For anyone who really needs to know "How to Replace a Headlight on a 2006 Freestyle"--Read on:
1) You can disconnect the electrical connectors by hand; the locking tab is easily overcome with a bit of wiggle-n-pull--no tools required.
2) The lamp socket has tabs that will allow you to apply the force needed to rotate the socket counter-clockwise. NOTE: The tabs are located at clock positions 1:00 and 7:00. They will have to be turned to 11:00 and 5:00, respectively. If your Freestyle is older (like mine), you may find (like I did)that you can't turn the socket by hand. I'm a big guy, and I couldn't budge it at all! So I applied torque with a pair of slip-joint pliers--slowly and steadily--until the lamp socket began to turn. Remember, it's only going to need to move (top tab) from 1:00 back to 11:00.
3) NOTICE that the writing on the socket will face down towards the 4:00 position when the socket is installed; it will face up towards 2:00 when you can remove the headlamp/socket assembly. You'll need to insert the NEW headlamp/socket ass'y at this same angle (writing facing 2:00, electrical connector side with locking tab at 8:00)
4) VERY IMPORTANT: When you take out the OLD lamp/socket, hold only the base (Never touch the glass on a halogen bulb--unless you plan to trash it.) Look at your new headlamp. Holding it by the socket, look straight at the point of the bulb. Do you see the lighter colored gasket ring that encircles the base? This is there to make a water-tight seal and keep other dirt from getting into the headlamp reflector assembly. NOW: Look at the OLD bulb/socket. Does it have the gasket? Or just a circular ditch where the gasket USED TO BE? The Ford original gasket is likely RED--and if it's not in its place on the old socket base, it is PROBABLY STILL STUCK TO THE HEADLAMP REFLECTOR ass'y. That's right. You couldn't turn the lamp/socket by hand because the old gasket had STUCK to the reflector assembly--and you had to overcome it with pliers (as did I!).
5) OK, you don't need the old gasket (unless you're going to use the old headlamp somewhere else)--but you DO NEED to remove it from its "stuck on the headlamp reflector" position. If you don't--you'll never be able to get the NEW lamp/socket installed (because you'll be fighting to crush two gaskets (old plus new). Get that old one out of there!
6) If you like, add a little lubricant to the new gasket. BE CAREFUL NOT TO TOUCH THE GLASS BULB Why? No, it won't hurt you. But the oils in your skin will leave fingerprints. And the halogen lamp gets SO HOT that the trace oil from your fingerprint ridges will heat up more than where the valleys are--and stress the glass at two different rates---which leads to a premature "crack" and you're off to buy another $20.00 headlight! If you do accidentally touch the glass, don't panic. Just get some solvent (isopropyl alcohol is good) and carefully clean the bulb. But do it BEFORE you light the bulb.
Where were we? Oh, yeah: add a little lubricant to the new gasket to make it easier to install.
7) Hold the new lamp/socket with the tabs at 11:00 and 5:00, with the writing on the socket facing 2:00. Push in and feel when the lamp/socket is "in" evenly; then rotate CW so the tabs wind up in the 1:00 and 7:00 positions.
8) Re-connect the 3-wire electrical connector.
9) Enjoy!
Thursday, July 14th, 2011 AT 2:41 AM
