Community Forums

weathergeek · 10-31-2010, 07:51 PM

New to the forums here and have a question. I have a 32vs 2005 Southwind Class A. I recently discovered a high beam headlight out and cannot for the life of me figure out how to dissasemble the assembly to replace the stupid bulb.

Maybe one of you peeps could provide me a schematic or just tell me how I can do it. Seems like it should be easy but alas it it not.

Help please.

Gary RVRoamer · 11-01-2010, 07:15 AM

Since the headlight assembly is unique to this brand of motorhome, you, or at least to Fleetwoods, you are probably going to need advice from another Southwind owner.

At a guess, I'd say it is a halogen light fixture. They have bulbs that plug in from the back. Usually the socket just snaps into the assembly.

weathergeek · 11-01-2010, 11:09 AM

It has been moved to the Fleetwood forum. Unfortuantely, it is not that simple. I have been struglling with it.

RovinOn · 11-01-2010, 11:25 AM

Never had to replace one yet but I've looked at it and I'm puzzled by it as well.
I think that maybe the front lens screws out for access to the bulb, but I'm not sure on that.

Regards,
RovinOn
05 Southwind 37C

weathergeek · 11-01-2010, 09:22 PM

Called Fleetwood today. They told me to get a mirror and pull the back little "hood" off. After that there will be a couple of springs holding the bulb in. Need to get a mirror and look which will have to wait till I have daylight on the weekend. If anybody has done this, let me know if I am missing anything.

weathergeek · 11-03-2010, 06:24 AM

Bump. Nobody has replaced a headlight on a Southwind? Help.

RovinOn · 11-03-2010, 09:58 AM

Haven't had to yet!

So I guess this makes you the Test Pilot on the project.
Since my coach is in a storage yard for the winter I haven't had a chance to take a look at it and all my manuals are in the coach. I'll try and take a looksee tonight.

RovinOn

alvinc · 11-04-2010, 06:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by weathergeek

Bump. Nobody has replaced a headlight on a Southwind? Help.

I have a 2002 Southwind and the headlight bulbs are accessed from behind the light, just like most modern cars.

There is a plastic cover (cap) to twist off (part of a turn), then a spring to release, replace the bulb, push spring back into place, and replace the cover. I think the wiring plug is inside the cover, if not, remove the plug before removing the cover.

This is best done sitting up in front of the tire. On mine there is almost room for this.

There are no screws on the front of the lens.

Also note, that the headlight angle adjustment are located nearby. These should not require adjustment. The cover in question is 2.5" to 3.5" in diameter.

I am surprised that the owners manual doesn't go into this.

If you are desperate I guess I could take pictures.

RVhauler · 11-04-2010, 08:50 PM

If like most headlights the "spring" is really a wire clip that just snaps into place. Unclip and remove bulb. Replace bulb and recli, Do not remove screws holding the spring clip in place

weathergeek · 11-07-2010, 08:31 AM

Thanks guys for all the replies. This is the first day I have daylight to work to really see what I am doing. Bought one of those mirrors on an arm and got to look and not feel for what is going on. It opened a whole new world. Looked and was able to remove the bulb.

But was too dark to mess with it further. We will see today.

Very little room to work back there. Will report in later. Thanks again.

nbounder · 11-08-2010, 08:08 PM

I am curious . . ."one of you peeps"???? What or who is a 'peep'? a bird??

RVINNC · 07-24-2021, 09:39 AM

There really is very little information on this on the web. I've replaced mine, with great struggle, and managed to break a ground wire connector. Now one light doesn't work, and I'm struggling on that too.

Mine has the circular Hella lights, one each for low/high beam on each side. They take H1 bulbs. I replaced mine with the Sylvania H1 SilverStar Ultra Halogen Bulb, Advance Auto Part No. H1SUBP2. They are significantly brighter than the ones I replaced.

To remove, first CAREFULLY push back the rubber boot behind each headlight. I say carefully, because if you are not and you break the ground wire connector (which is quite fragile), you'll be in the same boat I'm in now.

Unplug the single connector at the back of the bulb. There is a spring/clip mechanism that holds the bulb in place. Push in and toward the center of the light assembly (gently) to unhook each arm of the clip. The clip should then swing freely up and out of the way so that you can pull the existing bulb out. The bulbs have a straight edge on the circular metal housing base on the bulb; this is to aid you in correct placement. The straight edge goes to the inside (left) bottom as you place the new bulb back in. Plug in the connector, secure the metal clip, reseat the rubber boot and you should be good.

There is no need to remove the headlight, and for several of mine, this would be near impossible due to clearance issues. I had much more room to work on the passenger side than the driver's side. I turned the front wheels to create space, then got underneath and sat upright to work.

donr103 · 07-24-2021, 10:06 AM

Use cell phone with camera and flash and record up under headlight or in places your head cannot reach.. you cell phone is your best friend.. Use it all over rv.. and add p icts and recording to computer, you will have a video record of what and where things are.. on mine I have to un-bolt complete assembly from rear of front cap.. then pull out complete assembly.. then get to rear of headlights and unplug wires, then take to bench and disassemble and Change bulbs. Good luck and let us know what you did.. mirrors ok.. but suck when you are old.. also I flip the camera to front mode. And hold that up under things and use that like a mirror.. then check to recording closely and I can see.. also I load on computer because I just can't remember what I did or if I have a future questions I can find them..

AK Wolf Pack · 03-29-2022, 05:40 PM

We just picked up a 2005 Southwind 32VS at the end of last year. It's finally warmed up enough for me to address a few things. Started with the headlights today. I read through this thread and figured I'd take an alternate approach to gaining access to the lights, since I had bad bulbs and one lens that needed to be replaced. I just removed the front end. It really wasn't difficult at all. 22 bolts total if I remember correctly. Took about an hour to get the front off, now I have unlimited access. The high and low beams have a slightly different cover lens, and so far I'm not having much luck tracking them down based on numbers on the parts. I'll get ahold of Fleetwood tomorrow and get their build info, then contact hella. Might even consider upgrading to LED or HID if there's a direct-ish replacement.