Chevy Silverado Headlight Bulb Replacement

My 2008 Chevy Silverado needed a low beam, headlight bulb replacement. I did a little research and the estimated cost to have it replaced by a shop was between $60 and $80. This is a job I knew I could easily do myself, so I checked the price of the bulbs. They typically ranged anywhere from $15 to $20 dollars. I found a couple of low beam replacement bulb options online at Amazon for under $15.00, including shipping, that will be delivered right to your door.

The bulb that needed to be replaced was on the passenger side of the vehicle. To access the backside of the headlight assembly required me to remove the airbox. Follow the below steps for gaining access to the bulb and replacing it. The bulb on the driver’s side can be replaced without removing anything.

Safety Consideration

Before beginning the airbox removal, be aware that you will be working near the radiator fan and the serpentine belts and pulleys.  For that reason, you should always make sure your vehicle will not start.  The best way to do this is to remove one of your battery leads.  This is especially important when working on a vehicle with remote start capability!  For other safe work practices for home projects, take some time and read my articles on home project safety and lockout – tagout.  Remember, there are no shortcuts when it comes to safety!

Remove the Air Box

There are four T-25 Torx screws that hold the airbox cover in place. The screw in the lower, right-hand corner looks difficult to get to, but most of the obstructions in that area are hoses and are easily moved.  Remove all 4 screws using a Torx screwdriver.  By adding these normal, routinely used tools to your collection, as you need them, prepares you for future projects.  And overall you’ll still spend less than taking it to a repair shop.

Loosen the hose clamp that attaches the air intake hose to the cover/mass airflow sensor.  Remove the cover and the air filter from the airbox. This is a good time to replace the air filter if needed too. And yes, that’s all there is to replace the air filter. You shouldn’t even need to remove the air intake hose to change just the filter.

To remove the airbox, grasp it and firmly pull up on it. It is held in place by 3 connectors that fit into rubber grommets and it should pull out fairly easily.

Remove the Bulb

With the airbox out you can easily access the back of the headlight assembly. Remove the connector from the bulb. There are two small latches on the side of the connector. Gently lift the latches and rock the connector from side to side to release it.

With the connector removed, turn the bulb ¼ turn and it should come straight out. When installing the new bulb, I’ve always been told not to touch the glass part of the bulb with your hands. Oils from your skin can lead to surface contamination, which leads to premature bulb failure.

Re-install the Air Box

Once you’ve completed the headlight bulb replacement, just reverse the disassembly steps to complete the replacement. One tip I’d like to offer is when re-installing the air box, use a small amount of lubricant (oil, grease or dish soap) to the rubber grommets to help with the installation.

Conclusion

And there you have it. In about a half-hour you just saved yourself $40 – $60! No scheduling appointments and no waiting. Don’t be afraid to give small repairs like this a try. It’s easy to do and is very rewarding as well!

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