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Help removing headlight, tool just spins ???

Lancerlot

Lancerlot

PCGB Member
Member
The most common fault on headlight removal is the hexagonal nut head or socket tool rounds off, but you say this is not the case here and you suspect the clamping rod is broken. This would be rare. :rolleyes:

But if it is the case, it means the lamp is no longer clamped and you should be able to remove it by pulling it forward - use a pair of marigolds for a better grip! [;)] Or you could try gentle levering with a plastic trim pry bar around the rim to loosen it - use masking tape to prevent paint damage.

Removing the front section of the plastic wheel arch liner, you may be able to reach into the back of the headlight and loosen it from there.

My bet would be it is a rounded hex on the bar, so try a slightly smaller socket on the end of a 1/4" extension and see if you can tap it on for a tight fit.

Regards,

[font="comic sans ms,sans-serif"]Clive[/font]

 
Mate of mine at work has just bought a lovely 2005 GT Silver 997 MK I Carrera S.

He's keen to get all areas cleaned up and protected and has already clayed polished and sealed the bodywork.

He has removed one headlight (using the headlight removal tool in the toolkit) and cleaned all behind it but he cant remove the other one.
When he puts the tool in to the slot in the end of the clamping bow (steel rod) that's mounted in the headlight mounting baseplate, it just spins round and round.

The allen key fitting fits in the slot, but we cant figure out where/if the clamping bow is broken that lifts the headlight up and out.
He has ordered a new headlight mounting baseplate with the clamping bow built in, but its now just a matter of being able to get the headlight out to fit the new mounting plate !!!

Any ideas gents? Is it possible to get through the wheel arch liner?
Car has xenons, so he doesn't want to be damaging the light unit.

https://www.design911.co.uk/pages/diagramsBrowser.aspx?categoryID=9&diagramID=3827

Has anyone else had this dilemma?
If a bulb blows, there will be no way to change it.
 
Several times I thought this was a problem with mine, then I realised I was repeatedly mislocating the long hex tool not onto the steel rod but it was going between the steel rod and the guide hole in front of it. I never did find a quick way of doing it but would try inserting the tool at what felt like was the wrong angle and seemed to have more success thereafter..

Hope this helps..

 
I had a similar issue getting one of my lights out, again when i thought it was spinning i wasn't actually located on the hex although it certainly felt like it, a little re-positioning and it came straight out, would have put money on it being rounded off but it wasn't.

Regards

 
guitarplayer63 said:
Several times I thought this was a problem with mine, then I realised I was repeatedly mislocating the long hex tool not onto the steel rod but it was going between the steel rod and the guide hole in front of it. I never did find a quick way of doing it but would try inserting the tool at what felt like was the wrong angle and seemed to have more success thereafter..

Hope this helps..
Click to expand...

I had this with the Boxster light, the headlight removal tool was just like you say, under the clamping bow.

My mate seems pretty convinced that it is connected to the clamping bow and part of it is spinning round.

He's getting it up on the ramps on Sunday to see if he can sort it out, whether its removing the wheel liner or something else.

 
Blade_uk said:
I had a similar issue getting one of my lights out, again when i thought it was spinning i wasn't actually located on the hex although it certainly felt like it, a little re-positioning and it came straight out, would have put money on it being rounded off but it wasn't.

Regards
Click to expand...

Cheers, sounds like you, me and guitar player have had similar experiences on the headlights before.

 
Lancerlot said:
The most common fault on headlight removal is the hexagonal nut head or socket tool rounds off, but you say this is not the case here and you suspect the clamping rod is broken. This would be rare. :rolleyes:

But if it is the case, it means the lamp is no longer clamped and you should be able to remove it by pulling it forward - use a pair of marigolds for a better grip! [;)] Or you could try gentle levering with a plastic trim pry bar around the rim to loosen it - use masking tape to prevent paint damage.

Removing the front section of the plastic wheel arch liner, you may be able to reach into the back of the headlight and loosen it from there.

My bet would be it is a rounded hex on the bar, so try a slightly smaller socket on the end of a 1/4" extension and see if you can tap it on for a tight fit.

Regards,

[font="comic sans ms,sans-serif"]Clive[/font]
Click to expand...

Thanks Clive,

Mick says it feels like the clamping bow can spin greater than 360 degrees, which would make you think its snapped somewhere, otherwise the joggled part would engage in the back of the headlight assembly. From memory, when its working correctly, it cant go full circle, it bottoms out on the stops at far clockwise rotation and far anticlockwise rotation ???

 
Update:

He's managed to remove the headlight, and has fitted the new headlight mounting plate.

On the old one, Clive was spot on saying he suspected the socket end of the clamping bow might have rounded off.

It had, so the hex part of the removal tool would fit it, but as you cant see it, it feels like its spinning the clamping bow round, but in reality it was just spinning in the socket.

 
Blade_uk said:
Glad you got it sorted, was that from entry behind the wheel arch liner?

Regards

Karl
Click to expand...

Haven't got a clue Karl.

I'll ask him tomorrow at work and post a reply just in case it helps other members

 
Hi guys I am now a member and managed to remove my headlamp by just pulling it out, the hex end of the locking rod had rounded, I managed to change the headlamp plate via access through the wheel arch after removing the liner. It is quite tricky due to the radiator being under the plate. I also ended up removing all of the wheel liners of my car and was shocked to find a lot of damp mud and road dirt behind the rear ones. I have cleaned behind them and waxoiled the areas.

 
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