Changing bulbs on a 2008 Lucerne

rbarrios · 02-28-2008, 11:52 AM

If all goes well, sister will be getting a 2008 Buick Lucerne today or tomm.
Since I had installed Silverstars in her current Impala- I know shell want them in her new car.
Ive actually already bought the bulbs via Ebay- Silverstar Ultras low and high beams.
According to Sylvanias web site- it takes the 9005 and 9006 bulbs.
Since I dont have the car in front of me yet...
how are the bulbs changed?
Ive changed the bulbs in my 03 Trailblazer and her 03 Impala. and pulling up on the white tabs releases the headlight assembly. (my trailblazer also requires the removal of the grille).
So on this Lucerne- is it also as easy as pulling up those clips? Im assuming it has clips....

ChevroletTough · 02-28-2008, 11:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rbarrios

If all goes well, sister will be getting a 2008 Buick Lucerne today or tomm.
Since I had installed Silverstars in her current Impala- I know shell want them in her new car.
Ive actually already bought the bulbs via Ebay- Silverstar Ultras low and high beams.
According to Sylvanias web site- it takes the 9005 and 9006 bulbs.
Since I dont have the car in front of me yet...
how are the bulbs changed?
Ive changed the bulbs in my 03 Trailblazer and her 03 Impala. and pulling up on the white tabs releases the headlight assembly. (my trailblazer also requires the removal of the grille).
So on this Lucerne- is it also as easy as pulling up those clips? Im assuming it has clips....

Ive done the same to my neighbor's 04 grand prix. very slick. Unlike my 95 monte carlo....

I would assume its the same? its a great design

**shadams** · 02-28-2008, 12:00 PM

Nightmare. The right way to do it is to remove the bumper cover. The headlights are actually bigger then they look. Once you get that bumper cover off then you can get the headlights out, then you can replace the bulbs.

rbarrios · 02-28-2008, 12:16 PM

remove a bumper to replace light bulbs--------yikes.....
is the bumper difficult to remove?
I have small hands... any chance I can remove the rubber caps and replace the bulbs?

**shadams** · 02-28-2008, 12:19 PM

I'll go look at one on the lot later on and see wtf is going on....

Neanderthal · 02-28-2008, 12:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by shadams

Nightmare. The right way to do it is to remove the bumper cover. The headlights are actually bigger then they look. Once you get that bumper cover off then you can get the headlights out, then you can replace the bulbs.

Huh? That's a joke, right?

GM had it as easy as pie on the 00-05 Impala. IIRC my 02 Regal had the same design. Logical, easy, no major surgery or tools needed.

Why would they make a "new" car that's more complicated and less convenient?

steverino · 02-28-2008, 12:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LAMRONH

Huh? That's a joke, right?

GM had it as easy as pie on the 00-05 Impala. IIRC my 02 Regal had the same design. Logical, easy, no major surgery or tools needed.

Why would they make a "new" car that's more complicated and less convenient?

Come on LAMRONH, I know you're smarter than that. It's so you have to go back to the dealer to cover the overhead from his service dept

Neanderthal · 02-28-2008, 01:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by steverino

Come on LAMRONH, I know you're smarter than that. It's so you have to go back to the dealer to cover the overhead from his service dept

OK, that does it, I'm calling Lutz.

BTW, is that overhead valves or cams?

**shadams** · 02-28-2008, 01:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rbarrios

remove a bumper to replace light bulbs--------yikes.....
is the bumper difficult to remove?
I have small hands... any chance I can remove the rubber caps and replace the bulbs?

Quote:

Originally Posted by shadams

I'll go look at one on the lot later on and see wtf is going on....

No chance, there is no room behind the headlight, and there is all kinds of junk in the way. You may be able to get the dr side high beam, but the others I cant even see. It looks like you can just take out the bolts on top, but there are some behind the inner fender wells also. Even if you manage to get all the bolts out, the headlight is bigger then the facia opening is, so unless you pry it out and risk damaging something, it has to come off. I am sure once it has been done enough times you would be able to figure out a shortcut or two. Good luck...

rbarrios · 02-28-2008, 02:28 PM

that suxs.
dont know if sis will like me taking apart her car....
I downloaded a PDF of the 2008 manual, and theres no mention of it in there.
Only how to change the rears and side bulbs....

**GMCSonoma** · 02-28-2008, 03:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by steverino

Come on LAMRONH, I know you're smarter than that. It's so you have to go back to the dealer to cover the overhead from his service dept

It's worked so well for the imports so GM decided to do it too!

USA1Fan · 02-28-2008, 03:28 PM

Don't go hard on the Lucerne. It's happening to nearly all of the new GM product. The Avalanche was this way (check the cafcna forums for the nice sticky on how to change the headlights for the 07+ trucks). I'm pretty sure the new Malibu is too, since the owner's manual doesn't list the replacement bulb numbers or how to change them out..

**shadams** · 02-28-2008, 03:32 PM

Well, to be fair, if we werent wanting to swap out bulbs the odds of having one go out are slim to none anyway.

But yea, the Yukon's, Sierra's, and such are the same way. So is my GTO, but when I took it apart it gave me an excuse to clean everything behind the bumper.

Neanderthal · 02-28-2008, 06:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by USA1Fan

Don't go hard on the Lucerne. It's happening to nearly all of the new GM product. The Avalanche was this way (check the cafcna forums for the nice sticky on how to change the headlights for the 07+ trucks). I'm pretty sure the new Malibu is too, since the owner's manual doesn't list the replacement bulb numbers or how to change them out..

This doesn't "just happen," it's not like an apple falling out of a tree.

