2016 Lincoln MKX Reserve Headlight Bulb Replacement

[@sald2of6]

Thanks for tackling this issue of replacing those bulbs AND documenting it Mike. Gonna try to do this on my wife's 2017 MKX.

[@airmike1271]

@@sald2of6 you are so welcome. Let me know if you have any questions. Thank you for checking out my diy video 🔧🏎️

[@shaynej013]

Mike. Thanx for the video! Just bought our 2016 MKX last night, drove home and was completely underwhelmed with the headlights! I immediately thought of replacing them with LEDs. This morning I opened up the hood and saw the backplates, looked up the mfr info and thought to myself - These are HID??? They SUCK! For all the naysayers comments... First thing - LOOK BEFORE YOU LEAP!! Looks like so many started removing things they didn't have to and got themselves into a fix. If you know nothing about maintenance, ASK SOMEONE ELSE FIRST! Spring clips... I saw those mentioned specifically on the right bulb install - Spring clips, mirror, flashlight, make sure the bulb is aligned! People need to watch the ENTIRE video before jumping into the deep end! Will be ordering my new LEDs shortly!!

[@airmike1271]

@@shaynej013 thank you brother. You made my day! Congratulations on your MKX. It is a wonderful vehicle. I have enjoyed mine enough that it is the longest I have kept a vehicle. The crazy selling factor was the front camera that pops up, hidden by the Lincoln emblem and the button that opens the glove box lol. The power train that I have is the FWD with the 3.7. Enjoy it 😎

[@jOSeGaRCia-cq7jc]

i have a 2018 lincoln mkx beautiful car but man its complicated to take bulbs out

[@shaynej013]

@@airmike1271 Same drive train! Got it in sport mode.... Get to hit the Interstate tomorrow! I went to Amazon and found some *cheap* HID bulbs, should be here tomorrow. If they don't make me happy, I'll order the LEDs! Did the LED swap on my Explorer a short time ago and wondered why I hadn't done that sooner!!

[@airmike1271]

@@shaynej013 I replaced the headlights in my old Dodge pick up. The new LEDs made a huge difference. I would go with the LEDs in your Lincoln. I think you will be happiest with those. I look forward to what you go with and how the install goes.

[@shaynej013]

@@airmike1271 Not long ago I replaced the "good" headlight bulbs in my '15 Explorer with LEDs. MAN what a difference!! I'll try these HIDs just for giggles. Seriously, after the $20 gift card from the blood center, I paid almost $17, including shipping! Not really expecting much...

[@airmike1271]

So just to reiterate, people are commenting that there is a screw to remove in the vicinity of the bulb element socket seating. Do not remove those screws otherwise you are going to create a bigger problem. This is a pretty significant job and my video is more for the visual folks who have the basic mechanical experience. Sorry, I do not believe in spoon feeding info with a lot of talking. I am not Scotty Kilmore, Whistlin Diesel and Cletus Mckfarland. I am also not Ken Burn. So please, watch closely and pay attention to the lower third tips that pop up in the video. Furthermore, my big head does not fit to view directly at the bulb itself. Your hand and fingers are going to prohibit you to see and especially the use of a camera at this angle. You will have to go by feel when releasing the metal clips that hold each bulb element in place. Use a mechanic’s mirror with a strong flash light to study the bulb seating area in the housing. My hope is that I help at least one person. Thank you for the 7 thumbs up on this video as you people show love and keeps this video in place. This video is my first DIY and I don't think I will be quitting my night time career to be a content creator anytime soon. Please be respectful and be a good neighbor in the comments. Help one another and don’t tear people down. I am monitoring and will you help you as best as I can. But come at me sideways, your comments will be removed and you blocked. Video remains unless someone can do a better job of filming a diy of this particular task. Comments are open for sharpening people and for the rude folks, that privilege will be taken from you on my video. Thank you. Mike

[@shaynej013]

Mike... So, okay! I just received my LED 'bulbs' the other day - Sealight Scoparc. Time to press for a re-installation! The HIDs are OK, but not what I expected them to be. I went to the Osram website, they say their HID bulbs emulate LEDs, when HID used to be the high-end systems on the high-end cars. Hopefully I can capture all the good stuff. Let you know!

[@airmike1271]

@@shaynej013 I forgot what brand of LEDs that I installed in my old Dodge Ram. They work amazingly. I even replaced the headlight assemblies as one side, the level adjustment was broken. I think you are going to be impressed with the LEDs in your Lincoln. Mine are still working great as I do mostly night driving.

