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ALJDIAMANT
Cruiser Expert
PT Cruiser Club Member
Posted: Apr 12, 2008, 8:35 AM
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High beam replacement problem
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Lets call a Spade a Spade. This is a fine example of Chrysler crappy design. I have just purchased a 2004 PT Cruiser GT Turbo. As I do with most of my cars, I decided to upgrade the headlamps. Under normal circumstances, a ten minute job. However, the PT Cruiser is not normal. Chrysler is considerate enough to put a removable access panel in the inner fender cover. Removing the panel will expose the parking/turn signal lamp, the low beam lamp, and the high beam lamp. A quarter counter-clockwise turn to any of these sockets releases the bulb and socket from the housing. No sweat on the parking and low beam lamps. The high beam is the reason for the title to this post. The socket is viewable, BUT you cannot remove the socket and lamp. There is a body panel directly behind the lamp that presses against the socket. You may be able to turn the socket, but there is not enough clearance to move the socket back enough to give access to the bulb.Removing the plug from the socket to give more clearance is also impossible. Simple solution. Loosen the headlight assembly and pull it forward enough to give clearance. What an undertaking! The fascia (bumper cover) prevents the headlight housing from moving forward. The following procedures are necessary. Remove the four sheet metal screws holding the grill and remove the grill. Remove the two upper sheet metal screws that hold the fascia to the side radiator brackets. Remove the three sheet metal screws that hold the fascia to the lower radiator bracket. Remove the two 10mm nuts holding the fascia to the front edge of the fender. Remove the three sheet metal screws that hold the inner fender cover to the fascia. Then, accessible from the access panel and behind the headlamp assembly; remove the four 10mm nuts holding the headlight assembly to the housing. Use a small bungee between the fender cover and a coil of the spring to hold the inner fender cover away from the fascia. You can now pull the fascia down to give clearance to the headlight assembly. Use another bungee between the the 10mm holes that fasten the facia to the fender and a spone on the wheel to hold the fascia away from the housing. You can now remove the housing and install the bulbs. Why couldn’t Chrysler put a notch in the body panel behind the high beam socket to allow enough clearance to remove the socket and bulb? The problem is the same on both sides. Does anyone have a better solution to change the high beam lamp?
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Posts: 127 | From: NAPLES, FLORIDA
| Registered: Apr 9, 2008, 4:50 PM
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rcktpwrd
Cruiser Addict
Posted: Apr 12, 2008, 11:29 AM
Post #2 of 7
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Re: [ALJDIAMANT] High beam replacement problem
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I didn't have that problem when I changed the headlight bulbs in my '01... The bulbs aren't the easiest to get at but they did come out through the access panel.
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Joel
2001 Patriot Blue Touring Edition 5 speed
1976 Oldsmobile Cutlass S [RCKTPWRD]
Click here to see--->My Cars!
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Posts: 754 | From: Raleigh, NC
| Registered: Jun 17, 2001, 12:00 AM
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ALJDIAMANT
Cruiser Expert
PT Cruiser Club Member
Posted: Apr 12, 2008, 3:34 PM
Post #3 of 7
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Re: [rcktpwrd] High beam replacement problem
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I suspect it is possible that the GT has extra body stiffiners to limit torque flex. One set of stiffiners being behind the hi beam lamps.
The owner's manual and the shop manual do not show the interfering stiffiner.
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Posts: 127 | From: NAPLES, FLORIDA
| Registered: Apr 9, 2008, 4:50 PM
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sent1
Cruiser Expert
Posted: Apr 13, 2008, 6:28 AM
Post #4 of 7
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Re: [ALJDIAMANT] High beam replacement problem
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I'll be interested to see what I find when I go to pull out my headlights for an upcoming project. I'm currently in the begining phase of painting my house so that has priority right now. One exception being that my dreamer is sitting in a paint booth right now.
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DC1 #1610--5-speed. Its got some stuff.
'03 Inferno Red--Its getting some stuff too!
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Posts: 424 | From: Salem, Oregon
| Registered: Apr 14, 2007, 8:56 AM
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ALJDIAMANT
Cruiser Expert
PT Cruiser Club Member
Posted: Apr 13, 2008, 2:05 PM
Post #5 of 7
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Re: [sent1] High beam replacement problem
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I received a reply from a guy with a non-turbo. He says the body brace that interferes with the lamp removal is not present on his car. If you lower the facia, after you remove the mentioned screws, pull the facia forward, away from the radiator bracket and then push down. Strange; when I removed the facia I found an old cell phone lodged between the facia and the bumper.
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Posts: 127 | From: NAPLES, FLORIDA
| Registered: Apr 9, 2008, 4:50 PM
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rcktpwrd
Cruiser Addict
Posted: Apr 14, 2008, 5:05 AM
Post #6 of 7
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Re: [ALJDIAMANT] High beam replacement problem
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gotta love finding extra stuff in your car!
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Joel
2001 Patriot Blue Touring Edition 5 speed
1976 Oldsmobile Cutlass S [RCKTPWRD]
Click here to see--->My Cars!
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Posts: 754 | From: Raleigh, NC
| Registered: Jun 17, 2001, 12:00 AM
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sent1
Cruiser Expert
Posted: Apr 14, 2008, 5:34 AM
Post #7 of 7
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Re: [ALJDIAMANT] High beam replacement problem
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 How Funny! If you didn't have cell phone service, maybe its time?
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DC1 #1610--5-speed. Its got some stuff.
'03 Inferno Red--Its getting some stuff too!
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Posts: 424 | From: Salem, Oregon
| Registered: Apr 14, 2007, 8:56 AM
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