2010 Outback (Gen4) Quick and easy low-beam headlight bulb replacement!!
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- Опубліковано 4 жов 2017
- You do not need to remove the wheel to replace a low-beam headlight bulb. This video is uncut and shows exactly what to do in order to easily and successfully change out a burned out bulb.
NOTE: Hi-beam headlight bulbs can be changed easily from under the hood. - Навчання та стиль
You made it look easy to replace a lightbulb considering that you have to go underneath the car. And great thing you explained the orientation of the bulb and the importance of not touching its glass. Excellent video!
JC Whitney Thanks JC!!!
Great video. One suggestion is wearing nitrile gloves for protection against touching the bulb.
Shout out to Subaru design engineers for making a simple replacement as difficult as humanly possible.
I was told by a mechanic it’s not unusual on many newer cars. Stupid to have to put the owner through all that.
This bulb isn't even in the running for most convoluted halogen replacement in the automotive world. It's like middle-of-the-pack. There's cars where you remove the whole bumper cover. There's cars that require dozens of fasteners. Granted my 2010 Outback... requires 8 screws to get the fender trim off to untuck the fender liner. I came here looking to see if someone found a way to do it without doing that
I own a 2011 Subaru Outback, it's a nightmare to change the low beam
Thank you, this was really helpful. If anyone else is stuck on the clip, remember to push in *and down*. When you're reinstalling the clip, remember to push it down (it's really quite a bit).
by far the best camera work on this job of any videos !
Doug Garrett Thank you Doug!!
I agree! After doing the replacement I have to wonder how he was able to record it and do it! Thanks a TON!
Excellent video, superb closeup camera work. his really helped me in replacing my headlight bulb. I agree with the other commenters that the Subaru engineer who designed this bulb placement was truly evil.
Out of all the youtube videos for this repair this one was the best. Thank you Bob O.
ant240 Thanks buddy!!
Very much appreciate your video
Thank you. I have a 2010 Legacy and was going to disassemble the front bumper cover until I saw this video. Job well done!!
Great video!! Concise, perfect visuals and explanations. I’m optimistic that I’ll be able to do it on my Legacy if you did it the way you did it, while filming.
U googled how to change the low beam bulb on my Subi and one of the first results was “Start by removing tire….” Freggin Subaru engineers.
Thank you so much for this concise video. I knelt and contorted my arms in order to get the connection off the bulb. That was the hardest part of changing the bulb.
My hubby has strong thick arms and hands, there was no way he could have done this. I also saved myself 120 bucks that the local shop charges for labour.
Thanks again!
I mean that “I googled…”
Was planning on changing the bulb in the parking lot of the auto parts store. Then I popped the hood and said "Who in the hell put that where it's impossible to remove!?" and watched your video. Thank you for shedding some light on the subject (see what I did there?). I see so many dads working on the car all alone trying to video the repair to help others and no one will even come hold the damn camera while they do all the work. It's a lonely life man.
Thank you for your help!
A 2-hour effort in a freezing cold garage.
But without this video, I wouldn't have had a chance.
A special place in hell awaits the Subaru automotive engineers
I was trying to replace the light by myself (I'm 70 years old) and couldn't figure out the simplest thing which your video thankfully showed - TURNING THE WHEEL!!! Thanks so much!!!
The best explanation ever on anything!!! Thanks.
This was the definitely the most helpful video I found for replacing Outback low beams. The camera work was great, and the instruction was short and simple. I replaced my drivers side low beam without any problems. Thanks so much!
Yes, great video! Better than all the rest. I was able to replace my low beam in about 1/2 hour. And I'm 70 years old!
But still, it's ridiculous that it should even take 30 minutes! What were they thinking? Glad you got it replaced.....
Thanks this really helped and allowed me to do the job in about 20 minutes. I had a real hard time twisting off the back cover as I couldn't get a good grip. There is a small opening by the air filter box where I used a large flathead screwdriver to push on a flange of the cover to begin loosening it. Great video!
Thanks Tony!!
Had to do the same, something was on the gasket of mine that was causing it to stick.
This video saved me $80.00 by replacing low beam bulb on my own.
Easy with your video. I have large hands and had to look then do each step by feel. Still took less than 1/2 hour. Dealer in Canada told me it was at least 3 hours as they had to take off the bumper and fender. What a bunch of crap. You saved me at least $400. thanks.
Would have been impossible for me to figure out how to do this without this video. Thanks a million.
Just completed mine with the help of this video and others. Well done! ..Thanks for taking the time to help others
Perfect tutorial…. Thank you for your precision with the camera.
Fantastic tutorial - you make it look quick and easy lol - it’s a pita - I’ve had to replace my low beams for my 2011 Outback several times now using the same technique but you just make it look easy - many thanks!
