not have another that I had already released not re-lock. Cold be the arthritic hands too! :lol:

kb61751 · **Posted:** Fri Dec 22, 2006 3:00 pm

I just replaced both lamps, did not take out the grill, just took them out from behind. It took about 10 minutes, maybe my hands are small?

oldnavy · **Posted:** Fri Dec 22, 2006 3:09 pm

jinstall wrote:

They are not "auto" levelers. There is a switch near the left speaker that allows you to adjust the headlight in a downward motion in set steps.

Adding the switch sounds like a lot of work, don't know I would want to do it for little it would ever be used. If the Jeep is prewired and it was plug and play I guess I would.

Merry Christmas to you and yours.

rjmaype · **Posted:** Fri Dec 22, 2006 7:39 pm

I added a daylight running light unit that has the low beams on at all time.

My SilverStars lasted 13 months and around 30K miles. Actually one went out but I replaced both with the Ultras.

Why must the Xeon lens have a washer?

vtdog · **Joined:** Fri Sep 30, 2005 11:27 am **Posts:** 640

Quote:

added a daylight running light unit that has the low beams on at all time.

I'm up in canada quite a bit and aked the service manager about installing a day light running unit as drl are required there. The service writer was less than enthusisastic about making the change.

Is the unit something I can order/install myself?

Drivers Side Headlamp Change....solutions?

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