These vehicles were designed this way and there's a reason they were designed this way.

Pitiful. Those arsehole engineers should be forced to change 1,000 headlight bulbs before they release these designs for production.

XP300 · 02-28-2008, 07:29 PM

For you young guys ...... At one point in time, you could actually change your headlights from the outside of the car, without raising the hood. It took a screwdriver or two and 10 or 15 minutes, unless the internal bracket screws were rusted, then it took forever.

Alignment of the headlight took a screwdriver (+) and a wall (garage door) to aim the headlights at.

End of story.

Now I have to remove half the front end.

02-28-2008, 11:52 AM	#1 (permalink)
rbarrios 2.8 Liter Turbocharged V6 Join Date: Jan 2003 Posts: 770	Changing bulbs on a 2008 Lucerne If all goes well, sister will be getting a 2008 Buick Lucerne today or tomm. Since I had installed Silverstars in her current Impala- I know shell want them in her new car. Ive actually already bought the bulbs via Ebay- Silverstar Ultras low and high beams. According to Sylvanias web site- it takes the 9005 and 9006 bulbs. Since I dont have the car in front of me yet... how are the bulbs changed? Ive changed the bulbs in my 03 Trailblazer and her 03 Impala. and pulling up on the white tabs releases the headlight assembly. (my trailblazer also requires the removal of the grille). So on this Lucerne- is it also as easy as pulling up those clips? Im assuming it has clips....

02-28-2008, 12:00 PM	#3 (permalink)
shadams GMI Staff Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Texas Hill Country Drives: 09' G8 GT 08' GMC X-CAB Posts: 3,347	Re: Changing bulbs on a 2008 Lucerne Nightmare. The right way to do it is to remove the bumper cover. The headlights are actually bigger then they look. Once you get that bumper cover off then you can get the headlights out, then you can replace the bulbs. __________________ 2008 GMC Sierra XCab Z-71 4x4 Onyx Black 2009 G8 GT Magnetic Gray GM/ASE Certified Service Consultant MOE Platinum 04-05-06-07-08 "Contrary to common belief, planning is complicated and is not run by complete idiots, so you'll just have to trust that the decisions were made on good information that's not made available to you."

02-28-2008, 12:16 PM	#4 (permalink)
rbarrios 2.8 Liter Turbocharged V6 Join Date: Jan 2003 Posts: 770	Re: Changing bulbs on a 2008 Lucerne remove a bumper to replace light bulbs--------yikes..... is the bumper difficult to remove? I have small hands... any chance I can remove the rubber caps and replace the bulbs?

02-28-2008, 12:19 PM	#5 (permalink)
shadams GMI Staff Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Texas Hill Country Drives: 09' G8 GT 08' GMC X-CAB Posts: 3,347	Re: Changing bulbs on a 2008 Lucerne I'll go look at one on the lot later on and see wtf is going on.... __________________ 2008 GMC Sierra XCab Z-71 4x4 Onyx Black 2009 G8 GT Magnetic Gray GM/ASE Certified Service Consultant MOE Platinum 04-05-06-07-08 "Contrary to common belief, planning is complicated and is not run by complete idiots, so you'll just have to trust that the decisions were made on good information that's not made available to you."

02-28-2008, 02:28 PM	#10 (permalink)
rbarrios 2.8 Liter Turbocharged V6 Join Date: Jan 2003 Posts: 770	Re: Changing bulbs on a 2008 Lucerne that suxs. dont know if sis will like me taking apart her car.... I downloaded a PDF of the 2008 manual, and theres no mention of it in there. Only how to change the rears and side bulbs.... Last edited by rbarrios : 02-28-2008 at 03:08 PM.

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02-28-2008, 03:28 PM	#12 (permalink)
USA1Fan 5.3 Liter Vortec V8 Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: currently in the Asheville NC area Drives: me:08 Malibu LTZ 3.6 wife:07 Trailblazer LT Posts: 1,317	Re: Changing bulbs on a 2008 Lucerne Don't go hard on the Lucerne. It's happening to nearly all of the new GM product. The Avalanche was this way (check the cafcna forums for the nice sticky on how to change the headlights for the 07+ trucks). I'm pretty sure the new Malibu is too, since the owner's manual doesn't list the replacement bulb numbers or how to change them out..

02-28-2008, 03:32 PM	#13 (permalink)
shadams GMI Staff Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Texas Hill Country Drives: 09' G8 GT 08' GMC X-CAB Posts: 3,347	Re: Changing bulbs on a 2008 Lucerne Well, to be fair, if we werent wanting to swap out bulbs the odds of having one go out are slim to none anyway. But yea, the Yukon's, Sierra's, and such are the same way. So is my GTO, but when I took it apart it gave me an excuse to clean everything behind the bumper. __________________ 2008 GMC Sierra XCab Z-71 4x4 Onyx Black 2009 G8 GT Magnetic Gray GM/ASE Certified Service Consultant MOE Platinum 04-05-06-07-08 "Contrary to common belief, planning is complicated and is not run by complete idiots, so you'll just have to trust that the decisions were made on good information that's not made available to you."

02-28-2008, 07:29 PM	#15 (permalink)
XP300 3.6 Liter SIDI V6 Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Illinois Drives: 03 CTS Posts: 1,103	Re: Changing bulbs on a 2008 Lucerne For you young guys ...... At one point in time, you could actually change your headlights from the outside of the car, without raising the hood. It took a screwdriver or two and 10 or 15 minutes, unless the internal bracket screws were rusted, then it took forever. Alignment of the headlight took a screwdriver (+) and a wall (garage door) to aim the headlights at. End of story. Now I have to remove half the front end.

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