07 Headlight removal instructions with pics

[chAVey]

Just wanted to say Thanks for the thread too.  I spent about 30 mins under the hood looking for a way to get the lights out, looked in the owners manual for 15 mins where it says headlights are a dealer service item!, came up here and found this thread in 5 mins.  Took me only another 30 mins to go back down and change out the Ambers!  Thank You to Everyone in CAFCNA!

Now, some notes for 2008's:
1. That bumper bracket is different.  Its more of a solid triangle piece instead of that "L" shaped bracket back on page 1.
2. I never could actually get the entire headlight assy out from behind the bumpers.  Seems to be some foam pieces glued to the assy so that I couldn't pull it out.  I did get it loosened enough to get the DRLs in there, but I'm not sure that you could put in HIDs without damaging the bulbs.

[EPD]

Mongo Ranger;
Thanks for your detail instruction on the head light removal, this should make my job changing my bulbs much easier, but it still going to be a big job.  I can't imagin GM making this such a difficult job, but on the other hand they want you to go to a dealer for this task so they can charge you a $150. 00
Thanks again
EPD

[Avalanche Wolf]

The first time around is the worst but not too bad after that. took me about 30 mins to pull both and another 20 to put them back in

[Boston Avalanche]

 :thumbsup:

Thanks for the great write up and pics!!!!!!

You are a life and $$ saver!!!

[k15goose]

to everyone who replaced their headlight bulbs:

have any burned out?  how do you like them?  and can you compare them to any others?

[Supermobile]

Has anyone actually gotton a quote from a dealer? How much to change a bulb?

Thanks,

Larry

[Hadys]

Changed out my '08's DRL's this weekend.

Printed out the instructions and had them on my engine.   A couple of politicians came by passing out flyers, they said "Uh-oh he has the instructions out" and put the flyers on the ground under my tools.   They made nice coasters for my beers.  

Thanks for the awesome guide!

[Fratt]

Mongo Ranger,

Let me add my thanks for the great write up and pics.

It was Easy to do and just take your time. It will be ok.
But its STUPID!! Why so hard to change a bulb?

Got my 07 of Thursday and now Ambers on Sunday...

My 03 is cruising town still with the ambers I put in and my 05 will be out soon I'm sure with the Ambers, the Dealer leaves them in and I left Tagging Cards in the truck. The dealer knows to leave them for the next owner..

Thanks Again!!!

[elementr1]

This saved me from killing the front end of my truck! Thanks for the pics and great instructions! What the hell were the techs @ GM  thinking???

[hoffkm]

Just put Silverstar ambers on my 07.   Thank you Mongo Ranger for the very detailed instructions.   I don't have near enough patience to figure this out on my own.   I would have ended up cutting or hammering something!

If the Avalance was assembled in the states this wouldn't be nearly this difficult.   The American workers on the assembly line would have forced a change since this design cannot be easy for the line to assemble either.

I wonder how many other 5 minute changes I will encounter over the life of this vehicle that will take an hour to complete (how many engineers does it take to change a light bulb??).

[chAVey]

Thanks again for the instructions.

Let me say again, this will NOT work on the 2008s.  I tried to get the passenger side headlight out again this weekend.  Got the clips over the bumper, but couldn't get it out completely.  There is a plastic/foam piece that prevents it from coming over the bumper.  I even got under and unbolted the bumper on the passenger side and it still wouldn't come off.  You would definitely have to take the entire bumper off to get the headlights completely out.

(BTW, the reason I needed to get it out was to replace the passenger side horn with one of those Wolo "Bad Boy" air horns.  Sounds exactly like a train horn, although admittedly not as loud.  Still sounds decent though.  Talk about a PITA replacing it without removing the light!  Removed the airbox and went in from behind.)

[k15goose]

hmm, link to this horn?  im looking for a louder one also without having to put a compressor in just yet.  did you get it installed?  impressed?

[chAVey]

Heres the really long linky thingy.  Check around, I think you can get it at Harbor Freight on sale for about $35 too.

Actually, am very impressed.  I replaced the passenger side horn only.  Driver's side is also controlled by the remote so I didn't want an air horn when I was unlocking/locking the AV.  Sounds just like a train horn, but admittedly not as loud.  I'ld say probably 100-120 decibels vs. a real train horn at >150.  Still more than enough to make a teenager on a skateboard in the cross walk jump a little bit (not that I would do that . . . He He He.  ) 

No pics of the install - couldn't see anything if you wanted too.  The horn is hidden behind the light, under the air box, and in front of the radiator frame.  Real PITA to get to.  Hook up was really easy - 2 wires straight from the old horn (with new connectors) to the Wolo - no need for the relay.  Getting the old one out and the new one mounted took all the time (>2 hrs).  Just no real easy way to get to it on the 08.  I'm sure it would be much easier if you could get the headlight out on the 07.

[bandt0913]

I am not looking forward to putting ambers in tomorrow!  Seems to be such a PITA for something so simple

[Bee Sting]

I am not looking forward to putting ambers in tomorrow!  Seems to be such a PITA for something so simple

You wuss, want me to do it for ya ? 































  ya

[bandt0913]

You wuss, want me to do it for ya ? 
  ya

please? 

[bandt0913]

one hour and 3 minutes from start to finish to change 2 friggin light bulbs 

if it weren't for you guys who can make directions, I'd been up the creek without a paddle! 

[Bee Sting]

one hour and 3 minutes from start to finish to change 2 friggin light bulbs 

if it weren't for you guys who can make directions, I'd been up the creek without a paddle! 

 


LOL, 5 minutes here , told ya i'd help you 

[Bee Sting]

Hey sweetie , if you started crawling under the Av from the front and not the back you could have knocked off 20 minutes or so 

[First2Hunt 04]

When compared with the ease of changing bulbs on a '02-'06 AV it is BAD.  Good design '02-'06 for the headlights and changing them, '07 BAD design for the headlights and changing them.

It only takes me about five minutes to change my ambers or three minutes to change the low or hi beam light bulbs on my 04.  Leave it to The General to take an easy change out on 04 to 06's, and screw the pooch on the 07's and 08's, they call that progress, oh well that's life.   

[bandt0913]

Hey sweetie , if you started crawling under the Av from the front and not the back you could have knocked off 20 minutes or so 

OHHHHH that's where I went wrong! 

Having big hands doesn't help the matter either... 

[Bee Sting]

OHHHHH that's where I went wrong! 

Having big hands doesn't help the matter either... 

show off 

[malligood50]

Put in ambers tonite, thanks for the great instructions Mongo Ranger but in my humble opinion it was still a big PITA to change 2 bulbs.  Had to do it though

[ajk2000]

I never got mine out.. had to loosen and do a reach around...   way way to hard to get out...   

[rodderik]

Many thanks to MONGO RANGER for this very helpfull info! Those Silver Star headlight bulbs run hot and will not last as long as your OEM bulbs so you will get a lot of practice pulling the front of your Avi !