broken headlight pin

[ric]

I have one broken headlight pin on my left headlight on a 94 gmc k1500 truck. I need to replace headlight Assembly and the one pin just turns and wont come out. I haven't tried to brake out light at this point and I don't know how hard the lights are to brake. Has anybody had to do this? What are your thoughts?
thank you...Ric

 

[Molson02536]

I have one broken headlight pin on my left headlight on a 94 gmc k1500 truck. I need to replace headlight Assembly and the one pin just turns and wont come out. I haven't tried to brake out light at this point and I don't know how hard the lights are to brake. Has anybody had to do this? What are your thoughts?
thank you...Ric

Try using a Vice Grip, while turning the pin to remove it from the headlight assembly. Pull up on it trying to work it out the same time your turn the pin, it's one thing to replace an broken headlight and another to replace the headlight assembly retainer.

Here is a link that should help you see all the parts to your Headlight assembly. Good luck and keep us posted.

http://www.compnine.com/index.php?u...delid=6557&capuid=1&majorgroup=02&grouptype=B

 

[ric]

Thanks Molson for the quick reply
I have tried the vise grips using side cutters to pry up on the pins and no luck. It looks like changing the the retainer is in the future. Thanks for the diagram it helps a lot. I will probably start removing the grill later this week and I will replace both headlight Assembly's do to frozen adjusting screws. I don't know why after only 16 years and only 47000 on a plow truck things would get stuck
The 94 gmc has bin a great truck handling a western 7.5 plow with ballast in the back. After the lights will be the front end parts they are all shot and the truck is nice enough to keep running.
Thanks again Molson And I can see from the posts you are a very busy person stay warm up north
Thanks...Ric

 

[ric]

I wanted to fallow up on replacing the head light assembly's. It went real well most time was spent finding the lower grill screws and moving the snow plow plug In's from the front grill.

Remove the front parking brake light's(4 screws in each one) remove lights from housing and tuck the bulbs back inside the grill.

There are 10 screws that hold the grill, 5 at top and 5 on bottom.
Remove the top 5 and pull back grill far enough to get your arm through to get center bottom screw out. The other 4 bottom screws can be done through the parking light holes. Remove the grill.

At this point you will see the headlight assembly and can change the assembly and retainer by removing the 4 bolts holding the retainer assembly.

The job took me about 2 hours but I spent half that time finding the lower screws for the grill. I am old and slow.

I would like to add this is NOT how you change headlight bulbs. To change bulbs you remove long pins and headlights will come out forward of the grill.

hope this will help somebody
Ric