I live in a highly wooded area and I was driving home one night in the rain on a very curvy road. There are lots of deer where I live. I know that if I were to actually hit one, it would probably kill me as my car is so low to the ground and a deer would probably come right through my windsheild. So, on this one particular night in April this year, I swerved to miss a deer and hit a mountain. I was quoted over $2000 for cosmetic repairs and about $500 to replace my headlight assembly and turn signal. I aint rich...so I got a headlight assembly and turn signal lamp from a local auto wrecking yard for $40. I want to install it myself, and I am confident that I can do it if I can get some direction from someone. I am quite mechanically inclined, but my profession is in respiratory therapy and I don't dabble too much in auto mechanics. I can do a lot of things with a car, but with respect to replacing my headlight and turn signal...I am not entirely confident. I understand wiring concepts and have installed dimmer switches, etc. within a home...fixed various electrical items, but I am scared to mess with my car headlight. Time passes so fast and I am afraid that Autum will be on us before we know it and I will need both headlights to be legal...(also, I am a very bad night driver). I drive about 70 kilometers a day to and from my work, and it is important that I get this fixed. As for the fender and hood of my car...I don't care...the car runs perfectly. But I do need my headlight working and I am lucky thusfar not to have been given a "fix-it" ticket. My car is an 85 Subaru GL sedan that I paid $1700 for, so obviously...I don't want to pay over $2000 to make it pretty again, but I do need to fix that headlight. I have invested over $2000 in mechanical maintenance and she runs like a hot dam because I have only cared about and focused on her mechanical health. I chose to do this because I am only the third owner of this car and all the original receipts came with it...so it has been well taken care of. And all Subaru owners know the reputation of Subarus to be good and they are tough, long-lasting cars. This is why I am asking for anyone's advice as to installation of a headlight assembly. I just refuse to pay an auto repair joint $500 and some bucks to make a headlight work. I am hoping that there is someone out there that might be willing to give me some advice or direction about putting the headlight assembly I bought in on my car. I have a 16 year-old mentally challenged son and I have a job that just barely gets me by to pay for basic living expenses and on top of that...I have other expenses like medications for my son and special needs caregiving services. So, I can't afford to pay someone to do this for me...I need some help here. Anyone out there that can assist??? Will be greatly appreciated! Cheers, Buffy37 in Canada
- posted
18 years ago