[Q&A] How to Remove bulb dropped inside headlight housing

Q: While changing out the front turn signal bulb, the led bulb popped out of the socket and dropped inside the headlight housing. How do I remove the bulb?
You can try using a pick up grabber tool:
Product Link: amzn.to/2DH6oYA
Easiest way to remove the bulb that was dropped inside the headlight housing without having to remove the bumper or the headlight housing is to use chopstick and doublesided tape:
Here is the product I'm using in this video:
amzn.to/2SaTPIL
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Product Recommendation:
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I can be reached via:
Facebook: / diycarmodz
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Email: [e-mail]
Mailing Address:
DIYCarModz
9051 Mira Mesa Blvd Unit262321
San Diego, CA 92196
#diycarmodz #removeledbulb #bulbremoval

[@christophchoe]

You know what also helped me pull those bulbs out of my headlight consistently? Making a noose out of dental floss and stringing it through a straw. Worked 100% of the time i had this issue. Just FYI for anyone that wanted a quick fix with household items 😁

[@notoriousmoist5169]

holy fuck, that saved me so much heart ache. Legend..

[@willl5410]

This worked for me perfectly! I tried with the double sided tacky tape but i just couldnt pull the bulb through the hole since the clearance was so tight. Dental floss and straw worked on the first try. You are the freaking man bruh. Saved me a crap ton of time!!

[@michaelcrowther3651]

And worked for me too!! You the man!

[@RG-yy6id]

@@willl5410 how can u explain better I’m trying to do it now

[@dsrunner1988]

Just wanted to say thank you, this worked on the first try

[@wandapalos337]

I was freaking out when I dropped my signal bulb inside the headlight housing and i was trying everything! The double sided tape worked!! Thank you so much for the video!

[@bekerly]

Thank you! The rear indicator bulb in my Honda Civic fell inside and I didn't know how to get it out without breaking it. Blu tac and a pen worked wonders!

[@mondospieler]

Thanks for this tip! Had this happen with a rear reverse light bulb, so had to take the assembly out and used a mini screwdriver with tape on the end to get the bulb out.

[@BayouBricks]

Man, lifesaver! I ended up using a metal coat hanger, bending it in half, and wrapping 3M double sided tape on one end. You get all the credit for the idea. Thanks for the video man!

[@MoMo-206]

This happened to me today and first thing that came to my mind is doing just this

[@afterhours4517]

Your idea was good 👍 as well I’m going for you’re idea because I have lots of hangers that I don’t need… lol it’s like doing surgery 😂

[@levi.k4017]

Thanks so much for this, I dropped my new led parking light in my headlight housing and I thought it would be stuck forever but with some blue tack and a coat hanger I managed to get it out! Thanks so much

[@DoubleM.CF5]

Watched this thinking it'd be impossible... 5 mins later my bulb in back in its socket!!!! Bit of insulated copper wire an some backwards gaffa tape an it worked a treat so simple credit where credit due

[@purpledvlable]

Took forever but I did it 😭😭😭 I used a zip tie with the tape but so grateful for this video! Thank you!! I don’t have to be scolded from the husband for screwing up

[@onepunch7632]

Thank you! Used your idea but instead of chop sticks (not enough room to fit into the hole of left VW Jetta light), I used the Nite Ize large gear tie. Bent the end into a little J and wrapped it tight with double sided tape. Was able to move the bulb far enough back to where I could finally reach it with my hand and pull it out. Much easier than taking off the entire front end! Thanks!

[@chickenricesteak541]

Thank you so much I actually used a zip tie! Worked like a charm. My bulb was bigger lol. I was about to take the bumper off until I did some research..

[@jayce949]

Dude, your video and explanation was so perfect! Thank you so much and kudos for your creativity and clever solution 😎

[@alanhale4379]

This actually worked on my audi A3, bought some cheap side light led bulbs and after first long drive the both fell apart into each headlight unit , was dreading taking the bumper off and lights out , this worked on both lights and only took a couple mins , thankyou 👍

[@productreviewandadvice-pau5083]

You are the man! I’ve been struggling to try to get the stupid thing out. I used a popsicle and duct tape and flipped it over the edge so it will adhere on itself because I did not have double sided tape. I tried other double sided stuff but I didn’t work

[@ericalexanderdegroot1910]

My brake indicator bulb fell in. Saw this video - thought EUREKA, this works, going to try it, after 3 hours ..... gave up :-) Had fun trying though nothing worked as this hack wont work on every car. Was worth trying though and thanks for making this video!

[@iontach1]

Holy crap-thank you! 😂 So simple I feel stupid. I had no clue at all as to how to get the bulb out. Perfect!

