Looked on "how-to's" to replace foglight bulb on a 2k2 SE and after removing the two 10mm bolts and disconnecting the wiring behind the foglight housing, the foglight would not budge at all. From my understanding, it should just slide out. Am I missing something? Help. Thanks.

 

its held in by two metal studs inside rubber/plastic grommets...give it a good push and it will pop out.

 

Already did that. Did not budge at all...

 

wiggle it. it can take a lot of force.
the only thing really holding it is the two nuts on each one.

 

tried tapping with hammer, wiggling the fog from the outside, still nothing.

 

i dont know what to tell you.
like i said, the only thing really holding it is the two nuts on each one.

 

Were the 2 nuts that you pulled off rusted or something?

 

The nuts weren't rusted but I already sprayed a little WD 40 on the area where the studs go through the housing. Its driving me crazy that the lights won't budge at all. Tried last week and it was freezing out so i figured might have been some water in or around the housing that was frozen. Today it was sunny 50 something degrees and i still couldn't get it to budge. I pushed pretty hard and have tapped the studs with a hammer to knock it loose. Maybe next weekend i'll take a hair dryer to it in hopes of heating up everything so it expands a little and hopefully loosens up. Argh!

 

There are two metal studs in the back of the foglight that clip into two plastic receivers in the bumper. They're somewhat like a ball-in-socket connection. You're not trying to remove the studs from the foglight, you're trying to remove them from the bumper. Tap from behind and it WILL come out.

 

 

Hey chanimal117, When I have changed bulbs several times on my 01 it takes some patience to do this...I have figured out through trial and error that I use a short flathead screwdriver and a small hammer...Put the flat head portion of the screwdriver on one of the ends of the metal "pins" and tap forcefully with the hammer towards the front of the car...Usually by releasing the pressure one of the tabs the other side usually pops out..Granted there is not much room in there and you just have to postion your body/arms under the car...Once you get the fog light out you will see how easy it is and what everyone is talking about....

 

this is one of the reasons why i replace fog bulbs from above. you remove the headlight and you have more room...and get to stand up.

 

Thanks for the quick replies everybody! I'll give it a shot again next weekend.

 

This is really not that difficult...

All you need to do once you remove the bolt from the bottom is to take a flat head screw driver and push right on one of the metal studs to push it out... Either you are not really trying, or you REALLY need to go to the gym.

I can have both out of the car in under 10min... That including lifting the car and putting it on stands.

 

After reading the write up I thought it would be a 10 min job too. I pushed really hard on the back of the fog light and used a hammer on the metal studs, which is why i'm really frustrated. As far as the gym, ha haven't been to the gym in 5 months, but not thaaaaat out of shape.

 

I have changed so meny, you just got to give it a good wack with the hammer. I usualy hit the hight adj. head its the safest place.

 

Well, clearly, there is only one thing left to do.






Sell me the car.








For fi dolla.

 

Ok this is really starting to be a pain in the a$$ now So I took another shot at it today and the damn foglight won't even move despite me wacking on the studs with a hammer and screwdriver. Its gotten to the point were I can start to see the glass lens on the foglight itself start to crack more than it already has so I stopped wacking away. After my efforts I managed to see the lower stud on one of the lights a little loose to the point I can feel it sliding in and out of the housing a tiny bit. I feel like i'm totally missing something here. I followed the write up to a T. All bolts and wire were taken off and disconnected. The car was bought used so I don't really know its history, but everything looks exactly how the write up in the "how tos" section shows. I know the car had the TSB for the headlight brackets and datadots serial code put on. Was there a bracket for the foglights as well? I'm really frustrated with this one , and no I am not mechanical declined. I am a Mechanical Engineer and have done work on my car that was far more complicated than this. I'd hate to bring it to the dealer and pay and arm and a leg for what i thought would be a 10 minute job. Any more constructive suggestions will be appreciated. Thanks

 

If you've gone that far with still no luck, the only thing I can suggest is pulling off the bumper to see exactly how it's in there. It's more work that what should be necessary but it looks like you've exhausted all options.