Pesky headlight assembly connector

[seenastyle]

Any tips on how to disconnect this connector behind the headlight assembly/housing? It seems that it might need to slide laterally (left/right wrt the car)? Do I have to remove the headlight assembly and/or fender liner, or can I disconnect this in place?

[M1AGM]

Iirc the red bit slides out to the right, use a small flat head screwdriver to get it started. Then the connector pops off towards you.

[seenastyle]

M1AGM said:

Iirc the red bit slides out to the right, use a small flat head screwdriver to get it started. Then the connector pops off towards you.

Thanks M1AGM, I had tried pushing the red bit "into the page", or toward the rightside of the car, as you say. Even thought the red bit looks as though it's there to slide, it felt pretty rigid and didn't want to budge. I'll try again. So even though there's a wall not far behind the red bit that will limit how far it can slide out, it sounds like that's enough space and so I can disconnect this right in that space without remove fender/housing?

[AM4884]

yeah, it will go. You may want to simultaneously press in on the connector. This will relieve some of the pressure, but it absolutely slides out to the right. A small flat head screwdriver rotated will give you enough leverage.

[DB9S Paul]

The red part is more than just a lock to stop the connector coming off, it also has a cam to separate the connector so sometimes takes a fair bit of force to move the red part as its forcing the connectors apart at the same time.

[mrpseudonym]

Having just replaced my headlight I can confirm the red connector is key. Use small flatblade screwdriver to prise gently open, you have to prise it a fair way from memory for the connector to unlock

[Simpo Two]

mrpseudonym said:

Having just replaced my headlight I can confirm the red connector is key. Use small flatblade screwdriver to prise gently open, you have to prise it a fair way from memory for the connector to unlock

Sounds and looks like the rear light connector on a DB9 (and even I can get that off - method as above). It pulls out about 10mm.

[seenastyle]

Thanks all for your help, I was able to get it disconnected rather easily once I understood how it works. Here are some photos which hopefully help others following my footsteps: