I have replaced the headlamp bulbs on my wife's HHR before but have run into an issue this time. I can't find the right bulbs. The old bulbs don't have anything around the prongs. ALL of the new bulbs do. So the female end of the connection will not go on. See the pic for an explanation. I welcome any suggestions. Hopefully I'm missing something embarrassingly simple.

Not sure the image link will work. Fingers crossed.

 

Hi Robert, to the forums!!

Is that a pic of the actual bulb you pulled out of the headlight? If so, someone may have spliced in a different connector. Are there no numbers on the bulb you pulled out?

Your pic on the right is the correct bulb for an HHR, all years/models. Headlamp Light Bulb Size: H13 (9008).

 

x2 what RJ says. that is definitly not a stock bulb that you removed.

It should have a number on it to identify it correctly. Can you see a number on it?

and yes, Welcome to the forum!!!

 

When you replaced the bulbs before, did you use a bulb like the one you took out? Where did you get it from?

Are you sure that the "missing" shroud from the bulb you removed isn't broken off in the female connector on the harness? Looking at the area on the bulb where the shroud would be it appears there are nubs on the plastic where it possibly broke off. A broken off shroud inside the female connector would explain why a replacement bulb with the shroud wouldn't fit.

Steve

 

THANK YOU! The shroud had broken off in the plug. Since they're the same color and jammed in tight (wouldn't budge by hand) it looked like the shroud and plug were all one piece. A little persuasion with a pair of pliers and out it popped. Off to buy the replacement bulbs! THANK YOU! Very happy that it was embarrassingly easy.

 

Welcome to the site!