[@shaynej013]

@@airmike1271 It was an amazing difference in my Explorer. My son was like "WTF took you so long!"

[@airmike1271]

@@shaynej013 when you get a chance, post some video of your MKX with the new headlights. It is going to improve nighttime visibility and look sharp against the original OEMs 😎

[@shaynej013]

@@airmike1271 I'll try to get some before/after stuff. Drive thru the streets with all the hurricane debris on the sides of the road! Good reason to hurry up and install the dashcam...

[@lelandwykoff1851]

This is a great help! Thanks!

[@PatriziaJHall]

Yeah, but you failed to mention the tension clips that hold the bulb in place, which is what I found out kept the bulb from being removed. You just pulled the bulb out and put it back in, so I'm assuming yours don't "clip in place" after being repositioned in the hole. I'm done with this back and forth. HAVE AN AWESOME DAY!!!!

[@airmike1271]

kzbin.infoUgkx6Wn9Msx66T4NCIOeSBFFpEwCzyiFLWXt?si=EmaTglHYNN7f7V7a Those metal wires are clips that seat on that grooved ring nearest to the bulb. It took well over 45 minutes to figure out first to unlock, then re-lock the new light. A mechanic’s mirror helped me to study how that process was going to go and the rest was fingers and touch without looking. One wire on each side of the bulb is disengaged by pressing and swinging the wire out of the way. Trying to articulate this process is not easy and I really needed a small camera to view forward, but hands will be in the way.

[@shaynej013]

OKAY. I finally got into the bulb replacement. I started on the driver side and did what you shouldn't do - REMOVE THE SCREW! Just because. Since I had no idea what I was getting into. I took photos, but seems the camera failed, dammit! I'm not going back in just because, unless I'm not happy with my new 8000K lights and go for the LED swap. If I do the swap, I'll take new photos. Once I removed the top screw, the mechanism fell apart and I was able to get the bulb out easily. I removed the lower screw and pulled the entire 'latch' out for a photo. NOT taking it to a dealer (not the light-hearted type!), I replaced the latch setup and installed the new bulb. Nice blue-white color now!. Bulb replacement just takes a bit of patience. My process took less than 90 minutes, but that was step-by-step, taking photos, removing parts I wasn't supposed to, reassembling the impossible - especially because of the horrible placement of things and the sad amount of work space! But then, I am a maintenance professional and very used to disappointment and rework! Tools - Screwdriver (1/4" drive) for/with removeable bits, T20 Torx bit, #1 crosstip bit, 1/4" ratchet wrench. Remove inner fairing to gain access to ballast cover (both sides). Remove to the firewall, you can bend the fairings over the gas struts. Remove the three ballast fasteners with the T20 bit with the screwdriver handle and the ratchet wrench - the bit fits into both. Unplug the electrical connectors from the ballast, set ballast aside. Pushing the center detent tab on the bulb-side connector, pull plug/wire down to remove from bulb. Now you can look in and see the lock spring tabs, stout wire with loops on the ends, just to the front of the connector. These squeeze together and forward to release. May be easier to do one at a time. Pull bulb straight out. Place new bulb in. Apply light pressure to the bulb, wiggle and rotate slightly to feel the bulb set into place. One at a time, the lock tabs again squeeze together and tforward, then lock into place. It's a feel thing and may take several tries, especially the second half. Connect orange bulb plug, connect orange and black plugs to the ballast, install ballast and three screws. Install fairings. Enjoy your new lights!

[@airmike1271]

@@shaynej013 wow, you literally pulled the pin on the grenade by removing that infamous screw. That is impressive. The most challenging part that I could not articulate clearly in my video is the squeezing of the spring-tension locking wires. That is something that I studied with a good flash light and mirror the proceeded by only feel. This is the area that would be challenging as well as accessing the screws that hold the ballasts plate in place. Thank you for your step by step inputs…awesome!!

[@shaynej013]

F-4 Phantoms, F-15 Eagles, even an F-105 Thunderchief, Ford 2.0 timing belts on the roadside... School of Hard Knocks survivor!!

