Changing Headlight on '98 Legacy Outback?

[Michael Hudson]

Okay, so what's the joke? The driver's side headlight blew on The
Beast, our '98 Legacy Outback. Seems straight forward enough...
unhook the metal clippy thingy, pull out the bulb gizmo, and then
what? She won't come free, the electrical connection – the beige
plastic doodad with the three wires coming out of it – no matter
what. I thought there may be a button to depress or something like
that, so I checked the manual, which says, "Disconnect the electrical
connection, blah blah blah..." I dosed the thing with WD40, I tried
pliers (gently, ever so gently), I wiggled and cajoled... nothing. Is
there a trick to this that I'm missing?

Thanks in advance for all thoughts and suggestions,

M. Hudson

 

[johninKY]

Held there by vacuum. Don't attempt to twist the bulb because you'll brea
something. Wiggle it up and down in a vertical motion until the vacuu
seal pops

 

[Michael Hudson]

Held there by vacuum.  Don't attempt to twist the bulb because you'll break
something.  Wiggle it up and down in a vertical motion until the vacuum
seal pops.

Hey, John... you mean I should just hold the black, bulb-housing part
and wiggle the wired, beige connection, the thing that fits into the
rear of the bulb assembly? It seemed, last night anyway, to be in
there for the duration!

Thanks again,

M

 

[jimmy]

Hey, John... you mean I should just hold the black, bulb-housing part
and wiggle the wired, beige connection, the thing that fits into the
rear of the bulb assembly?  It seemed, last night anyway, to be in
there for the duration!

Thanks again,

M

Funny but I've been going through the same thing ;-) I'm watching for
any other advise.
(My headlight intermittenly goes on and off, so I have to drive around
with high beams on...
sorry in advance if you pass me ;-)
jimmy

 

[johninKY]

Look at the new replacement bulb. It has knobs on the base which shows wh
it can't be rotated.

Just flip that wire cage thingee and remove the wiring harness from th
base of the bulb. Then wiggle the base of the bulb, that black thing, u
and down until the vacuum seal breaks. Then the bulb can be removed.

Can't describe it any better then that. If you have a wrecking yard clos
by you could go there and practice on a wrecked Subaru.

 

[Michael Hudson]

Funny but I've been going through the same thing ;-)  I'm watching for
any other advise.
(My headlight intermittenly goes on and off, so I have to drive around
with high beams on...
sorry in advance if you pass me ;-)
jimmy

Yup. High beam only. And I've got to say that that connector is in
there mi-tee-tight. I sprayed the business end with WD40 last night.
I doubt that would help break a vacuum seal – that would take VD40,
which I'm fresh out of – but I'll have another go at it again tonight.

If you have any success, scream.

M

 

[Michael Hudson]

Look at the new replacement bulb.  It has knobs on the base which showswhy
it can't be rotated.  

Just flip that wire cage thingee and remove the wiring harness from the
base of the bulb.  Then wiggle the base of the bulb, that black thing, up
and down until the vacuum seal breaks.  Then the bulb can be removed.  

Can't describe it any better then that.  If you have a wrecking yard close
by you could go there and practice on a wrecked Subaru.

Hey John... the black bulb unit comes out just fine. What I can't do
is remove the wiring harness from the base. Any thoughts on that?

Thanks,

M

 

[johninKY]

We're getting there. There is a black plastic tab, topside of the plug
that needs depressed to release the wiring harness from the base of th
bulb.

 

[Michael Hudson]

Okay, so what's the joke? The driver's side headlight blew on The
Beast, our '98 Legacy Outback. Seems straight forward enough...
unhook the metal clippy thingy, pull out the bulb gizmo, and then
what? She won't come free, the electrical connection – the beige
plastic doodad with the three wires coming out of it – no matter
what. I thought there may be a button to depress or something like
that, so I checked the manual, which says, "Disconnect the electrical
connection, blah blah blah..." I dosed the thing with WD40, I tried
pliers (gently, ever so gently), I wiggled and cajoled... nothing. Is
there a trick to this that I'm missing?

Thanks in advance for all thoughts and suggestions,

M. Hudson

Okay, so the beige thingy isn't *supposed* to come off! It's just a
cover. That whole gizmo comes out, I found out, after seriously
depressing the black thing that says 'push'. All's well now, I'm
happy to report. Thanks for all of your various inputs!

M

 

[kaplan3jiim]

Funny but I've been going through the same thing ;-) I'm watching for
any other advise.
(My headlight intermittenly goes on and off, so I have to drive around
with high beams on...
sorry in advance if you pass me ;-)
jimmy

Here's a fix for the "intermittent" problem: Just give it the lens a
hard rap (or 2 if needed) before setting out on a drive. Seems to
always stay on for the duration, no matter how long. But I need to do
it every time I drive the car.

Jim

 

[johninKY]

Few months ago I purchased a kit to do my headlights. Have to admit th
stuff did make a vast improvement but nowhere near the clarity of a ne
headlight.

This is sort of reverse engineering but the new headlight could b
replaced with an used one to produce a matched pair.