Kia Borrego / Mohave low beam bulb replacement

mousek801 · 01-28-2013, 01:14 PM

Hey, I feel like a complete idiot, so after scouring the web for hours and finding nothing except stories of people taking off the front bumper / grill cover I decided to post here.

I'm trying to change the low beam bulbs on my mother's 2009 Kia Borrego (goes by the Mohave in Canada/ Europe). There's no visible way to remove the headlight or even loosen it up without getting way too into it. I'm more used to GM cars with two bolts and few snap connectors. The easiest way seems to be remove the battery so the bulbs can be removed while the housing is in place, but again - sounds easier than it is. I called the local Kia place (needs an inspection in three days), not by choice, and they want to charge $50 per bulb and three hours of labor - so **** that.

Anyone have any experience with these cars? Even the battery isn't a traditional style one, and I'm getting pretty agitated. The car's manual mentions nothing about bulbs or the battery except "contact local service center" and the car only having a one year run in the U.S. didn't help much for finding anything online.

Thanks for any help anyone can give, I've never brought a car to a shop in my life, and wouldn't like to start now.

FL07 · 01-28-2013, 01:17 PM

Seems like you have found out how to do it, but don't want to accept that solution?

Dom Mazzetti · 01-28-2013, 01:22 PM

yeah it seems you know the answer but don't like it

Alan777 · 01-28-2013, 02:00 PM

Yeah from what I gather you know the process but dislike the method of installation

mousek801 · 01-28-2013, 05:07 PM

Was more wondering if anyone knew of or had an easier way. For some reason a car manufacturer building a car that requires ~3 hours of labor to change a headlight bulb seems... insane?

Supra_MKIII · 01-28-2013, 05:08 PM

You must not own anything European.

F1VENOM · 01-28-2013, 05:12 PM

http://www.kia-forums.com/kia-picant...ight-bulb.html

automagwarrior · 01-28-2013, 06:28 PM

Unbolt the headlight and pull it out.

batmite10 · 01-28-2013, 06:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Supra_MKIII

You must not own anything European.

^this.

Seriously though. Guy's on car forums are usually pretty good at stating the easiest way possible. If it says it takes hours to change, it most likely does take hours to change. Sorry bud.