Loose headlamp assembly

[OchoMarko]

My passenger side headlamp assembly is loose albeit it is secured by the clips, meaning you can freely lift it up and down with your hand. The adjusters are in but turning them doesn't do anything because of the way they're just loose. What is missing or causing this problem? Thanks for any input.

 

[thaywood]

It could be the tabs on the back of the headlight where the adjusters attach may be broken. The adjusters have these hard rubber thingies on the back that slide into a notched hole in the back of the headlight assembly and they lock in place by turning them 90 degrees. The tab could be broken or the adjuster could just have detached. They're easy to pull out. Just take a small flathead screwdriver and pull the metal clips out and just pull he headlight assembly out and check the back. Hope this helps.

 

[ONLYTONY]

My passenger side headlamp assembly is loose albeit it is secured by the clips, meaning you can freely lift it up and down with your hand. The adjusters are in but turning them doesn't do anything because of the way they're just loose. What is missing or causing this problem? Thanks for any input.

Pic of adjusters, 96 on left, 95 on right. The clip holds the light on. If you have the clips in place, the blue or white rubber nut shouldn't turn when you turn metal adjuster. If you adj the lights while the small white cone looking thing is clipped in, it could break off. If the adjusters are rusted, or the light has been re-done (heated) these will be frozen. Sounds like your missing one of the 3 clips .

 

[ONLYTONY]

Pic of adjusters, 96 on left, 95 on right. The clip holds the light on. If you have the clips in place, the blue or white rubber nut shouldn't turn when you turn metal adjuster. If you adj the lights while the small white cone looking thing is clipped in, it could break off. If the adjusters are rusted, or the light has been re-done (heated) these will be frozen. Sounds like your missing one of the 3 clips .

 

[OchoMarko]

I just went out to check, both sides look exactly alike and all 6 clips are in. However, the passengers side adjuster is rusted and not on 0 like the driver's side. I'm wondering if this is whats wrong. So hard to tell, I studied both sides for 10 minutes. I'll just take it off the car tomorrow to see whats wrong.
Thanks for the info

 

[jbelcourt]

I'm willing to bet your top mount broke. Mine did the exact same thing. Take the three clips off, pull the headlight out. You'll likely find the top mount (not either of the two adjusters) is snapped in half.

 

[ONLYTONY]

 

[soduka]

Same here. Went to replace the clip on the top plastic thing exactly as pictured by ONLYTONY and it snapped right off.

 

[keVIIIn]

Jut pull the headlight housing out..youll be able to tell whats loose or broken right away..it will have to be removed to be fixed anyway.

 

[jbelcourt]

View attachment 828465218

^exactly this.

 

[ONLYTONY]

I never had any luck finding the broken part. One time I used a 3"-4" in ss screw with a few fender washers and locknuts to secure the light, and it was adjustable. Replaced the part, and broke it again. I drilled a small hole through the car and through what was left of the part, and inserted a thin piece of ss wire, bent it over and taped it down in case I have to remove it. Wire is 10 or 12 gage. Has been working for about a year. Sorry no pic, but when the ft of snow gets off the car I'll take some. Put pressure on the light so it'll be snug in the car before you drill.