How to Change a Headlight Bulb on a Chevrolet Silverado

It is important to keep your Chevrolet Silverado’s headlights properly adjusted for proper visibility during night driving. Proper headlight adjustment will also prevent headlight beams from distracting drivers in oncoming lanes. Keep reading this post until the end and learn how to change a headlight bulb on a chevrolet silverado.

When you adjust your Silverado’s low beams, the high beams automatically adjust to their correct position; The lights can be adjusted using the adjustment screw located on the top of the headlight housing.

How to Change a Headlight Bulb on a Chevrolet Silverado

This set of instructions will show you how to change a headlight bulb on the 1999-2007 Chevrolet Silverado, you can also use this procedure on the 99-06 GMC Sierra, Suburban, and Yukon/Tahoe of the same years. In the different models it will vary only a little.

1- Remove the old headlight bulb

The first thing you should do to fix the light on a chevrolet silverado is to remove the heart of the headlight and remove or disassemble the old bulb that does not work well.

1- Park your Chevy Silverado

Make sure your vehicle is parked on a flat surface in a well-lit area. Set the emergency brake and release the hood by pulling the lever located at the left end of the driver’s footwell.

• Check that the headlights and key switch are off.

2- Stand in the front of the car

Move to the front of the vehicle. Open the hood by inserting your hand into the gap between the hood and the grill. Locate the lever assembly and slide it slightly to the left. You should be able to lift the hood all the way up.

3- Locate the headlight assembly that is faulty.

Find the two (2) pins at the top of the headlight assembly. Twist the headlight retaining pins until they are free from the headlight housing.

• If the pins are difficult to remove due to road grime, a flat-blade screwdriver may be helpful. Insert it between the headlight housing and the pin, and gently twist it to displace the pin.

4- Pull the pins

Pull the headlight retainer pins up and set them aside in a safe place. Be sure to note where the pin came from, as they are not interchangeable.

5- Take out the headlight assembly

Grab the headlight assembly and gently pull it towards you. Don’t pull quickly. There is a wire harness attached to the rear that can be easily damaged.

6- Disconnect the harness from the bulbs

While holding the headlight housing, proceed to disconnect the harness from the bulbs by squeezing the connector and pulling straight on the bulb.

• This can be difficult; sometimes it can be helpful to place the case on a stand while doing this.

7- Take the headlight housing to a workbench

Move the headlight housing, now free of wires, to a workbench or other stable surface.

• Make sure the surface you are working on is smooth enough not to mar the surface of the headlight.

8- Remove the headlight bulbs

Remove the old bulbs by grasping the bulb and turning it counterclockwise 90 degrees.

• Dispose of old light bulbs in a safe place.

2- Install the new bulb

You should know that to change a headlight bulb in a Chevrolet Silverado you do not require too many instruments. Now that you have removed the bulb correctly, all you need to do is mount the new one and test the light.

1- Take out the new bulb

Take your new bulb out of the packaging.

• Don’t touch the glass part of the bulb with your fingers. Since the oil from your fingers will cause the bulb to fail prematurely.

• Handle the bulb only with clean gloves.

2- Install the bulb

Install the bulb by inserting it into the headlight housing and turning it clockwise 90 degrees.

3- Place the casing and the harness

Return to the vehicle with the shell. And again reconnect the harness to the new bulbs.

• You should hear a “clicAudible when connector is fully seated. Pull lightly on connection to ensure harness is fully connected.

• Place the shell in the vehicle. Make sure you haven’t caught or pinched any wires. Try to line up the pin holes loosely.

• If it doesn’t seem to line up, take two steps back and look. You should be able to see which side is not correct.

4- Locate the pins

Reinsert the pins through the vehicle body and headlight housing. Make sure they are in the same position they came from.

• If you have them mixed up, the shortest one comes closer to the center of the vehicle.

• Rotate the pins until they lock under the tab on the headlight housing.

5- Check the functionality of the light

Get into the Chevrolet Silverado, flip the switch to on but don’t turn it on yet. He turns on the headlights and returns to the front of the vehicle.

• Check the function of the light and close the hood.

• Turn off the headlights and turn the key switch to the off position.

Read also: How to Fix Electrical System Problems in a Silverado

Tips and recommendations:

When changing a headlight bulb on a Chevrolet Silverado certain details can come up:

• If the bulb burns out again quickly, check that it hasn’t touched the glass part, and that your housing has maintained a good seal and isn’t letting water in.

• If both headlights burn out simultaneously, then you should check the headlight switch and wiring. Suspect an electrical fault.

Do I have to change the whole headlight or can I just change the bulb?

Depends on the situation. If the light (that is, the headlight) is not working, it is most likely the bulb that needs to be changed. If that doesn’t work, check that the bulb is on by checking the socket with a multimeter. If it indicates no voltage, then the problem is with the headlight housing unit rather than the bulb.

If you know that the problem is in the bulb of the light bulb, all you have to do is change the headlight bulb on your Chevrolet Silverado and that’s it.