Since the introduction of halogen headlights in the early 1980s, manufacturers have been using less room and more complicated procedures to replace headlights, and there is no universal procedure for replacing these lights. The Saturn Vue, however, has one of the simpler headlight replacement procedures.
Locate the side-marker light assembly retaining bolt at the top corner of the assembly. Remove the bolt with a ratchet and a socket. Wiggle the side-marker assembly away from the Vue until the assembly is removed from its cavity. Turn the side-marker light socket and wire harness connection a quarter turn counterclockwise to remove the bulb from the assembly. Remove the assembly and store it in a safe location where it will not get dropped or scratched.
Return to the headlight assembly and remove the assembly retaining bolts with a ratchet and a socket.
Insert the straightedge screwdriver into the small opening at the top of the headlight assembly. Be sure the screwdriver fits (if it doesn't, use a smaller one). Place the screwdriver through the opening and then into the headlight assembly retaining bracket.
Push the locking tab of the headlight assembly retaining bracket towards the engine compartment to unlock it. Lift the headlight assembly retaining bracket up and remove the headlight assembly from its cavity.
Remove the wire harness connection from the back of the headlight. Use the screwdriver to lift the locking tabs on the socket connection, if necessary. Turn the socket counterclockwise a quarter turn to remove it from the headlight assembly. Remove the old headlight.
Wear a latex glove on one or both of your hands to handle the new bulb. Oil on our skin will compromise or damage the glass bulb of halogen headlights in contacted. Insert the headlight by reversing the procedure. Test the headlight assembly in the cavity after the bulb and wire harness are installed, but before locking the headlight assembly retaining bracket.
Shut the lights off if the bulb is working properly and then continue reversing the procedure to replace the headlight and side-marker light assemblies.