Super helpful video!! After watching, I knew just what to expect and felt very confident that I could do it myself. Changed my low beam bulb last night for the 1st time ever! Cost me $5 for the bulb and only took me 20 mins 🙌
Thanks for saying the tab goes at 8PM. I kept trying it in the bigger slot of the bulb housing at 3PM and couldn't understand why the beam alignment was off. The angel I had on the light socket, and my pre-conceived notion, kept me trying over and over at 3PM. Then I remembered you said the tab goes at 8PM, so I got up in there some more to see and perfect. Thanks. These people at Subaru are crazy to make such a design.
incredible camera work and explanation...great job! Thank you.
Thanks! Got this done to both lights inside of 30 minutes because of your video. You left nothing to guess about and I saw exactly what you were showing along the way.
I lost the pin trying to put it back on, but managed to get it back on! Your video was great help!
great video. As clear and straightforward as it gets!! Thank you!! Putting the plastic caps back on was surprisingly definately the hardest part for me 😂 between the minimal visibility and working around the battery etc + using my non dominant hand definately was a good patience tester. Thanks again!
Excellent job keeping that video view where we could see exactly what you are doing and what to expect. Very nice! Thank You!
Your camera work and attention to detail is amazing. Video was perfect. Thank you so much
Bob, Awesome tutorial video after lots of searches which either considering everybody has a mechanic garage and tools or just joking how badly design this model generation is. Hands down to this great detail filmed tutorial which made my life easier with saving me couple of hours in mechanic shop and $70 fee. Thank you Bob!
Great video sir. Well done 1 handed as well 👏
Thanks so much for this video. Probably the best one I found that actually was able to get good video of everything that needs to be done. Made replacing by feel much easier. And just when you finish passenger side and think to yourself, that wasn’t so bad, you open up the driver’s side. 😭I hope Subaru has addressed this in the newer generations.
This video is the most helpful and clearest one on youtube, thanks man
Great video, followed your steps, just changed the bulb. Thanks dude!
Great job filming with a torch and demonstrating the repair in live action.
Thank you SO MUCH for your help! This video seriously saved my butt and thank you for being detailed about not touching the glass and why.
Bob; Nicely done. Thanks loads. Without you video I would still be out there.
You sir are the man! Thank you so very much for this video. Done in 12 minutes, and saved a ton of money.
Good concise video. Changed the right side bulb in about 5 minutes. The left side bulb is a bit trickier. Thanks
Best video for this procedure that I’ve seen!
Great video! nicely and patiently explained. Amazed by what you can do with your left hand.
What a pain in the butt!!!! Had to change the bulb by feel. Thanks for the video.
Boom, just what I was looking for thanks for taking the time to put this up!
Thanks for posting this! A great and very useful tutorial. I'll make one minor suggestion... to test that the new bulb works properly immediately after replacing the push-on connector - before reassembling everything. This would let you check for a bad bulb or dicey connector or connection so you wouldn't have to undo and redo all that hard work if there was a problem.
Thank you. I Succeeded in replacing a low-beam headlight by referring to your video
That's nice to hear..thank you!!
THank you for the clear video and explanation.. Great job!
Thank you! Used your video to change my bulbs!
Excellent! Thank you so much! I’m going to replace my bulb tonight!
Amazing video. It would have been a hopeless task for me without it. The hardest part was getting that damn kid to seat properly. Your camera work it the best out there.
Thank you! That was my goal when I made the video was to have it be better visually than the handful of others I watched when I first had to do this job. 🙂
Thank you for the video. The last time I did this it took hours and today it took 10 minutes. 1 word of advice, the plastic fasteners are now old and brittle. just rip them off and put 2 new ones in. They are very cheap so buy a couple when you buy your bulb.
Thank you. Excellent video for a little simpler install of Subaru headlights.
Thank you sir. I came here from a video about replacing the headlights that was actually about replacing the running lights. I'm not good with cars. It's been a long day.
I've got 2 Outbacks (both 2012). I've started removing the front bumper cover, which then gives access to remove the headlight housing and change the bulbs easily. Believe it or not, the cover can be removed in 15 mins and it's much easier to do the bulbs. My friend broke one of the small, thing metal spring clips holding in the bulb and the entire headlight housing had to be replaced which is not hard to do when doing it this way. Regardless, it's a pain in the butt and the engineers at Subaru who designed this should be transferred to the accounting department.
Agree!
they probably are in the accounting department they want people to go to dealer to get headlight replaced so they can make more money well i will never buy another Subaru my Camry is easy as cake to change a bulb in engine compartment.
Very helpful. Thank you very much for taking the time to make this video.
This video was a godsend. What a diabolical task
Thank you. Saved me a lot of frustration.
I'm happy to report with your video the operation was a success. I did loose a lot more fastener pins that held the wheel well on. There is a special place in hell for this Subaru engineer!
