How to Change a Headlight Bulb on the Chevy TrailBlazer
by Jody L. Campbell
The headlight bulbs on the Chevy TrailBlazer are accessed at the back of the headlight assembly. While there's controversy about whether removing the front grill is required, doing so will help those with less than nimble fingers and lack of hand dexterity. While removing the grill may seem intimidating, it's not that difficult. There are illustrated instructions at TrailVoy.com (see Resources), but a free membership is required.
Step 1
Open the hood to the TrailBlazer and locate the four retaining clips at the top of the grill. They are evenly distributed along the top grill section. Pull the grill out toward you to unseat the four clips. Use a screwdriver if necessary but be careful not to break or crack the grill.
Step 2
Move to the bottom of the grill on one side, either left or right. There are two clips holding the bottom in place on either side. Place your fingers between the grill and bumper and pull one side out and then the other side.
Step 3
Move your fingers up to the molding of the grill that borders between the upper headlight section and the lower running light section of the headlight assembly. There are two more clips per side of the molding. One is on the edge of each side of the molding. Getting your fingers in between will be a little tight until the inside clip is unseated. Unclip the outside last and then repeat this step for the opposite side.
Step 4
Support the grill in the middle with one hand on top and one hand on the bottom. Pull the grill gently away from the TrailBlazer to unseat the last retaining clip behind the Chevy bow-tie emblem. Set the grill out of the way where it will not fall or get scratched.
Step 5
Locate the two retaining tab brackets on the top rear edges of the headlight assembly. The inner tab closest to the hood latch mechanism is more visible. The outside tab is closest to the side fender but down lower between the front frame rail and backside of the headlight assembly. Pull both tab brackets up about 2 inches to align the hole in the tabs to the head of the lock pin and then wiggle the headlight assembly forward.
Step 6
Remove the black rubber cover from the headlight you're replacing. Note that the outside bulb closest to the fender is the low-beam and the inside bulb is the high beam.
Step 7
Unclip the wire harness from the back of the headlight bulb socket and turn the socket counterclockwise one-third of a turn to remove it from the back of the assembly.
Step 8
Remove and discard the old bulb. Without touching the glass of the new headlight, insert the new bulb into the back of the assembly and align the notches of the bulb to the grooves of the assembly. Push in slightly to insert the bulb and then turn one-third of a turn clockwise to lock the headlight into place.
Step 9
Replace the black rubber cover and make sure it's seated against the plastic flange of the headlight assembly to prevent moisture from contaminating the bulb, socket or internal assembly area.
Step 10
Push the headlight assembly into the cavity without attaching the guide pins and then test the bulb(s) by turning on the headlights. Turn off the headlight and push the assembly in farther after aligning the guide pins to their seating retainers and replace the tab brackets to lock the assembly into place.
Step 11
Replace the grill assembly by starting with each side-molding clip, then the bow-tie clip, then the bottom and top clips. Push in on the grill assembly at the location of the respective clips and seating retainers.
Step 12
Close the hood after making sure the screwdriver, old bulb and packaging have been removed.
References
Tips
- Since the grill is made of plastic and retained by seated clips, some force is required to dislodge them. This may be a challenge on a cold day when the outside temperature will make the plastic of the grill more susceptible to cracking or breaking. A warm day or a heated garage is recommended to prevent damaging the grill.
- While the driver's side headlights are easier to access without removing the grill, they still present a challenge for those with large hands and arms. The passenger side bulbs can also be accessed without removing the grill but will require the removal of the air-filter box and will still be difficult to access for those with large hands and arms.
Things You'll Need
- Flathead screwdriver
Writer Bio
Jody L. Campbell spent over 15 years as both a manager and an under-car specialist in the automotive repair industry. Prior to that, he managed two different restaurants for over 15 years. Campbell began his professional writing career in 2004 with the publication of his first book.
