Snapped Headlight housing clips

[iboughtatahoe23]

On my 2014 I changed the headlight bulbs and I had to give the housing a good yank to get the clips to break free. I didn’t really see any other option. I got the bulbs changed but the clips to one of the housings won’t snap back into place. It looks like the clips anre still on the housing but now Now my driver side housing wobbles a bit.

Hoping it doesn’t affect the light path or short anything out

 

[Doubeleive]

On my 2014 I changed the headlight bulbs and I had to give the housing a good yank to get the clips to break free. I didn’t really see any other option. I got the bulbs changed but the clips to one of the housings broke clean off and Now my driver side housing wobbles a bit.

Hoping it doesn’t affect the light path

did you take pictures? of where it broke and the broken piece?

 

[iboughtatahoe23]

did you take pictures? of where it broke and the broken piece?

 

[Doubeleive]

if you still have them try a heat gun and see if you can weld them back on, it's just plastic some is more resilent to being heated up than others, might be worth a try.
or if there is enough width, try drilling out both side and use a dowel or metal sleeve with either heat or epoxy
gorilla glue has worked for me in the past you just have to let it sit overnight, it expands so use sparingly and don't have it near anything it can get glued to

 

[iboughtatahoe23]

if you still have them try a heat gun and see if you can weld them back on, it's just plastic some is more resilent to being heated up than others, might be worth a try.
or if there is enough width, try drilling out both side and use a dowel or metal sleeve with either heat or epoxy
gorilla glue has worked for me in the past you just have to let it sit overnight, it expands so use sparingly and don't have it near anything it can get glued to

Yea I was gonna try something like that. The whole piece didn’t snap off. It just snapped the part that actually secretes the clip. Like now it just goes in the bracket but doesn’t stay.

 

[Doubeleive]

Yea I was gonna try something like that. The whole piece didn’t snap off. It just snapped the part that actually secretes the clip. Like now it just goes in the bracket but doesn’t stay.

gorilla glue is super strong once it is set

 

[iboughtatahoe23]

gorilla glue is super strong once it is set

Maybe i can just glue the prong into the bracket. It fits into the hole still but there is nothing holding it in the bracket bcause the little fin broke off

 

[OR VietVet]

If it is wobbling, it is affecting the light path. Moving a 1/4" at the light housing is moving feet a few yards out.

 

[iboughtatahoe23]

If it is wobbling, it is affecting the light path. Moving a 1/4" at the light housing is moving feet a few yards out.

Probably just get a new housing. I suppose. They are like $50/$60

I wonder if they are difficult to change.

 

[iboughtatahoe23]

Probably just get a new housing. I suppose. They are like $50/$60

I wonder if they are difficult to change.

Seems like you’d have to take the bumper and quarter panel off

 

[swathdiver]

Probably just get a new housing. I suppose. They are like $50/$60

I wonder if they are difficult to change.

Those aftermarket ones will fog up in no time.

 

[iboughtatahoe23]

Those aftermarket ones will fog up in no time.

Well I can’t really think of a cheaper alternative. No matter what I’m sure I’ll be removing a bunch of stuff just to get to the headlight Housing. And take it out

 

[Fless]

Try Q-Bond for the repair.

 

[OR VietVet]

Those aftermarket ones will fog up in no time.

Agreed, I have always sealed all aftermarket housing assemblies, before install, to at least attempt to stop the fogging.

 

[iboughtatahoe23]

Try Q-Bond for the repair.

Maybe I didn’t explain myself enough
The clips are still there they simply just don’t click into place like they used to. I push the housing in like shown in the video and than it just sags an 1/8 inch. If I glue it in I’ll never get it out without breaking it. I can’t really think of a solution other than new housing.

I’ll try to remember to take some new pictures when I get home.

 

[iboughtatahoe23]

Like the two plastic pins are still on the housing but they won’t snap into place where circled

 

[OR VietVet]

Those are just locating pins. Something else is not attaching as it should to hold assembly in place.

 

[iboughtatahoe23]

Those are just locating pins. Something else is not attaching as it should to hold assembly in place.

Something on the bottom of the housing than. That’s the part I’m able to push in a 1/8 inch

 

[iboughtatahoe23]

Looks like I’ll be ordering two new housings bc of one little issue. How dumb haha.

 

[OR VietVet]

All attaching areas should be inspected. The attaching components on the housing and where they attach at in the hole where the housing sets. You could have an attaching piece that is fine but the housing could be damaged where the attaching component attaches at the housing. Or something is damaged where the attaching component grabs at the vehicle.

What I am trying to say is, you could install 10 new housings and never fix the problem.