'95: changing driver headlight = removing battery? really?

Yiphic · Nov 13, 2005

95 Corolla here. My only previous car had lift-lights which I could change in 2 minutes flat in the Auto-Zone parking lot after buying them.

With the Corolla, however, I'm a bit stumped, not that I'm the least bit automobile-savvy anyway. My driver headlight is out. I live in a college town full of cops and I'm only going to get away with so many police warning before they nail me. So I get the bulb, go to change it, and .... there doesn't seem to be any easy way to get to it.

From what I understand, it's supposed to be a matter of twist, pull, change. But the frame and misc. brackets holding the headlight assebly in place, and the battery make an inpenetrable fortress keeping me from doing it. The headlight assembly seems to be held down by at least 3 screws and a couple bolts if memory serves, most of which are so rusted, I've already had one of the screw heads disintegrate upon trying to turn it. The only reasonable option I can see is to remove the battery. Is this really the case? I don't think I even have a rachet laying around. And I don't know many safety hazards/tips regarding the disconnecting/connecting the battery. Geez.

REN69 · Nov 13, 2005

In the time you wrote this topic, you could have disconnected the battery, taken it out and changed your lightbulb.

dlichterman · Nov 14, 2005

There should be some sort of pipe thing sticking up right there....if you pull the little plastic plug/clip thing it should move out of the way, but when I did this on my 98 I pulled the battery cause I didnt want to have anything touch the bulb

Cabanon · Nov 14, 2005

you don't need to remove the battery.
however, there's a couple of hidden bolts.
on top & under if i'm right.
you need to remove the center piece
you also need to remove the corner lights, which you only need to pull (dont be shy to pull real hard)
there's 2 screws that retains the fender if i remember right
next you need to pull the headlight by the center of the car.
and thats it
but remove the battery, its the easiest way!

94_Rolla_Guy · Nov 14, 2005

Theres an air intake right in front of the battery if you take that out it will give you enough space to change the bulb if you have small hands, other wise just take the battery hold down off and with the battery connected shift the battery to get your hand in there.

Don't take the headlight out, it will just be a pain to put it back and aim it right.

'95: changing driver headlight = removing battery? really?

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