Anyone ever change out headlight fixtures and have a problem getting the
fixture connections apart. Can`t break them loose for the life of me. Have
the bumper off and everything disconnected but the wiring plug-in that is
stuck inside the receiver. Don`t think this has ever been done on this car
and with a 2003 with 110k on it. Time has frozen them together. Been
tapping on them to knock out the dust buildup but they still won`t release.

There is a red release slide on top that slides back but even with that done
I am getting no where and afraid I might damage the wiring harness it plugs
into if I try to hard.

 

The red piece is a lock only. You still need to depress the tang while pulling apart the connector.
.
.
.

 

I have tried that, no joy. When you slide the red tang back you can hear slide
Past the lock point. I have tried wedging a small flat head screwdriver into it
From multiple ways. Wow is it ever tight. Had a connector on the bumper that
Gave issues like this and finally popped loose and I blooded the job when let go.

Hope these don't do the same.

 

Fixed, cut the wires off the old light fixture to get better working angles and drilled
2 holes through the top of the old connector. Drove 2 large screws into the hole and
got my big flat head and pried it till she popped loose, heard a snap, but with no way
of knowing which way to pry the red tab inside it. Anyways, all together and works out great. Will give the road test tonight to see what adjustments will be needed.

 

For those that still have an issue, this is what I discovered:
the red slider must be slid back towards the rear of the vehicle,
a small wedge (small flat bladed screwdriver) needs to be inserted into the rectangular hole in the plug (not the socket with the red slider on it) from the front of the vehicle, this is visible on top of the wires going into the plug that needs to be pulled out.
There is a tang inside that rectangular "tube" section that must be pulled downwards to release the plug that then needs to be wriggled out of the socket. Mine was tight, but came out with a effort.




the screwdriver needs to hold down the tang inside the top face of the opening arrowed in red