Dodge Repair: 2006 Dakota headlight replacement, inner fender, oily surfaces

Question
How do I replace the headlight on my 2006 Dodge Dakota? Do I have to remove the inner fender?

Answer
BULB - HEADLAMP
CAUTION: Do not contaminate the bulb glass by touching it with your fingers or by allowing it to contact other oily surfaces. Shortened bulb life will result.





Disconnect and isolate the battery negative cable.
Remove the front lamp unit (1) from the front fender. (Refer to 8 - ELECTRICAL/LAMPS/LIGHTING - EXTERIOR/FRONT LAMP UNIT - REMOVAL).
Firmly grasp the headlamp bulb socket (2) on the back of the front lamp unit housing and rotate it counterclockwise about 30 degrees to unlock it.
Pull the socket and bulb unit straight out from the keyed opening in the housing.

LAMP




Disconnect and isolate the battery negative cable.
Remove the three screws (3) that secure the inboard and lower mounts of the front lamp unit (1) to the front fender headlamp bracket (4).
Grasp the lamp firmly and pull straight forward to disengage the ball stud (2) on the back of the upper outboard corner of the lamp from the plastic grommet (7) in the fender bracket.
Pull the lamp away from the front fender far enough to access and disconnect the two wire harness connections (6) from the headlamp bulb and the front park/turn signal/side marker bulb socket on the back of the lamp.
Remove the front lamp unit from the fender.