Sunfire headlights are stoopid! - Fuel Economy, Hypermiling, EcoModding News and Forum

bennelson · 02-02-2009, 07:41 PM

GRrr - Rant - Pontiac Sunfire headlights are stoopid!

My wife's headlight went out the other night, so I stopped by the auto parts store today while I was running errands.

To replace the bulb, you have to remove the entire headlight assembly. To get to that you have to first remove the radiator cover.

Once I made it down to the headlamp assembly, the second bolt (of the two that hold the headlight in place) slipped out of my hand and down into the gaping hole left from the headlight not being there.

Instead of falling straight to the ground, this car has sort of a mini-partial belly pan on just the sides. I have no idea if the bolt is in there or not. I whacked the bottom a few times, to hear if there was a bolt rattling around or not. Couldn't find it anywhere.

And could the Sunfire use a normal bolt to hold the headlight in? NOOOoooooo. It has to be a weird special bolt which I can't match.

So now, her car has two working headlights, but the driver side is only held in by one bolt.

Grrrrr...

End Rant.

Frank Lee · 02-02-2009, 08:15 PM

User unfriendliness.

This is what happens when engineers don't know how to turn a wrench.

I yoosta work in an Eng. Dept. and I think out of 200 guys I was the only one that changed my own oil and did my own mechanic work. Go figure.

dremd · 02-02-2009, 11:01 PM

I feel your pain
Anyone else have a maddening bulb removal procedure?

MazdaMatt · 02-03-2009, 08:44 AM

I'm an engineer - i can assure you that the decision was made because it got the parts through the assembly line as cheaply as possible. I'm sure some consideration was made to the over-priced dealer maintenance people. They don't care about you and your troubles replacing the headlight.

Also, as an engineer... that pisses me off. It is money-driven.

i_am_socket · 02-03-2009, 12:27 PM

Mine are just difficult to reach, but don't require removal of anything. It'd be a lot easier if I removed the battery and battery box, but I have thin enough hands to maneuver in there.

That's like my mother's old '92 Grand Prix with the battery under the washer fluid. "Sorry, I can't help jump start your car because I need a frikin' floor jack"

MazdaMatt · 02-03-2009, 12:52 PM

I had a dead car one cold morning and i couldn't bump start it. A pontiac pulled up and offered a boost, but he had never done it before... lifted the hood, no battery to be seen. After scratching out heads a while, he wished me good luck and drove off. It was a newer car, too... STUPID design.

wagonman76 · 02-04-2009, 01:08 PM

Thankfully I don't have a car that has a procedure that difficult. All my Pontiacs have headlight bulbs that can be changed without any tools. Snap out the grille with flip levers. Pull out the headlight assembly with two thumbscrews. Tailllights on the Celeb come out with thumbscrews. They don't build em like they used to.

dcwp · 02-04-2009, 02:51 PM

I actually replaced a bulb on my Focus this weekend and was shocked to find that it was a very simple, toolless process. Just unscrew a cap, flick a wire clip, and unplug. This may be the first thing about this car that makes me really happy.

Porxster · 05-01-2012, 07:13 PM

Quote:

I actually replaced a bulb on my Focus this weekend and was shocked to find that it was a very simple, toolless process. Just unscrew a cap, flick a wire clip, and unplug. This may be the first thing about this car that makes me really happy.

Focus should be called Ford S/B...Surprise Box
Wait until rear suspension bushings goes,control arms/links needs to be replaced + wheel alignment = Katching!
BTW the coil springs are most likely broken at bottom,but can't see until removed.

I have a 98 Sunfire 2.2L and that's the only thing silly to work on so far...
Headlights tends to die due to a fragile ground wire that breaks.
Fun/easy car to work on
If i could only find out about a possible 5th gear swap...

Fat Charlie · 05-02-2012, 10:29 AM

I'm supposed to remove my front fascia to get at the bulbs. Riiiight. Of course if you can't see what you're doing very well because you're doing it with everything in place, then you just might break a retaining spring. That's only serviced as a headlamp assembly. My right low beam bulb has been held in place with mechanic's wire for the last four years.