C5 Backup Lights

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Alan B. Densky - 17 Nov 2004 19:10 GMT

I have a 2000 C5. I just paid the dealer $66.00 to swap out a burned out
bulb in the right front directional. That's insane.

Now one of the backup light bulbs has burned out. I want to change it
myself, but I don't want to break anything. Where can I get an exploded view
of how to disassemble the light so that I can change the bulb?

Alan B. Densky

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Dad - 17 Nov 2004 20:16 GMT

>I have a 2000 C5. I just paid the dealer $66.00 to swap out a burned out
> bulb in the right front directional. That's insane.
[quoted text clipped - 5 lines]
>
> Alan B. Densky

Nothing to it, take off the license plate, remove the screws under it and
the whole thing comes out, bulb is a 2057.

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Dad
05 C6 Silver/Red 6spd Z51
72 Shark Black/Black/4spd

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Alan B. Densky - 18 Nov 2004 13:10 GMT

Thank you very much!!

Is there a way to get the front directionals changed without putting the car
up on a lift and paying $66.00?

Alan

> >I have a 2000 C5. I just paid the dealer $66.00 to swap out a burned out
> > bulb in the right front directional. That's insane.
[quoted text clipped - 8 lines]
> Nothing to it, take off the license plate, remove the screws under it and
> the whole thing comes out, bulb is a 2057.

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Dad - 18 Nov 2004 14:16 GMT

It is easier from the bottom but it can be done from the top, no biggie, but
a tight fit for a gorilla's arm.

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Dad
05 C6 Silver/Red 6spd Z51
72 Shark Black/Black/4spd

> Thank you very much!!
>
[quoted text clipped - 17 lines]
>> Nothing to it, take off the license plate, remove the screws under it and
>> the whole thing comes out, bulb is a 2057.

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Marty - 19 Nov 2004 03:42 GMT

Other good stuff snipped,

> no biggie, but a tight fit for a gorilla's arm.

Kinda like most everything else when working on a Vette?
Time, Patience, Good advice, and a small arm?

:-)

Marty

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C5_Alan - 18 Nov 2004 16:32 GMT

Yup. The two cited most frequently are:

1. Stick your hand into the air intake below the light. Push the ducting
back and down so it's out of the way. Then twist your hand upward until you
can feel the connector. Unsnap it, pull it down and out the air intake,
change the bulb, replace it and replace the ducting. I have used this
method.

2. Pop up the lights (turn on highs and then back off to running lights to
keep the lights up but turned off), remove the bezel around the light,
remove the hood stop next to the light(for more room), reach down and unsnap
the connector and pull up to change. Replace the connector and reassemble.
When I tried this I couldn't get the bezels to pull free of the lights for
some reason.

Key to both of these is:

1. How the connector works. It uses a little tab one one side to release
the connector. Doing this by touch without knowing how to release the
connector would be futile. Google this subject and you'll find some
diagrams of it.

2. *NEVER* touch the bulb with your bare fingers. Wear a surgical glove.
The oils in your skin will lead to early bulb failure.

Alan

> Thank you very much!!
>
[quoted text clipped - 15 lines]
>> Nothing to it, take off the license plate, remove the screws under it and
>> the whole thing comes out, bulb is a 2057.

Signature

'99 Magnetic Red coupe, light gray interior
6-speed, performance handling, active handling, HUD, etc.

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Jay - 26 Nov 2004 10:08 GMT

I'll charge about $65.00 in labor if I'm replacing the socket as well as the
bulb. Requiring to solder in a replacment socket into the wiring = more
labor than unsnapping a bulb. In my dealer, you would have paid half that
for just the bulb replacment. In 8 out of 10 I've done the sockets were
cooked along with the bulbs requiring socket replacments. I personally move
the brake duct like stated before and reach up into the hole to get to the
socket. I remove the nearest taillamp to the burnt backup light and reach in
through the hole to get to the burnt backup light bulb. Its only 2 screws
and much faster than taking the whole liscence bezzel out for me.

Signature

Jason E.
ASE Master Technician with L1 Advanced engine performance
GM Master Certified Technician

>I have a 2000 C5. I just paid the dealer $66.00 to swap out a burned out
> bulb in the right front directional. That's insane.
[quoted text clipped - 5 lines]
>
> Alan B. Densky

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aRKay - 27 Nov 2004 09:49 GMT

> >I have a 2000 C5. I just paid the dealer $66.00 to swap out a burned out
> > bulb in the right front directional. That's insane.
[quoted text clipped - 5 lines]
> >
> > Alan B. Densky

I can understand the charge for replacing a DRL lamp. Look in the C5
manual and you will find NOTHING about replacing the DRL lamps. I
replaced mine but it was a PITA. Finally had to raise the headlights,
disconnect the battery to turn OFF the side of the lamp that was good
and reach in pull the socket. It was NOT easy!

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'Key - 27 Nov 2004 18:11 GMT

> > >I have a 2000 C5. I just paid the dealer $66.00 to swap out a burned out
> > > bulb in the right front directional. That's insane.
[quoted text clipped - 11 lines]
> disconnect the battery to turn OFF the side of the lamp that was good
> and reach in pull the socket. It was NOT easy!

need to know someone in the parts dept.
(or know someone that does)
they can make a print out..

g'luck

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"Key"

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Dad - 27 Nov 2004 20:20 GMT

> I can understand the charge for replacing a DRL lamp. Look in the C5
> manual and you will find NOTHING about replacing the DRL lamps. I
> replaced mine but it was a PITA. Finally had to raise the headlights,
> disconnect the battery to turn OFF the side of the lamp that was good
> and reach in pull the socket. It was NOT easy!

You need to look a little closer, it's in the manual. Very easy change if
done right and from what you said you shouldn't be messing with something
that "complex". First off you can turn off the lights with the headlight
doors open. Second, you don't have to have them open to change a DRL. What
kind of car were you working on, surely not a C5.

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Dad
05 C6 Silver/Red 6spd Z51
72 Shark Black/Black/4spd

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aRKay - 29 Nov 2004 15:18 GMT

> > I can understand the charge for replacing a DRL lamp. Look in the C5
> > manual and you will find NOTHING about replacing the DRL lamps. I
[quoted text clipped - 7 lines]
> doors open. Second, you don't have to have them open to change a DRL. What
> kind of car were you working on, surely not a C5.

It was a 2001 C5 and there is NOTHING in the owners manual on how
to replace the DRL lamps. Please send me the page number if you found it.

I don't remember if it was a DRL lamp or the turn signal lamp. It was
on front driver's side and was bad news to reach.

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Dad - 29 Nov 2004 16:52 GMT

>> > I can understand the charge for replacing a DRL lamp. Look in the C5
>> > manual and you will find NOTHING about replacing the DRL lamps. I
[quoted text clipped - 14 lines]
> I don't remember if it was a DRL lamp or the turn signal lamp. It was
> on front driver's side and was bad news to reach.

The page number is 8-157 in my manual but I see now that you are saying
owners manual. That is used to tell you where to put the key and how to turn
on your radio, not service your car. Whole new ball game but still no big
deal. Did you find out how to turn off the headlights with the headlight
doors open? The bulb, DRL or turn signal, is not changed from the top anyhow
so the headlight doors being open is a mute point.

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Dad
05 C6 Silver/Red 6spd Z51
72 Shark Black/Black/4spd

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