[@mikereddick-wo5lp]

After spending an hour cutting may hand up, tried this with butyl tape and had the bulb out in less than a minute. Thanks!

[@TheSkull698]

The double sided tape on a stick worked perfectly! Thanks 👍🏻

[@ahmadfarhan6414]

Any alternative?

[@carolyng5863]

Thank you!! The chopsticks and tape worked!

[@HariNedunghat]

You saved hours of work for me. Thank you 😊

[@TheTech660]

You must be an Old School Mechanic or hung around some. What ever the case, this brought some memories! Thanks for this!

[@L0co123]

Thank you. Almost went insane after dropping bulb inside headlight housing.

[@DevinMarkovichMetal]

Me today. Everything was going great, went to put new, amber led front turn signals in, got 1 in, and the other fell directly into the housing. I tried to get it out for like 4 hours. I'm so chapped. Nothing worked. Even tried the shop vac.

[@mef12727]

@@DevinMarkovichMetal My turn signal fell in. It's too cold to attempt this. I left it in also installed the new one. Would that cause any damages in the long run due to that bulb being in there possibly getting heated up?

[@michaelbalsamo3752]

Thank you worked great! I left that bulb in their for months!

[@pinoyuc]

I was at my mother in laws house & 100 miles away & no tools & it was 2am. On a 2015 honda Odyssey. Busted a Macgyver. Starbucks straw (long) ceiling fan string and scotch tape. Put the string in the straw & at the other end put scotch tape enough to it won't go inside the straw. So in my case the long heavy Led Switchback was at the very bottom corner of the lens. I jammed the straw hard enough so the tape can stick. Slowly removed the straw half way of the headlight opening. Then I fished the led without touching the chrome while pulling and adjusting the straw as I guided the string .

[@DIYCarModz]

I used to watch Macgyver when I was young. I actually bought the entire season 1 and 2 a couple Black Friday's ago and watched them all over. I need to find Airwolf episodes.....

[@pinoyuc]

@@DIYCarModz that's awesome! Im looking for Steethawk & Highway men as well. Planing to visit my mother in law in SD I was wondering if I can meet up & buy load resistors 2015 Honda Odyssey..

[@dannyboymac1553]

I was just going to suggest using a thin wire with a noose and a piece of tubing but then saw someone (Cristoph Choe) had already came up with that solution. Being a banjo picker I use a very thin banjo fith string and a narrow plastic tube as I found the noose is a bit more directional being a bit stiffer but any tube and string for this noose grabber is ok if it does the job.

[@sagarangovender4933]

Thank you so much. Your idea on the video worked like a dream, no hassle.

[@jonquiceno6725]

Thank you so much Jeff I had the other tool that I needed to use but it's actually was broken 😩 so the chopsticks and the 3M double side to take worked perfectly thank you so much your a genius!!!

[@ianalex119]

I drive a 2015 accord and bulb just fell into my headlight housing last night (second time this happened to me) last time I had to drive up to my mechanic to get it out. I tried that metal claw thing you mentioned but that pretty much made it worse. Where did you get that double sided tape you used?

[@Charkatak]

I had the situation today with low beam bulb which fell into the housing, but I can't remove it as the plastic round lip/frame of the base of the bulb is not letting me wiggle bulb and turn it into another position. It fell into the low beam housing. My wrists are swollen from numerous attempts + have multiple cuts :( I think I would have to remove the bumper. If I wouldn't drop it into the housing, I would be done in 30 min or less.

[@afterhours4517]

Was the led bulb still good 👍…. Or you had to replace it…. Because I’m going though the same thing right now….. 🙏 thank you

[@DIYCarModz]

The bulb still works. I did a review on this lasfit bulb: kzbin.info/www/bejne/e3iVpaaOn5qfiKs

[@chrisobrien9560]

Great idea, I had detailing clay on hand, used that on a chopstick.

[@mef12727]

My turn signal fell in. It's too cold to attempt this. I left it in also installed the new one. Would that cause any damages in the long run due to that bulb being in there ?

[@waldo562g]

It worked for me thanks took me 3 hours installing leds and getting out the light but it worked in the end

[@johnjkizer6399]

Wow, great job Jeff, I probably would of used the claw like you mentioned, though you were gonna use the chop sticks as if like you were eating, regardless great informative video, keep them videos coming. Have a great thanksgiving weekend.

[@archiedrew8474]

I had no chopsticks or double sided tape but I cut some cable ties down and wrapped ducktape on them and worked great! (For indicator bulb)

[@marinduque-theheartoftheph]

Another lifesaver, Jeff "Macgyver"😓 Thanks! 👍🎶

[@jalebkhan]

Double sided tape! Awesome. Thanks!!!