Thank you for making this $400.00 dealer rip off job as easy as , well, changing a light bulb!
Best video for low beam swap, just warn viewers that driver side has many more obstacles to reach through.
Very nice video. Curse Subaru, about to replace pass side low beam for the 7th time.
I will add: I jack the car about 2 inches, it gives that nice extra little bit of space when you're not removing the wheel.
Also: One time the electrical connector fell down inside and it was not pleasant getting it out. I take a couple feet of twist 'em wire and loop a bit over the end of the connector before disconnecting for easy retrieval.
I have the wheel trim package so have to take that off each time also.
I just changed 2 headlights on our daughter's 2012 Subaru Legacy.
A few months ago we tried doing it going through the wheel well like you did, but we didn't get the bulb seated properly, so the headlight was illuminating the side of the road!
So, having changed the headlights in our 2008 Prius a few times, I decided to go that route.....I took the whole headlight assembly off. It wasn't that hard. I removed the 2 clips you did, and then also removed the clips to drop the front bumper. This exposed 3 of the 4 screws/bolts that hold the assembly. The last one is at the top of the light assembly. Once those were removed it was easy to change the bulb. Although I almost forgot to screw back on the white/gray covers that keep the weather out behind the bulb! Luckily I saw it lying on the ground before all the clips got reinstalled.
I don't have small hands to reach up under the wheel well flap to change the bulbs that way.
All in all, it took about 2 hrs to change the 2 low beam bulbs. Not too bad.
I also found that the most effective/easiest way to change the low beam bulbs in my '11 Subie Outback is to remove the front bumper, and then remove the headlight housing(s). This method of changing bulbs in my Outback also made it extremely easy to switch out my halogen bulbs and replace them with LED bulbs. I imagine it would have been an extreme pain in the rear, to try and get the metal clip around the fan unit of the LED, if a person were to use this method of going through the wheel well and reaching up from behind.
Thank you for an excellent description and terrific camera work. No I'll go out and attack it with confidence.
Thanks, Bob. Very helpful video.
Most excellently done; very good and informative ; my car is a 2014 Outback.
Excellent video. I just changed the right side low beam today on my Subi Outback. You can also get to the round headlight bulb cover plate from the top. Remove the air filter housing (one bolt at bottom of housing, and one nut inside housing). Remove MAP clip and the air intake. The cover plate is then visible and can be loosened with a flat head strike to one of the cover’s fins. I couldn’t get it to move going through the wheel well opening. Unfortunately, the rest of the process must go through the wheel well. Thanks for the vid.
yeah, had to use prybar on first time to turn it then i greased seal with silicone grease came off a lot easier next time.
I wish I would have seen this a year ago, excellent camera work. I knew the procedure, but didn't have a good image in my head of what I was trying to accomplish. I ended up busting the housing trying to remove the spring clip with a screwdriver, so I had to replace the entire headlamp assembly. Now my driver side light needs replaced, so hopefully now I can do it without all of the cussing and scraped knuckles like last time.
Finished drivers side light. Now, I did take the tire off, and kept the car jacked up slightly, and removed several more clips so I could pull more of the fender well back for easier access. I also had to use a hammer and flat head screwdriver to gently tap the cap to loosen it, from above, next to the battery. That was the most difficult part, but be careful, I did break off a fin on the back of the cap doing this, but I didn't have the strength with my arm bent 4 different ways to loosen from underneath. I recommend rinsing the plastic retainer clips off in warm water to free up the movement before replacing, it's salt season here, so they were pretty much bound up. Thanks a bunch.
Level of difficulty, medium, time to complete, 2 1/2 beers.
Thanks Bob_O! 🏆Other videos made it seem more difficult and do not show the clarity of each step. The Subaru forum had step by step instructions and a poorly made video to use as a reference. I'm changing my bulbs today! The local parts store wanted $89 to do it.
They charge $100 at the dealership in Tampa- including oe bulbs.
Great video. Took me about 5-10 mins for passenger side. Agree with others that its harder than it should be, but still wasn't the end of the world. Thanks!
A well done video. Thanks for your efforts.
No nonsense video, thanks.
Your camera work was on point!
Awesome! I did this and it saved me hours! Thanks man.
I wish I would have watched this one before changing my driver's side bulb. I watched a video that suggested accessing the bulb from above in the engine bay instead, and spent hours fiddling with it.
Thanks for that Bob! Super helpful.
Thanks for the video ,👍 saved me a lot of money
Thanks! Super easy with this video.
Thank you for the video. I got the passenger side done in a snap but the driver side is way more cramped and I can't get my hand to the cap for the life of me. I certainly won't be buying another Subaru after this. What a pain in the ass!
