How to Remove the Bumper to Replace a Headlight on a Ford Escort

The Ford Escort model vehicles come equipped with a front bumper that has to be removed to access the headlights. Once the front bumper is off of the front of the Escort, both headlights can be replaced. The bumper is attached to the front of the car by six bolts and various Phillips head screws. The top and bottom splash covers must be removed to access the bumper mounting bolts on both sides of the bumper.

Instructions

1

Park the Ford Escort on a level surface and pull the hood latch to open the hood.

2

Raise the hood and secure it in place with the hood rod attachment. Remove all of the bolts from the top splash cover assemblies with a Ratchet and a 10-mm socket. Both splash covers are located under the hood on the front part of the car. Pull the splash covers out and place them on the ground.

3

Slide under the front of the Escort and remove all of the screws from the bottom center splash cover with a Phillips head screwdriver. The bottom center splash cover is directly behind the center of the front bumper. Pull the center splash cover out and place it on the ground. This will give you access to the bolts that secure the center of the bumper to the frame. Saturate the center mounting bolts with the WD-40 spray.

4

Remove all of the screws from the driver's side and passenger side splash covers that are in the front of each wheel well. Use the Phillips head screwdriver to remove the screws. Pull the splash covers out of each wheel well and place them on the ground. This will give you access to the bolts on each end of the bumper. Saturate the end bolts with the WD-40 spray.

5

Loosen and remove the two center bumper mounting bolts from underneath the car with a ratchet, extension and a 10-mm socket. Loosen and remove the driver side and passenger side bumper mounting bolts from the top side of the car with the ratchet, extension and 10-mm socket. The bumper is secured by a total of six bolts: Two bolts on the center of the bumper, two bolts on the driver's side of the bumper and two bolts on the passenger side of the bumper.

6

Move to the front of the Escort and pull the bumper straight off of the front of the car frame. Place the bumper on the ground and replace the headlights. Remove the screws that secure the headlight to the headlight bracket with the Phillips head screwdriver. Unplug the wiring harness out of the back of the headlight. Pull the headlight straight out from the front of the car.

7

Position the new headlight into the bracket and screw the mounting screws back into the headlight bracket. Tighten the screws and hook the wiring harness plug into the rear of the new headlight. Repeat this process for both headlights.

8

Reinstall the bumper and the top and bottom splash guards to the front of the Escort in reverse order of the removal process. Tighten the bumper mounting bolts and the splash guard screws down tight.