[@maryam91423]

This video saved MY LIFEEEE!!!!!! 😅

[@oxhannah333]

Incredible! Thank you

[@AnkitKumar-dv3et]

can you just leave it in there as long as teh new one doesn't push against it?

[@coolieunruly9611]

You are a genius bro 🙏🙏🙏

[@B__Knuckles]

i have a 2013 honda accord and my strip light bulb fell in. does anyone have any idea on how i could get it out without removing the bumper or headlight?

[@isiahking3944]

i have a question my car has a long lens it cannot reach the stuck parklight bulb parklight bulb. please help 😭😭😭

[@jamalholder5224]

Can play dough or modeling clay work as well? And is their any danger if you leave the bulb in the housing ?

[@DIYCarModz]

Those wouldn't work. You need to use some sort of tacky material. You can leave the bulb inside. It will just roll around.

[@Jonathan-pr1wo]

This just happened to me today and was trying to get it out using some metal wire and made it into a knot but was not able to get it out that way will try your way. Do you know if any auto parts store sell that double sided tape?

[@jmdriveways5006]

Thanks for the advice mate hit the link guys of your having this problem well recommended ✅

[@stevensticklus6073]

Omg that worked great for us!

[@cruzernesto78]

Good job I’ll try this on my 2015 f150

[@ajl007]

I greatly appreciate you for this video!

[@Gianm3]

It worked great!!!! Thanks for posting it.

[@ChrissyAnn85]

😱😱😱😱 I’m going to try this tomorrow. 🤞

[@B1rdTheW0rd]

Great but unfortunately it doesn’t work on an 03 Accord. The hole is almost straight out so a long object can get far enough inside.

[@Skunkd]

awesome! thanks for sharing!

[@joseesqueda599]

Thanks 🙏🏽

[@axxw222]

You my man are smart

[@addrielperez9406]

Thank you very much, you are a talent

[@robc3583]

Awesome 🙌🏻

[@juliewilliams1441]

Thank u very much had the same happen to me.

[@georgejesson1944]

Thanks Jeff, U R da man!

[@47jagdeep1]

It’s works ..great video

[@cooper3311]

Fair play mate 👍

[@mattavalon]

Big help chief

[@TheBirdHouse]

Didn’t work. Now have puddy in my light housing. With the same problem.

[@Deadmeme64]

I had the same idea when I dropped the bulb. I wrapped a piece of duct tape around a marker and got it out first try.

[@camrenpoe3357]

Thanks

[@farhanpial2358]

Can I use magnet ???

[@DIYCarModz]

It's possible as long as the led bulb has metal casing.

[@Brandon9thGen]

This has happened to me twice this week, lasfit...

[@DevinMarkovichMetal]

Sucks so much. Happened to me today for the first time. Was so stoked for the new amber leds. Only got 1 in. Other one is inside the housing. Can't get er out the clearance is too small

[@ManBearPig617x]

Taping a magnet to a straw or any stick could possibly work too, haven't tried it but in theory it could work

[@AhuizotlXiuh]

The led bulb I got stuck was not magnetic so that wouldn't always work. At least it didn't seem to attract the magnetic bit I had. Maybe a way stronger magnet might attract something deeper.

[@jazminalmaguer1055]

super helpful!! thanks for the video!! 🙂

[@BIGO916]

Man this technique worked! But I just used a screw driver and duck tape

[@halfworthy]

Well this sure seems better than taking the entire bumper off

[@jayb0nd007]

I used chewing gum to get it out

[@Hexium94]

Lmao how convenient, dropped mine into the housing of a 2013 accord coupe and first video i see is same car as mine What are the chances?

[@frederickberry5032]

Another VW feature. Being the curmudgeon for a moment, I though I'd seen everything until a new low beam bulb fell out of the plug and disappeared into the abyss. If this were an Asian brand, we'd call it a piss-poor design, but its a VW so it's considered over-engineered. VW Ownership is a journey.

[@kingmonkey88]

I used a magnet.

[@tagpole333]

Don't be too surprised if the metal on the bulb does not attract to the magnet...test it on another similar bulb to be sure before you begin so you don't waste time. The bulb I dropped into my lens was not attracted to the magnets I tried. I couldn't believe it until I tried on old bulb that I had removed.

[@brandonblack2095]

lol

[@TheCarCrazyGuy]

I would have used a big 'ol hammer

[@Jonathan-pr1wo]

Lol yeah if you want to break your headlight then go for it

[@icangetyoursnap]

so im not the only guy that this happened to