[@airmike1271]

@@shaynej013 for me, GE-F404 mech, maintaining Hornets on carriers, and a relationship with a 2003 Monte Carlo with a blown head gasket 😁

[@shaynej013]

@@airmike1271 Saw the GE-F404 and almost stopped there! I miss the sounds of freedom!! I went to the Osram website yesterday to look up my old bulbs. seems they're 6200K and old. My new Torchbeams are 8000K, MUCK whiter! Funny thing on the Osram site, they're saying the 6200K bulbs are basically almost as good as LEDs. I may order an LED set soon, maybe after hurricane Milton passes over us... This is going to get ugly!

[@airmike1271]

@@shaynej013 be safe as this hurricane is a bad one.

[@PatriziaJHall]

And that's what was missing from your video!!!!! The information you gave JUST NOW about the 45 minutes it took to do that. It would have been VERY HELPFUL to know this.

[@shaynej013]

Maintenance rule #1 - Things do NOT go as planned. You do understand that most of these videos are edited, time is lost. You rarely see the entire job from start to finish. Always, always look at what needs to be done BEFORE you start if you've never done it before. Plan your task, at least a little bit. Take pictures for yourself when you disassemble something so you can understand how it goes back together! Take your time!

[@PatriziaJHall]

P.S. I don't DO videos just for this reason.

[@PatriziaJHall]

You failed to mention the brackets that hold the bulb in place where the bulb plugs into its power. The top screw should be loosened so that you can pull the bulb OUT of the bracket in order to remove the power plug!!!!! Thanks for YOUR MISS information. Now I have to take my car in to have them put the damed replacement light bulbs back in with the brackets because my hands don't fit in that small space. 😡😡😡😡😡😡😡😡

[@airmike1271]

I am pretty sure my hands are bigger than yours. Negative on the loosening of the screw that is the housing where the bulb sits. You have to have some kind of mechanical aptitude to open up a system and replace the lighting element. You try to film and explain this process. Have a great night!

[@Deltron6060]

Blaming someone for your mistake is wild.

[@PatriziaJHall]

I've worked on cars all my life with my father and Uncle. Those lights do NOT come out that easy. EVERY VIDEO THAT I WATCHED TO REPAIR MY CARS WERE ON POINT EXCEPT THIS ONE!!!!! YOU HAVE A NICE DAY WITH YOUR MISS INFORMATION. STEP BY STEP IS JUST THAT - S T E P B Y S T E P!

[@airmike1271]

@@PatriziaJHallI’m calling BS. With that much experience you claim working on cars for all of your life, you wouldn’t need this video, my first DIY video. So Miss Smarty pants, you make a step-by-step video, I dare you. Some people don’t want to hear a bunch of talking, this is my style and it’s FREE information for you to figure out by WATCHING the video. Do you even have self leveling headlights on your vehicle? You maybe be trying to do this on the wrong lights. I did this with NO service manual, very much blindly and thought I would attempt to make a video since there are no videos showing this process. Yet you feel that you need to blast me on here. If I grade myself on my DIY video, I would give it a C- as I would tweak it since I don’t have a lot time and I rushed doing this. However, it is better than no information. So you need to step-by-step to the stealer ship, I mean dealership and a competent mechanic will take care of it since you gave up too soon. I think you can figure it out, you can’t work on a system with an impatient attitude.

[@jOSeGaRCia-cq7jc]

Thank you so much, girl I didn’t know, but I felt in there real good. There is a screw. I didn’t know that because he doesn’t mention that in the video but thank you for your information.

[@jOSeGaRCia-cq7jc]

you didn’t even show how you took out the bulb 👎

[@PatriziaJHall]

EXACTLY!!!!

[@airmike1271]

First of all, I could not get a camera angle in the right area…hence, the use of a mirror to see where I cannot see. Most of the specific procedure is by feel. I did this blindly with no service manual and figured it out on the fly, while attempting to make this video. There is no screw on the bulb element, that is why no screw to remove is mentioned. Are your headlamps systems self-leveling like mine? Second, some information is better than none. This procedure is for the mechanically inclined. Sorry you cannot figure it out (and I say this respectfully) and for your “thumbs down.” How many videos are out there for this specific make and model? Can you do better on a DIY video of this specific video…taking it to the moon and back, helping DIYers? If so, I will highlight your video and take mine down.

[@shaynej013]

And you couldn't look at it and figure it out...

[@jOSeGaRCia-cq7jc]

my bulb itS the same as urS i tried feeling it to c how can i remove the bulb i cant seem to get it out so i gave up