I had the opposite issue. There was a lot of cords in the way but I was able to fish around them and the cover came off easily. I spend about 45 minutes on the passenger side because someone put something on the gasket of the cover and I couldn’t get it turned. Had to take a screwdriver and turn it from the top to get it both on and off.
@@Chemguy91 glad you got it done. I ended up having to pay to get it changed. 😡
Great video! Thanks for sharing!!
Well done! First video that makes me think I might be able to do this without going completely mad. Good lighting and camera work. And thank you for not including annoying background music. :) Also, I’m not buying another Subaru. LOL! Great car, but this is mind-boggling ridiculous.
blazingdan Thank you! I agree it's ridiculous to go through all this just to change a bulb. Funny timing of your comment, I just totalled out the car yesterday sliding on ice into a curb at 10 mph....both side curtain airbags blew.
OH NO! I assume y'all are ok. Despite your excellent video, the guys down at my local Goodyear Complete Auto Care said they'd do it for $32 out the door (bulb and installation), so, done. I figured it might save me some frustration. Still, thanks!
blazingdan Yes I'm good, thank you. The major bummer is that I used this car for work, so now I'm waiting on the insurance company to do their thing so I can get another vehicle.
Thank you for this!!
Thanks, saved me alot!
Idk how you did this and filmed it. I had barely enough room for my arm. 🤴 great video
I'm watching this at night in the middle of winter thinking my neighbors are mowing...
HAHA SAME ! it’s night time and it had me so confused lol
Ty saves me hours probably
Great job, works amazing, and my life easier
Thank you buddy!💪🔥😎
Thank you!
gracias ya se como cambiar mi foco saludos tijuana bc.mex
A little bit of silicone lubricant on the gasket makes all the difference in the world. Have done both sides on a 2014 Outback. I have heard that changing these bulbs is a bit like flossing your teeth through your ear. Thankfully 2016 they fixed this.
1. you picked the easier of the two sides.
2. this is magnitudes more difficult than any other car I've ever worked on.
3. Subaru made it especially difficult beyond the access problem with that stupid spring clip and the almost, but not quite symmetrical cover, and those POS rivets.
This is crap engineering to the extreme and is completely inexcusable.
Dave Bashford I did the passenger side because it was the one that was burned out. Coincidentally, the driver's side burned out three days later!! It was more difficult but still doable, taking about 5 minutes longer due to being even more cramped than the other side.
Sorry, I was venting on the manufacturer not you, and how some cars are designed to be worked on (BMW for instance) and some are designed to be cheap (Subaru comes to mind.) It doesn't help that our 2013 Outback was recalled for oil consumption, Subaru has a not insignificant history of oil consumption problems, and Subaru treated us poorly in the process.
Dave Bashford I completely agree. This kind of thing would be a source of ridicule if it were done by Ford, GM or Chrysler but Subaru manages to get away with it AND charge premium prices...because yah know "Love it's what make a a Subaru a Subaru". Not buying another.
@@BullseyeBob This is a great tutorial and I followed it easily until I opened the wheel well cover, wait, what is that water reservoir that blocks the lamp cover? Oh, that's the wrong side.
this is actually the harder side
Thank you!!!!!!
Much easier to reach in from the wheel well as shown on other videos. Turn the wheel in, pull two plastic keepers, pull back the wheel well cover, reach in and you can get to the bulb with out pulling the wheel or dismantling the front cowling.
Find the hole? Rock it back and forth while pushing?? Almost??? Welcome to my world.... 😁
yours came off pretty easy i had to use a pry bar to get my cap off it was stuck so when i put it back on i put silicone grease on the seal and next time it came off a lot easier
Great video! Thanks so much. To my mind this is an incredible design flaw. For this reason alone we will never buy another Subaru, even if the newer models have addressed the issue. F you Sunaru
I know this is an older video, but thank you. Very helpful.
Do you happen to know if the drivers side bulb orientation is also 8 o’clock?
I replaced the drivers side on a 2013 Legacy and there was no room for my hand from the wheel well. There is a metal bracket from the battery support that blocked access by hand. I took the battery out and managed to change the bulb from there which was crazy tricky with needle nose plyers and a cap that I still don’t understand how I possibly got it back on but somehow did.
I actually started doing this from inside engine compartment by removing air intake box i can reach the back of the light through opening of side of engine compartment and not have to crawl on ground
I’m installing led’s with a fan on the back and I can’t figure out how to do it correctly. I’m doing this on new black housing headlights I ordered which are specifically for my 012 legacy. Has anyone had the same problem?
Nice
J Q Thank you!!
I spent 5 minutes trying to get the rear water cover back on, only to see the other side didn't even have one
I did replace the right one myself doing as in this video. Somehow, I found out after that light beam points lower than it should be. Wondering how I did it wrong. It is very hard to reach to the socket and not able to see the position of it when hand is reaching for...