GenVibe - Community for Pontiac Vibe Enthusiasts

Any ideas on removing the map light fixture in an 09 vibe? I was tinkering yesterday with adding LEDs and when attempting to remove a map light bulb i'm pretty sure I snapped it and its holder off, up and away into the headliner.

Ahhhhh rookie mistake. I installed the LEDs perfectly on the other map light and dome, though, after the blunder.
They look great.

BUT

I feel so dumb now.

Do you have the sunroof option? If memory serves me correct you do not. What a shame, especially being in Florida You never replied to a PM I sent you Maybe you didn't get it. I'm going to be in your neighborhood mid Feb & may want to hook up with other GenVibers while down there. Back to this post, I plan on removing mine (I have sunroof) and making it DEEPER so a normal pair of sunglasses actually can be stored up there Also LED bulbs and LED indicators so you can see the light button in the dark For now I have no idea what I'm up against. I'll refer to the Helm manuals for insight before destroying any components. Let's hope the manual has the correct information Contact me soon ................. Tim

Do you have these lights?



You need to remove the entire assembly to replace the bulbs. There are four metal clips holding it in, two on the front side, two on the back side. I think if you pull hard enough on the assembly, it will come out, but I couldn't get a good grip on it. I used a couple credit cards in between the plastic and headliner. Angle them slightly upwards, push in to release the clips and pull down to drop the assembly. There is an electrical connector you need to undo as well.

The bulb holders twist out, then the bulbs can be replaced.

I believe mine is different because I do have a sunroof. Thank you for taking the time out to post. I appreciate it!

For 2009-2010 Vibes with a sunroof, the entire map light/sunglass storage assembly does not need to be removed. Simply use a small flathead screwdriver to carefully pop the map light lenses off, then use a piece of blue painter's tape to help remove the bulbs from their housings. Put the tape onto the bulb and then carefully wiggle it back and forth until the bulb pops out of the housing. Using the tape should prevent the bulb from breaking and will make it much easier to remove than trying to use just your fingers.

Yeah, I was careful with the passenger side. The drivers side I broke it and the bulbs housing. Both are somewhere up in the headliner now. That's why I was wondering if the whole unit came out so I could find the loose parts and maybe try to repair. I think I snapped it though. That's why I feel so stupid. Wasn't careful with the first attempt.

It might be able to be glued and fixed. Can you take a pic of your map light. I see pics of the sunroof map light for 03-08 but not 09-10

You cannot buy that part from GM anymore. BUT you can get the part from Toyota as it fits 2009-2012 Matrix

http://www.partswebsite.com/autopartspe ... chall=test" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Pretty pricy though

Good luck

This is my map light:


This is the empty hole left after I snapped the light.



I think it might be a lost cause.
Live and learn I guess.

Adam24303 wrote: I think it might be a lost cause.

NEVER !!! It's only a lost cause when all the plastic is broken, cracked, missing sections, melted, etc. From what this pic shows, whatever your dilemma is CAN be corrected! There always is a way. If you can't figure out how to fix it then I'll help you when I'm down your way mid-February

Well I got some good news for you. I don't think there is any damage at all to the map light and your map light housing is fine.

What you have in the map light is a T3 194 wedge base bulb in a removable plastic housing(bulb socket)

Here is a pic of the bulbs from my spare map light housing for my non sunroof 2009 Vibe and my 2012 Scion XB(no sun roof) that I found in a junk yard.



You can see both the bulb removed from the bulb socket and the other bulb in the socket

the bulb housing/socket/base have two metal tangs on them which makes contact with a metal strip on the top of the hole for the bulb on the map light housing, this allows power to get to the bulb. The bulb housing/base attaches to the map light housing by putting the bulb in the hole and turning clockwise a half turn.



What you did was in your effort to pull the bulb out of the plastic housing, you jostled the bulb's base counter clockwise and the bulb socket part/housing/base came loose from the map light and is in the roof above the map light.

The map light should have been removed from the roof and the bulbs removed with their bases. All you need to do is remove the map light housing(should be held up with 4 metal tangs just like the non sunroof map light BUT may have screws instead so be careful) and find the base of the bulb and put your LED light bulb into that base and then put it back into the map light housing and you should be good to go. In the event you cannot find it then simply go to Toyota and get a new bulb(they don't sell the base on its own) It should only be a few dollars

Here is what the non sunroof housing looks like from the top



Good luck and don't feel bad, the only way to learn is to try stuff

Wow, you have been such a great help! Maybe all isn't lost.

I have hope now. I definitely twisted it and when it got loose i accidentally kind of pushed it up and then it was lost.

Thank you again!

One last question. They will sell me the socket with the bulb?

Yes Toyota will sell you the complete bulb/socket. They will not sell the socket part on its own(at least in the Toyota dealers in my area. My guess is that your missing part will fall down at you when you drop the map light housing.

GHood luck

Guess who finally fished out the lamp and socket and now has a complete set of LEDs in the interior now!

Me!

It wasn't painless, nearly gave up and glad I didn't.

THANK YOU ALL!!!


Now on to the fog lights. Just got some new yellow ones in the mail.

Adam24303 wrote:This is my map light:

Man, I wish my 2006 base had that...

Glad to hear you got the map light situation solved and are now able to fully enjoy your LED bulbs ! Can't wait to see pictures of the yellow fog lights !

I have the same unit with the sunroof. I tried the credit card to no avail. i am not sure how to get that off. When you fished the socket out don't you have to remove the housing to put it back in? If so did you have screws to remove or the metal tangs? I am not seeing any screws.

Thanks

Ace...

I was able to successfully remove the map light fixture from my 2009 Pontiac Vibe by using a flat-tipped screwdriver on the four corners of the fixture. The fixture is held in place by four plastic studs, not screws or clips. You have to take it slowly or you might break the studs.