2000 300m headlight replace-HELP

Discussion in 'Chrysler 300' started by Fred, Jan 23, 2007.

  1. Fred

    Fred Guest

    Okay, just when I thought it was safe to jump back into the Chrysler
    waters, we bought a low mileage '00 300M for my wife. We both love the
    way this car drives and performs. Two weeks into ownership, however, I
    realize what a freakin' nightmare it going to be to repair this car.
    The drivers side high beam headlight is IMPOSSIBLE to access-I'm
    considering cutting the radiator core support, unless someone out there
    has a better idea. I can touch the pigtail, but I can't get the plastic
    mounting ring seated onto the headlamp assy.
    I wonder if the Chrysler engineers that designed this car had passed
    the 7th gradel?
     
    Fred, Jan 23, 2007
    #1
  2. Fred

    Art Guest

    What does it say in the manual? The 300M is a great car. We gave our 1999
    to my in-laws and my wife replaced it with a honda Accord Hybrid. I bet if
    she had it to do over again she would have kept the 300M and bought them the
    new accord.
     
    Art, Jan 23, 2007
    #2
  3. Fred

    NJ Vike Guest

    Ditto. We loved our '02 300M but I realize that an engineer's dream is also
    a mechanic's nightmare.

    Ken

    --
    "Now Phoebe Snow direct can go
    from thirty-third to Buffalo.
    From Broadway bright the tubes run right
    Into the Road of Anthracite"
    Erie - Lackawanna
     
    NJ Vike, Jan 23, 2007
    #3
  4. Fred

    Bill Putney Guest

    You're right - headlights are a PITA on the LH cars - it is jokingly
    referred to as a headlight anti-theft feature. Do a search on the 300M
    Club forums
    (http://300mclub.org/forums/index.php?sid=426876de8fc01e7e267dc347d2afee34)
    for info. on how to do it. The facia (bumper) has to be partially removed.

    Also, you do realize that Chrysler made a bonehead decision to use
    special/unique-to-LH cars straight-based bulbs on the headlights - i.e.,
    you can't plug in the otherwise-identical standard angle-based bulbs?
    This cuts down on alternative bulbs without making PITA modifications
    either to the bulbs or the headlight assembly.

    Otherwise these are great cars. Oh - and the a.c. evaporators fail and
    you have to pull the entire dash out to get to it. Oh - and the battery
    is a minor PITA to get to. Same engineers I guess. :)

    Bill Putney
    (To reply by e-mail, replace the last letter of the alphabet in my
    address with the letter 'x')
     
    Bill Putney, Jan 24, 2007
    #4
  5. Fred

    Some O Guest

    Not on my '95 LH; the headlights are very accessible.
    True, but least Chrysler extended the evaporator warranty to 7 yrs.
    After 3 replacements on Chryslers pocketbook mines been OK for several
    years and somehow they didn't scratch my dash. The mechanics obviously
    became very experienced at this job.
    If it fails again I'll just do without the A/C.
    Not my '95 LH re battery hidden, it's the Sebring and must be the later
    LH cars (98+) for that you are referring to.
    My wife's Sebring battery is nearing life end. I'll probably have to
    remove the front wheel to change it, else I'll wreck my back.

    The first LH cars, 93 to 98 I believe, are very easy to maintain.
     
    Some O, Jan 24, 2007
    #5
  6. Fred

    Bill Putney Guest

    Yep - I should have said 2nd gen. LH - I was thinking in context of the
    OP's 300M ('99 and later only).
    To '98 - but not including. 2nd gen. started with '98.

    Bill Putney
    (To reply by e-mail, replace the last letter of the alphabet in my
    address with the letter 'x')
     
    Bill Putney, Jan 24, 2007
    #6
  7. Fred

    Steve Guest

    You're being ridiculously harsh. Yes, SOME things are a pain to get at
    on the LH series cars, and the headlamps are in that category... but
    having owned one for 13 years and 240,000 miles I find that *most*
    things are very well-thought-out for service PROVIDED that you follow
    the procedures outlined in the service manual. For example, on initial
    inspection I assumed that servicing the radiator, radiator fans, belts,
    and timing belt (3.5L engine) would be a PITA because of the cramped
    space... BUT the engineers thoughtfully made the hood latch cross-brace
    removable with just 4 bolts, and that opens up the whole front area for
    easy access. Similarly the steering rack is buried WAY back under the
    cowl... BUT the whole cowl tray (carrying the wiper motor and wiper
    linkages) comes out with a few bolts giving you wide-open access to the
    area between the firewall and the back of the engine. There are
    countless other examples, and if you compare servicing an LH-series to
    servicing an Asian nightmare like a Honda, you can see a WORLD of
    difference!
     
    Steve, Jan 24, 2007
    #7
  8. Fred

    Fred Guest


    Ridiculously harsh? When you have to disassemble the front end of a
    vehicle to put in a head light, I think I acurately described the
    engineers who designed this vehicle. By the way, the core support is
    attached to the front bumper, so removing the 4 bolts will do you
    little good when servicing belts, etc.
     
    Fred, Jan 26, 2007
    #8
  9. Fred

    who Guest

    Not fair to blame the engineers.
    It's the stylists who made the front sloped so much that there isn't
    room for a battery or other servicing.
    The engineers simply tried to accommodate the style. IMO style should
    follow function. Perhaps Toyota wouldn't be growing so fast if the big
    2.5 built cars in this way.

    Parking this car as well as the '01+ Sebring is a problem because it's
    very difficult to judge where the front bumper is.
    The old VW Beetle had a similar parking problem.
    I've owned both the above.
     
    who, Jan 27, 2007
    #9
  10. Fred

    Bill Putney Guest

    I doubt the stylists had anything whatsoever to do with the special
    straight-based headlight bulbs being used. That one decision makes no
    sense at all - and I've never heard any rationale at all for it. It
    couldn't have been for cost when the alternative otherwise same bulb
    technically is a standard of the industry used by the millions.
    I think judging the rear distance is even worse, at least in my Concordes.

    Bill Putney
    (To reply by e-mail, replace the last letter of the alphabet in my
    address with the letter 'x')
     
    Bill Putney, Jan 27, 2007
    #10
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