GenVibe - Community for Pontiac Vibe Enthusiasts

Well, it's time to install the new fog lights that I bought. When I bought the car last June at a dealership, I hadn't noticed the NERF ball fog lights. You can view the set up in my picture files below. I could use some help, I notice the wire harnesses are intact. Is it really necessary to remove the front bumper in order to install the new lights? The service manual I downloaded says this is necessary. They seem to just fit right in the hole. The installation instructions mention 2 claws that you have to release in order to remove the lights. I am not seeing any claws and when I push in the lights they don't seem to lock in place. Can those claws come out and maybe I will have to purchase some? Do you have to have a clipremover tool to do this job?http://i1231.photobucket.com/a...7.jpgh ... /a...5.jpg

... Clever. Well done dealership, well done indeed...Chances are, it wouldn't be entirely necessary to remove the bumper, but it'd probably make it a whole lot easier. Here's a how-to on removing the bumper. It is probably easier than you think to remove it. http://forums.genvibe.com/zerothread?id=12551(the pictures don't work, but the directions are pretty clear)

NERF ball fog lights.... well I guess it's a quick fix for a broken fog light...

For the 05-08's, you do not need to remove the front bumper when putting one in. Hmm.... now I'm second guessing myself bc of the adjuster. Well, regardless, if you have some ramps, then you should be plenty fine. I think the only thing is the part of the wheel well liner that connects to the front bumper which is basically nothing to unscrew and move. With all that being said, you have an 03 and I've not seen the underneath of those. My guess is it would be either the same or extremely similar.

the lights push in from the front. they will lock into the tabs on the sides.

I have pushed mine in from the front and they slide into the tabs on the side, but they don't seem to lock. Is there supposed to be clips in those side tabs which maybe I am missing?

When you say they don't lock, does that mean they pulling out or moving up and down? If up and down, that would be the adjuster that needs connected.scherry2: Thanks for clarifying that they push in from the front. I obviously neglected to state rather important detail haha.

Wolfman,It doesn't seem to snap into place. It will easily pull right out the front again if I pull forward on it slightly. It is sliding into each track molded into the housing, But I'm wondering if I am missing a clip or claw part that the service manual mentions??? What do you think?

I don't have my vibe anymore but. flat part of the lamp goes up and there is a small hole the adjuster locks into on the left side of the housing hole on the left side fog lamp and the adjuster hole is on the right on the right side fog lamp. this is all from memory and think the lamps are right and left also. someone correct me if i'm wrong

I just replaced my fogs on my 06 Vibe in Feb. and had similar questions and problems. The 03-04 bumper might be different, I don't know. But here's my experience for whatever it's worth.I managed to access the area behind the fog light sockets by pulling 2 of the bolts that secure the plastic panel attached to the bottom of the front bumper on either side of the car. This plastic panel is directly under the fog light sockets and, IIRC is all one piece with the wheel well liner.I pulled 2 bolts on each side and managed to bend and flip the panel back allowing access to the area behind the fog light sockets. The panel overlaps the edge of the bumper and has plastic "S" shaped clips which is what the bolts thread into and secure to. It took a little bit of careful prying, but nothing significant or anything that made me worry I might damage anything.When installing the new fog light assemblies I couldn't for the life of get them to *click* into the tabs in the bumper. No matter how hard I tried they could just be popped out from the back with very little pressure.I didn't ramp or jack my Vibe up, I just stuck my head under there and could see that the circular nubs on the assemblies were almost, but not quite slipping into the circular holes in the tabs that are part of the bumper. I ended up carefully removing about 1mm off one of the sides of the circular nubs on the assemblies with a file. Popped right in, snug as bug after that. Good luck!

Great! That sounds like just what I need to do. I'll give it a try.