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CobraXP please read :) (headlight installation)

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Old Dec 28, 2006 | 11:15 AM
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CobraXP please read :) (headlight installation)

Hey man, I remember you have the clear lights on your X. I just ordered a complete set (headlights and corner light assembly). I know how to install the corner lights (just the 2 screws on top of each light) but how do I remove/install the headlight assembly? Can you tell me or point me in the direction of an install page? Thanks.
 
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Old Dec 28, 2006 | 12:55 PM
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I know I have a write-up marked somewhere for this. Let me look around and see what I can find.

It is not that bad of a job though. The largest PITA is getting the factory lights out because the clipsand adjusters that hold in the light can be real fun to get loose. If I remember, I had to end up taking the battery out to get to the back of the driver side and the intake out to get to the back of the passenger side.


Now..... where did I put that write-up?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?
 
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Old Dec 28, 2006 | 09:55 PM
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I can take the battery/grill/intake off no problem. Thanks for replying man, a writeup would be perfect
 
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Old Dec 29, 2006 | 09:47 AM
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Well... I'll have to keep looking for the write-up. Who knows what I did with it. I searched a few of the other explorer places, but haven't seen it yet either.

Either way, I can basically walk you through it. Start out by removing the corners. Then take off the top grille shroud (the piece with the flaps to get to the back of the headlight). Then remove the grille.

Some people think it is easier to unscrew the adjusters off the factory lights and reuse them on the new ones. I've done it both ways, and it really didn'tmatter to me. It can be a PITA either way. Anyway, look at the mounts for the stick light. You will see one of the mounts is a solid mount and the other two are adjusters. If you can get to the clips on the back of the front girdle, you can squeeze them with plyers and they will come out that way. I believe this is where you might have to take the battery and intake off. Once you get those out, the rest is a piece of cake.

This isn't the greatest write-up I know. I'll still look for the other one, but basically, once you get the corners and grille off, you will be able to see almost everything right in front of you and my typing will make more sense...
 
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Old Dec 29, 2006 | 10:03 AM
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I dont get the lights for another couple days so i'll wait patiently for your writeup Im getting lost on some of your terminology tho, like what the girdle is, or the stick light. is the screw-like thing that sticks straight up from the middle of the light at the top by the flap the adjuster?
 
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Old Dec 29, 2006 | 10:17 AM
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Originally Posted by 4.0 Beast
Im getting lost on some of your terminology tho, like what the girdle is, or the stick light. is the screw-like thing that sticks straight up from the middle of the light at the top by the flap the adjuster?



I haven't had my caffeine this morning and it is showing... With me mistyping everything, I can see why you wouldn't want to follow my instructions...

I don't know what I was thinking about when I typed this - but girdle is the header panel. Why I typed girdle.....

Stick Light is stock light.

Man... I'm going home and back to bed...
 
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Old Dec 29, 2006 | 10:22 AM
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When I get home tonight, I'll try and get some pics for you and label them. That is if I don't find the write-up...

Oh yeah - the metal piece you see next to the flap that has a hex head on it - that is one of the adjusters. You have an up/down adjuster and a left/right adjuster. I believe the shaft is the up/down. If you open the flap and look down, you will notice one of the bolts coming through the header panel has the same hex end. That is the left/right adjuster.
 
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Old Dec 29, 2006 | 10:46 AM
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ok gotcha. pics with labels work best for me thanks for the help.
 
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Old Dec 31, 2006 | 10:36 AM
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i went ahead and did it. it wasnt really that hard but those 2 adjusters on each light were a PITA. they were really brittle and i guess all were broken because you could freely push them back. well, i could only replace the ones on top on each side. the ones on the bottom you cant really access the other side to pinch the plastic thing on the threads to pull it thru the front. so, each light sits kind of funky... and im missing a bulb on the drivers side i know need to go to autozone.


 
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Old Dec 31, 2006 | 08:50 PM
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Those look great Beast!!!

Sorry I didn't get the pics to you. This weekend got a little hectic and I didn't get them until about an hour ago. Looked on here to post them and see you got it. The hardest part is just what you ran into. Getting to those clips on back of each of the bolts is fun.... lol...
 
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Old Dec 31, 2006 | 09:51 PM
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well, they are all out of wack as far as aim goes. each points in its own direction and both are way too high. i was peering into a plumbing van (full size van) and it looked so bright in there i swore he had his inisde lights on but i changed lanes and it went dark. and when i turned down my street which has tall trees on the sides of the streets the tops of the trees were brightly lit up. so, my question is, how the heck do you adjust the adjusters? and it looks like just my up/down needs to be adjusted not my left/right. i turn the screw with a screwdriver but the whole thing turns. do i need to hold the back with a pliers and then turn?
 
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Old Dec 31, 2006 | 10:03 PM
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I just deleted the photos....

Hang on and let me get ao for you again of the adjusters... Be right back...
 
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Old Dec 31, 2006 | 10:04 PM
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Here are some pics. You'll find my questions in them.

 
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Old Dec 31, 2006 | 10:23 PM
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Your pics are easier to see, so I'll describe them.

Top Pic - yes, that it the adjsuter. Whether it is the up/down or left/right - I don't remember.....

Middle pic - that is the other adjuster. Notice it has the same adjuster head as the other. It is something like a 5/64" or something like that. This one is harder to reach as it is on the side of the light that is closer to the center of the grille. It will be about 5" down in the space.

Last pic - The phillips head screw is not the adjuster. It can be used as an adjustment if needed, but this is a stationary mount. It goes to the top of the light above the long adjuster bar. You will notice how it mounts and slides into place.


Best way to adjust them is to park on a level driveway in front of a garage door. Get about 10-15 feet from it and have the front end parallel with the garage door. Then stand between them adjusting the bolt heads.
 
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Old Jan 2, 2007 | 09:06 AM
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Beast,

Were you able to get them adjusted? I believe the long adjuster is the up/down. There are only three mounts, and one of them is a stationary mount. It should be the top one. The on closest to the inside part of the grille should be the left/right adjuster.
 
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