How do I change the headlamp bulb in ford mondeo 1998

Dave, December 2004

Get a file and file off the jagged bits of steel on the bodywork that will rip your knuckles off. There is absolutely no need to remove the headlight from the car. There is a plastic cover held on by a 6" long clip which needs to be released by pulling it upwards. The plastic cover can be pulled out and removed. Pull off the wire connector from the bulb. The bulb is held in by a clip which acts like a hinge the two ends of which go under two lugs. Squeeze the clip at the lugs and it will swing back. Remove the bulb. The bulb has a lug on it so it can only go back in one way and just do the reverse of taking it out. You will need a short handled screwdriver to prize the plastic cover retaining clip back on.

SHANNY, December 2011

thanks alot, had trouble locating how to get the cover off, i read this advice and had it done in 15 mins, aswell as slipping the final catch/ pins out of its housing, had to use my tiny headtorch and a mirror to get them back in so icould fasten the main plastic cover, thanks again for your tips... :-)

dylan, February 2011

Ok folks, my submission for what its worth (because there isnt a great deal of help around!) You can follow Eric's method of undoing the grill and taking headlight right out, but when I did this the screws were very tight and I was lucky not to 'round them off'. Having taken headlight completely off I obviously had a better view of what I was dealing with and am sure I could cope better next time around leaving the headlight in. Here goes: Peering over the top and back of the headlight as it sits you will see a plastic cover which when you fiddle appears tight and secure. This DOES come off even though there is little room! To get this off you need to release the wire clip holding it in position. This can only be found by feeling around on top of the plastic cover (behind the headlight). Dependant on whether the plastic cover has been off before its basically trial and error as you try and and pull up the wire clip (by feel only!) and push down and away the plastic cover (cover hooks on at the bottom and therefore imagine it opens away from the back of the headlight like a drawbridge opens DOWNWARDS) If you succeed in doing this you are well on your way to replacing either or both of the bulbs you now have access to. Next step is to disconnect the little plug-in lead that you should be able to feel with your fingers. Take care with this and PLEASE take note which way this little plug comes off for ease of replacement when done. Next step is you can fumble around for a SECOND metal clip which holds the bulb in. This is a spring clip that needs to be gently pressed in then sort of 'dragged' (with your finger still pressed on it) towards the drivers side of the car (easier to type this than say left or right cos that depends on how you visualize which way you are facing lol) This should release that spring clip and enable you to pull out the elusive bulb! BE WARNED! The bulb structure is a funny shape (sort of half moon on top) and ONLY fits one way so observe the way you take it out! Obviously you reverse the whole procedure when replacing old with new bulb! Good Luck!

Tony, January 2011

guys listen to JimHs, it took me ten minutes!

Andy, December 2010

Thanks Guys for the tips. Had a point to prove (being female) after Halfords gave up after 10 minutes & my Brother-in-law (a mechanic) said it was an "involved" job that would take awhile to do. Needed a bit of WD40 on one of the L shaped clips, but I managed to pull it free & job completed within 20 minutes!

If you own a pair of fingerless gloves, wear them to save scapping your knuckles...worked for me!!

Lisa, October 2010

sounds fun!

juggs, August 2010

Thanks to all here who provided the guide - the two metal rods/bars were obvious after reading here, and once pulled free, the headlamp unit pulled out complete, nice and easy. The I could do the rest of the job in the warm rather than in the snow! Thanks!

Andy from MK, January 2010

cheers jimHS job done in under 10 mins or would have been if Halfords had supplied my wife with the right bulb!!!!
Dave BR

Dave BR, December 2009

jim hs is my saviour.i read his instructions to change the drivers side and nearside headlight bulbs and it was done in 10 mins with absolutely no hassle! and mines a V6 st24 with the huge engine so it must be even easier in a standard model! thanks jim !!!

dom, April 2009

children chill, i have just replaced my headlight on my 2001 mondaeo, after 3 or 4 hours of stress, cuts grazed knuckles, £10 plus vat on tools, that were not needed, it's just two retaining bars that hold the light in, as u look at it there is a 1/4 inch square flat lever thing, on the right slightly behing the lamp, on the left alos if u remove the engine grill u will see it, one screw driver pop the two leavers all the way out un plug the electrics, an hey presto take the lamp into the house an change the bulbs at ur leasure.
regards Dave

Dave Summerton, March 2009

Jim HS has it spot on: took me 2 mins by that method.
One other thing though: it may not be the bulb that needs replacing, but the relays that need pushing in. Another easy job, instructions are on here somehwere.
Thanks Jim, by the way!

Tom MR, February 2009

oh my god..
forget all the above guys and gals..

open bonnet, at the back of the headlamp unit you will find a wire type spring handle running along the top back edge of the main unit..( hidden just under the bodywork ) Pop this spring upwards..towards you..as you look into the engine bay, then the main rear cover will become loose and fall a little away from the unit,
there you can reach all the main bulbs and change them.. the spring clips that holds each bulb, insde the unit is a little awkward to tell you about here.. but it is a push and slide up.. to then remove the bulb.. then its a simple repeat backwards to fit it all back..
but if this is not easy to understand, and it isnot from me reading this over and over again lol. then do as they say above.. then you will be wishing you had read this more times over lol...
but the bottom line is.. no need for a main garage to do this.. its a 60 second job per unit.. MAX.

JimHS, January 2009

Its even easier on my mondeo mk 2-they have kindly put access holes in the cowling above the grill screws so you don't even have to take it off to get at them! As it started to rain i took the whole headlamp off and replaced the bulb by my fireside. If I did again it would take me 5 mins.

The screws themselves are easily loosened and the whole job is a doddle. I did, however , mark the position of the the screws in relation to the brackets with marker pen-though not sure if this was necessary really.
Thanks to Paul for the advice.

nicknorth, November 2008

Pauls instructions work a treat!!!! Thanks very much!!

ERic, October 2008

It's not a dealer job, it's unnecessarily complicated, but you can do it in a few minutes.

Pop the bonnet and you will see a black plastic cover round the bonnet catch, it will probably have a yellow aircon label on it. It's held on by 3 pop out retainers, pull them out and remove it. You'll see 2 screws holding the grill on, undo them and unclip the grill, then remove the screw at the inside bracket for the headlight, and the one on the top bracket of the headlight, there's one down behind the headlight but only loosen it off a bit. you can then pull the headlight forward and this will give you access to the bulbs.

Then reverse the above to refit it.

Paul, February 2008

You don't, you take it to the dealer. It is not a DIY job at all.

Goose, November 2007

is a mk1 or mk2 mondeo and is o/s or n/s and is the inner bulb or the outer bulb

colin bedford keys, December 2004