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Headlight Installation for 1996 GMC Sierra

The 1996 GMC Sierra (also referred to as a C or K series truck, C for two-wheel drive and K for four-wheel drive) was manufactured with two headlight styles. Some came with old-style sealed-beam headlights, while others featured the newer halogen composite headlight bulb inserts. By 1999, the Sierra finally committed to the composite inserts and has used them exclusively ever since.

Instructions

Halogen Composite Headlights

1

Open the hood to the 1996 GMC Sierra.

2

Locate the two upper headlight assembly retaining screws near the radiator support rail. Remove the screws with the ratchet and a socket.

3

Pull the headlight assembly outward far enough to reach behind it.

4

Disconnect the harness plug of the low beam headlight (outer headlight in assembly) or the high beam headlight (inner headlight in assembly).

5

Twist the plastic base of the headlight to the left until it unlocks from the headlight assembly (about a quarter turn). Discard the headlight.

6

Place the new headlight in the assembly by aligning the tabs on the base to the notches in the assembly, and then push inward. Twist the base to the right until it locks into place. Avoid touching the glass bulb or damage will occur to it from oil in human skin.

7

Connect the harness plug to the plastic base of the new headlight. Rest the assembly inside its cavity and test the headlight(s) before reassembling the headlight assembly and replacing the retaining screws.

Sealed Beam Headlights

8

Remove the four headlight bezel screws with a magnetic tipped Phillips screwdriver. There is a screw near each corner of the bezel. There are two additional screws near the top center and the center of one side of the sealed-beam headlight. Do not turn those screws, as they are the headlight adjusting screws. The magnetic tipped screwdriver will help to avoid dropping the removed screws down into the grill assembly.

9

Remove the bezel and pull the sealed-beam headlight outward far enough to unplug the three-pronged harness plug from the back of the headlight.

10

Plug the new headlight into the three-pronged harness and place it in the headlight cavity.

11

Test the headlight by turning on the switch. Check both low and high beam for operation.

12

Place the bezel over the headlight, and then replace the four retaining screws and tighten them.