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07 Headlight removal instructions with pics

Thanks for the instructions to remove headlight. These photos were great in identifying the location of the 14 or so bolts and screws.

Don
 
O....M....G!The pics and instructions were great, but our AV was having  none of it. Seem to fight me tooth and nail the whole way. Spent 2 hrs and several curse words doing this mod. :E: I followed both sets of instructions and other advise to the letter. No matter how hard I tried, I just could not get the headlight unit out. I had to fidget with both lights about 30' each to make enough space behing the unit to squeeze my hand down and behind to get to the DRL. On the first light I follwed the directions to remove all of the wheel well screws and pins. Now I can't for the life of me get the top push pin back in. Even tried a hammer. Not happening. On the other light I just did the two screws and middle push pins. I was able to get my hand and wrench up to get to the bolt. I tried to just loosen it, but in the end it needed to come out because my lights just wouldn't move. I was being cautious because the last thing I want to do is spend more time and money fixing something that wasn't broken to begin with. Once I was done, of course it was cloudy, dark, and raining so, no idea if they work but will know sooner or later. Good luck to others that do this Mod.  :laugh: Mine is done!
 
mitranom said:
Today I installed my amber drls and first off I figure if you take all 6 bolts of the top off and then placing your hand down in front of the rad you can pop off the lower grille and it will give you access to both headlights. It worked for me and it only took me 30 minutes in total, it could of been less but I was being extra careful in the cold weather trying to pop off the front grille. Hope this helps!

Does the grill just pop out?  I was trying today and I couldn't get the bugger to budge, and I tried taking all screws out and reaching in behind grill and I couldn't get at either side..2010 taupe grey Z71.....I guess i'll just put it on the hoist and pull the fenders out...what a PITA
 
omg.  I was doing this off memory today.  I managed to do my left drl  Maybe the otherside tomorrow :laugh:  I could not get the assembly to come out all the way but was finally able to get enough clearance to reach in there.  OMG
 
This looked lika an onerous task. Removing the wheelwell cover, bumper mount, grill holder and then risk scratching the finish with the tabs on the headlight. I figured out an easier way to replace the headlight bulb on the passenger side.



1. Remove Air Box

          a. Remove Air Filter

          b. Pull box out. Not screwed into anything, uses inserts.



2. Behind headlight is a rubber membrane cover.



          a. Pullout push pin (use channel locks or offset pliers to assist)



3. Loosen top two bolts holding Light fixture



4. With the fixture loosened push the headlamp forward to get more clearance (1/4-1/2 inch should do it). You should be able to twist the bulb counterclockwise, remove and replace bulb and insert into light fixture twisting clockwise.



5. Push headlight fixture into original position and tighten. You may want to mark its original position.



6. Put on light to make sure it works



7. Tap in push pin on membrane



8. Place air box bottom in original position and push in until it connects (may have to jockey a bit to find position)



9. Replace Air Filter, 4 screws and hose clamp.





I'm awaiting for the driver's side bulb to go but on observation it seems I could pull the spare battery plate and wiper wash reservior. There's a membrane cover behind that light as well.
 
Wow, that's way too much work gjs7.  Go back to page 6, reply #139 and do that.  My comments were in the previous post, but just taking out the screws on the grill and moving is enough to get your arm down there works.  It's a stretch, and you may scratch your arms/hands, but you can do both in less than 20 minutes form start to finish.  I've helped about 5 others do it this way.  Yes, painful, but easy to do.
 
Okay I'm new to the club so I'm sure which bulbs everyone is talking out here and I want to this so alittle background info would be helpful. what exactly is the DRL bulb and why Amber and whats the best way to do this?
 
My Avaz71 said:
Okay I'm new to the club so I'm sure which bulbs everyone is talking out here and I want to this so alittle background info would be helpful. what exactly is the DRL bulb and why Amber and whats the best way to do this?

DRL's are the daytime running lights that are the white lights closest to the grill.  Changing them to amber bulbs is the way that you can identify yourself to other club members as an avalanche club member. 

Welcome to the forum. 
 
OP, thanks for the break down wife's headlight went out last nite, did a search and found this thread 45 min later and I'm the man. 
Big L
 
08 AV  Ok I tryed this a couple days ago and not fun :(. could not get the lite out. and broke the tab on the bottom, but was not near a comptuer and had to go off memory.  Will try again, so how hard do you have to push on the bottom bumper when removing the lite :help:?  But did install the new Weathertech vent visors worked great and there floor mats are great. The new Black bowtie front was simple, have the rear but didnt have the time yet. 
 
They must have changed for the 2011. All I needed to do was loosen the 3 screws on each light, and the whole light assembly slides out on a pivot about 2 inches. Just pull up the airbox to get to the passenger side (its tight, so smaller hands will help). The driver side has a clear path behind the bulb to reach in and twist (also tight). I removed my POS DDM HID kit last night, and had the stocks back in about 10 minutes. Still not as easy as the 04 WBH, but not near as bad as I thought it would be...BTW, this is for low beams, I haven't tried anything else...
 
BADalanche said:
They must have changed for the 2011. All I needed to do was loosen the 3 screws on each light, and the whole light assembly slides out on a pivot about 2 inches. Just pull up the airbox to get to the passenger side (its tight, so smaller hands will help). The driver side has a clear path behind the bulb to reach in and twist (also tight). I removed my POS DDM HID kit last night, and had the stocks back in about 10 minutes. Still not as easy as the 04 WBH, but not near as bad as I thought it would be...BTW, this is for low beams, I haven't tried anything else...

