Headlight removal and installation

2003 CHEVROLET S-10

71,000 MILES • 2.2L • AUTOMATIC

ROBERT WALBROEHL

MEMBER
122 POSTS

Trying to remove grille which requires headlight removal. I had a bit of a hard time getting the drivers side out and spent 30 minutes trying to get the two vertical tabs back into the slots and then putting back the two removable slides after it is seated back in. Your can't even tell if they are in the slots. Very poor design and if they just gave you another 1/4" it would have made all the difference. Now?I went to the passengers side and the battery had to come out first. Tried to remove that but it doesn't want to come out either. I can't see any way if I get it out where I could view those slots to put it back in so I reseated it and wondering how the hell Im going to get it out and back in without breaking something. Just another shit design by GM.Any help would be appreciated. Went on youtube and they make it look easy but not for me.
Thank Bob
LbS. The guy that should have bought Japan car.

Aug 13, 2026 at 9:27 AM

STEVE W.

✓Experienced Mechanic
15,292 POSTS

The design is still better than many that are bolted in. I've had the lights in my 02 out a few times. It sounds like yours have never been moved though. What I do normally is give the slides a quick spray of dry lube. Then remove them. The dry lube stays in place a while. so they go back together easier. Then by the next time they need to come out they need another quick spray. I've never removed the battery either as the top of the slides are just below the top of the core support and easy to reach. I've had a couple where I needed pliers to grab the lip on the tab but never anything difficult.

Aug 13, 2026 at 12:55 PM

ROBERT WALBROEHL

MEMBER
122 POSTS

Does not lift out by tilting forward and pulling. I used wd40 on the slides and they lift out easy. Again even if I get it out there is no way to get it into the slots at the bottom before pushing the top in to where you can see the little square pegs where the slides go over. Also how are you even able to see if the tabs go into the open slots at the bottom???

Aug 17, 2026 at 9:05 AM

STEVE W.

✓Experienced Mechanic
15,292 POSTS

With the retainers off the light tips forward and up at the same time. Then to put it back the tabs go in and you rock the light into position and line up the upper latch posts. Unless someone has replaced parts with aftermarket they almost fall together. Can you take a picture of the light and the front of the truck so we can see if it's stock or something else?

Aug 17, 2026 at 2:34 PM

ROBERT WALBROEHL

MEMBER
122 POSTS

Picture of headlight. Left hood open as sun burns the paint in south FL. And I cover it with a towel. Hopefully you can see enough.

Images (Click to enlarge)

Aug 21, 2026 at 10:21 AM

STEVE W.

✓Experienced Mechanic
15,292 POSTS

Have the same light design on my 02 Blazer. Actually replaced the turn lamps on mine with ones from an Oldsmobile Bravada as those had built in fog lamps (see picture) I can pop the lights out of that truck in a couple minutes just by pulling the retainers. Never touched the battery or anything but the retainers shown in the other picture. They pull up and then off the tab on the light, then the light pulls out and up as you tilt them forward and pull the tabs out of the support.

Images (Click to enlarge)

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Aug 21, 2026 at 5:56 PM

ROBERT WALBROEHL

MEMBER
122 POSTS

Not problem getting the retainers out. I did that on both side in 5 minutes. But tilting the light forward seems to hit at the top and will not pull out.
And if I got it out like the other side it will then be almost impossible to get back in because I will not be able to tell if the bottom of the light extensions are in the lower slots before pushing it on. Where were you able to purchase those lights you got and how did you know they would fit from an Oldsmobile car?

Aug 23, 2026 at 6:21 AM

STEVE W.

✓Experienced Mechanic
15,292 POSTS

The Olds Bravada, Chevy Blazer and GMC Jimmy in the S Series are all the same vehicle with some minor trim differences. Just like the Chevy and GMC trucks are the same thing with different options. 99.9% of the parts will interchange. The biggest change in the Bravada is that it was sold to a more "sedate" crowd so that instead of having the shift on the fly 4X4 they put and AWD transfer case in it.

The lower tabs come out last and on install they go in first, the light won't even go into place if they are not in. As for the sticking, just push down as you pull out. The holes in the panel are a tight fit sometimes and they don't just fall out.

Aug 23, 2026 at 7:24 AM

ROBERT WALBROEHL

MEMBER
122 POSTS

Ok thanks buddy. I always appreciate all the guys that help us out with car and truck problems.
Regards,
Robert

Aug 25, 2026 at 5:23 AM

STEVE W.

✓Experienced Mechanic
15,292 POSTS

Wish you were nearby I'd show you how they come out in person but Florida is a bit of a drive from NY. I'd pull the lights out of mine but it is currently a few states away at another home.

Aug 25, 2026 at 12:18 PM

ROBERT WALBROEHL

MEMBER
122 POSTS

That's ok. I was born in Albany NY and I know the drive is far. Ill just have to get a little more physical with it. Waiting for this 115 degrees weather to drop. May be an November project?
Thanks again
Bob

Aug 26, 2026 at 6:00 AM

STEVE W.

✓Experienced Mechanic
15,292 POSTS

OH a capital guy. That's 80 miles east of me. Although one of my old shops was there on Central. I understand the heat problem. We will be here if you run into problems regardless.

Aug 26, 2026 at 10:01 PM

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