HELP on replacing clearance lights
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Re: HELP on replacing clearance lights
You have to get to them the same way you get to the headlight bulbs. You have to jack up the front of the car, remove the wheel (highly recommended), remove the wheel well liner, then you can get to the bulbs. A pain in the ***, and definitely a big learning curve after you have done the first side. If you're going to do it.. I recommend changing out the high beam/fog bulbs for some Sylvania Silverstars while you're at it. They match the low beam Zenons much better than the factory bulbs.
Re: HELP on replacing clearance lights
are those silverstars the best match to the factory xenons? or are the PIAA Sparks 8000k a better match? i want a bulb that will match my factory HIDs... anyone can recommend the best possible match?
Re: HELP on replacing clearance lights
jack the car?? remove the wheel?? are you nuts!
i can assure you, you don't need to do ANY of that for the clearance lights.... just pull all the plastic clips holding the front part of the wheel well cover off, there are also 2 screws in that area you need to remove. Then there are around 10 bolts on the bottom area under the front bumper that hold that part of the front wheel well cover in place... take those out and the cover will be free... You can just TURN the wheel to get access to the clearance light bulb holder. Twist it and pull the holder out, there is the bulb
here is a picture from "TCFOOL" on FA of that area with the cover off. The clearance bulb holder has a flat plastic part sticking out of it, as you can see in the picture.
03 6MT coupe, red/willow, premium, aero, splash guards, alum pedals, clear corners, 15% tint
120421-fb8250a3.jpg.orig.jpg
i can assure you, you don't need to do ANY of that for the clearance lights.... just pull all the plastic clips holding the front part of the wheel well cover off, there are also 2 screws in that area you need to remove. Then there are around 10 bolts on the bottom area under the front bumper that hold that part of the front wheel well cover in place... take those out and the cover will be free... You can just TURN the wheel to get access to the clearance light bulb holder. Twist it and pull the holder out, there is the bulb
here is a picture from "TCFOOL" on FA of that area with the cover off. The clearance bulb holder has a flat plastic part sticking out of it, as you can see in the picture.
03 6MT coupe, red/willow, premium, aero, splash guards, alum pedals, clear corners, 15% tint
120421-fb8250a3.jpg.orig.jpg
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Re: HELP on replacing clearance lights
REDWILLOW has it right. There is no need to jack the car up. You just have to remove the front wheel well piece. Just turn the wheel out for the side you are working on. As I recall too it was about 10 fastens and 2 bolts. The only thing to watch out for is 2 of them you can't get to unless you have the liner out or the center bottom cover loose. Pay special attention to how the clearance light assembly fits into the housing. It is indexed, so it only goes in 1 way. It is pretty easy to knock the bulb out into the housing. If this happens(I learned it the wrong way), you will have to knock the bulb down through the lighting assembly to where the fog/highbeam is. Remember also to not touch or contaminate the surface of the bulb. This could drastically reduce its life.
I decided to try SilverStars. They don't match the HIDs exactly, but they are at the most a shade off. You have to look at them after the HIDs have fully warmed up(turned from very blue to mostly white). They will look a little like a green tint compared to the HIDs, but they are a huge improvement over the stock yellows. PIAA 168 Super White bulbs match the SilverStars exactly. Either PIAA Plasmas or Xtreme Whites may be a better match, but you will have to try them to find out. If they work, they may need to be matched with a set of Xtreme White or Platinum Super White PIAA 168's for the clearance lights. I know the Plasma GTs look purple. I like my light setup as it is now. If someone comes up with the "perfect" match I may switch, but its not worth the money or time to experiment anymore for me.
04' G35 Coupe(finally in the garage)
6-sp Diamond Graphite/Willow w/Premium
I decided to try SilverStars. They don't match the HIDs exactly, but they are at the most a shade off. You have to look at them after the HIDs have fully warmed up(turned from very blue to mostly white). They will look a little like a green tint compared to the HIDs, but they are a huge improvement over the stock yellows. PIAA 168 Super White bulbs match the SilverStars exactly. Either PIAA Plasmas or Xtreme Whites may be a better match, but you will have to try them to find out. If they work, they may need to be matched with a set of Xtreme White or Platinum Super White PIAA 168's for the clearance lights. I know the Plasma GTs look purple. I like my light setup as it is now. If someone comes up with the "perfect" match I may switch, but its not worth the money or time to experiment anymore for me.
04' G35 Coupe(finally in the garage)
6-sp Diamond Graphite/Willow w/Premium
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