head lights

[jomama]

Hey everyone: I have a 2000 tradewinds. I have recently noticed the stainless retaining rings around my headlights to be breaking away from the clips that hold the rim and headlight in place. Has anyone A. experienced this ? B. where can the replacement rim be found? The mounting fixture is ok it's just the small ring that holds the glass headlight in place. Iam gradually replacing my original headlights with regular sealed beams but the holding ring stumps me where to find it. Any help will be greatly appreciated. Thanks JOE

[Rook]

Joe....two of mine had the same problem. My solution was to drill a 1/8 inch hole in the appropriate place and using a 1/8 inch aluminum rivet, fasten the screw clips back on. Works great. Rook

[Vegasdan]

I took my broken rings down to a local welding shop and had the clips spotwelded back on. Good as new.

[Theberrys]

Joe
You need the ones with the large slot in the bottom holes. The others have different spacing between the top and bottom holes and won't fit the headlight assy, the coach has the same spacing top and bottom. Here is a link to a Dorman ring that should work http://www.amazon.com/Dorman-HELP-42407-Headlamp-Retaining/dp/B000COCRXC/ref=sr_1_16?s=automotive&ie=UTF8&qid=1319556525&sr =1-16 call around to your local parts stores and measure one before buying.
Dick

[jomama]

Dick, you're amazing. I ordered the ring today. The only down side is that they only had one left. Like our Govenor said," I'll be back!
Thanks for all yor help
JOE

[jomama]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Vegasdan I took my broken rings down to a local welding shop and had the clips spotwelded back on. Good as new.

I have to say I like your solution. My main problem is that the tabs are missing. Check Dicks reply apparently he has found a replacement. Thanks for your early reply and help.
JOE

[jomama]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rook Joe....two of mine had the same problem. My solution was to drill a 1/8 inch hole in the appropriate place and using a 1/8 inch aluminum rivet, fasten the screw clips back on. Works great. Rook

Thanks for your early reply. As I told vegasdan my tabs are missing. It looks like Dick has the source for new rings.
Thank you JOE

[sgtjoe]

If you're talking about the filmsy ring that holds the headlights in, I had one break in Vegas and ended up in a junk yard getting replacements off a Mazda pickup. I believe some of the late 90's or early 2000's ford van head light rings will also work.

[bigdog]

Just ordered two and they now have one left. Will be ordering the other two next week.Mine broke when I tried to change the bulb on the right side,byt finally found that it was the relay. Then I checked the other and found that two of them were broken.. Also never,never work over large gravel....

[bigdog]

I just got mine in the mail today and hustled right on up and pulled the surround off and tried to install the new ones and......

THEY DON'T FIT.....

They are the Dorman Help #42407 but they will only line up on one hole on the headlight bracket.They are also about 1/2" to high..Now I gotta see if they will accept them back. It cost me $10.76 plus shipping and handling which brought it to over $17.

[sgtjoe]

Bummer, take one of your old ones and hit the wrecking yard. Look for a match with Mazda pickups or Ford Vans. Thats what I did on my 2001 Tradewinds.

[Theberrys]

I rechecked what I bought and the Dorman 42407 fit my 99 Tradewinds with Wagnor H6054 headlights. Advanced aAuto even calls out the H6054, they sell it for about$7.50
Headlamp Retaining Ring by Dorman - Help - part# 42407

Bummer

Dick

[bigdog]

Well,I'm gonna take it into another parts house where they do heavy rigs too and have the books..My headlights have the halogen bulbs and aren't the sealed beam. The ring was just the wrong size and shape. It fir over the lens,but didn't fit the holder.If that doesn't work,I'll be out in the rain at a couple of wrecking yards on Monday.Kinda funny about the Mazda p/u's and the Ford vans as the tail-lights for my '01 LTC are '99-'05 E-350 vans and the same Excursion.

[Sequim Guy]

The Ford-Mazda connection goes back at least to the '70's when Mazda made the Ford Courier small pick-up trucks.
And Mitsubishi made the Dodge D-50, and Isuzu made the Chevy LUV.