Where is the third screw you are referring to? I only saw two 10mm bolts on the top of the headlight assembly. Once I loosed those the assembly moved forward a couple inches.

I have a 2011 and I attempted to put ambers in tonight and gave up. Finally I came across this thread so I will attempt again tomorrow when it's light out.
 
The third screw is hidden behind the fender well liner.  Just unscrew the 2x 7mm bolts, then give a mighty pull and pop out the 3 ribbed push plug thingers.  Peek inside behind the fender liner and you'll see the 3rd hidden 10mm bolt is there.  I avoided popping out the 2 addition pop pins because they were a pain in the ass and I had already broke one.  The entirely assembly wiggles out about an inch, and you can pivot it around easily gaining access to the required spots.  Using that method takes only a few minutes per side vs an hour fighting to remove the entire assembly itself.  Extra bonus if you have small hands.  It was daunting at first and after having removed and replaced my headlight assembly for eBay projectors in their entirety once already... and now having to do it a second time it becomes waaaay easier after doing it just once.

:B:
 
Appreciate the write up  (y). Made the installation much easier.

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30063664002_large.jpg
 
Great photos - check out this link for a video on how to change the headlight on a '07 Avalanche http://carcarekiosk.com/video/2007_Chevrolet_Avalanche_LT_5.3L_V8/lights/headlight Caution: GM did NOT make this easy!!
 
This is my first post but after needing to replace a DRL and finding the post from Mongo Ranger, I have to say, Great procedure. I led a team that developed maintenance procedures for a major oil company for several years. I recognize and appreciate well written procedures. Great Job.
Now for the design; I absolutely love the Avalanche and replaced the 04 with my 07 only because of its rack and pinion steering. But, the lack of reasonable access to replace a lamp borders on criminal. It is at the least irresponsible and negligent for GM management to allow such a design to reach its customers. There may be similar situations with other manufactures but I haven?t seen anything this ridiculous in my long life of performing much of my on vehicle maintenance.
 
Does anyone here know if the 2011s can use the same headlight removal instructions as the 2007s for bulb replacement? ???
 
So I did this the past weekend and found a HUGE timesaver.

This total process took about 5-10 minutes per side, including the center grille bolts being removed.

Mongo Ranger said:
Ok, here we go!

Tools needed:
small regular screw driver - to help get the pop pins out
7mm and 10mm sockets 1/4" drive is fine
1/4" drive 6" extension
1/4" swivel
1/4" drive ratchet or I used my cordless drill with the extension in the chuck
10mm combo wrench

Time:
50 - 70 minutes 15-20 minutes

Bulbs:
High Beam: 9005LL
Low Beam: H11
DRL: 3157K
Turn Signal: 3457NAK

Please note that these images are of the driver’s side.  Also, turning the wheel all the way to the right for the driver’s side and left for the passenger’s side helps give you more room to work.

Step 1:
Take out all 6 bolts along the top of the grille.

1.png


Step 2:
Take out the 2 - 7mm screws, 3 push pins, and 2 pop in pins in the wheel well

2.png


Step 3:
Pull the wheel well lining towards the tire and remove loosen the 2 10mm bolts that go up into the fender.  When you remove them the bumper mounting bracket will come out.  Also note that this image shows the location of the 3rd headlight bolt as well as a bumper mounting bracket. Do not remove this bracket just pry on the bumper it will release

3.png



Step 4:
Remove the 3 10mm bolts holding the headlight in.  2 are on top and the third is behind the bumper as shown in the last image.  I found that I was able to pull down on the bumper and use the extension with a swivel to take the 3rd bolt out.

4.png


Step 5:
Pull the entire headlight forward.  You will notice 2 guide pins that go into the fender and a part that snaps in on the inside of the headlight.  Pull it forward just enough to clear those pins and unsnap the inside.

5.png


Step 6:
Pull the inner corner of the headlight out while pushing down on the bumper.  Take care of the snaps along the edge of the headlight as they get caught on the bumper and can scratch it.  TAKE YOUR TIME AND LOOK AT WHAT YOU ARE DOING, this is the hardest part.  As you get the inner side of the headlight out rotate the headlight leaving the outside stationary.  The reason for this is the bracket that was held by the 3rd headlight bolt hangs down there.  You have to get the inside of the headlight out then you can move the outside in and clear the top of the headlight and the fender.

6.png


6a.png


Step 7:
Once you have the headlight out, disconnect the wiring harness and remove the headlight.

Step 8:
Change what ever it was you needed to change and put them AMBERS in the DRL's!!

Step 9:
Replace the headlight the same way you took it out.  It seems to go in much easier then it came out. Don’t forget to reconnect the wiring harness!

Step 10:
Repeat steps 2-9 for the other side.

Step 11:
Put everything back together in reverse order.  I suggest testing the lights after you put the 3 10mm headlight bolts back in.  (the same ones you took out in step 4)


Please do not repost this on another site without permission, remember it is copyrighted.
 
what ever happened to reach in behind the headlight to change the bulb ???
or even removal of the battery possibly ??  (n)
 
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