How to Change the Headlight Bulbs in a Honda

Don't touch a halogen headlight bulb with your fingers. Halogen bulbs can be easily damaged by the oils on your skin.

Driving with a burned-out headlight bulb can be frustrating, and it can be unsafe. Fortunately, Honda has made headlight bulb replacement a simple task--in many Honda models, headlamp replacement can be accomplished without the aid of tools. If possible, have a friend stand in front of you car while you cycle between high and low beams to determine which bulbs are damaged, since some Honda automobiles use more than one bulb per headlight unit.

Things You'll Need

• Halogen headlight bulb

Instructions

1. Open the car's hood and support it with the hood's brace. Locate the affected headlight assembly in the front of the engine compartment.

2. Disconnect the headlight's wiring harness by squeezing the connector or tab and gently pulling it off the headlight or bulb.

3. Turn the plastic bulb cover counterclockwise a half-turn or a quarter-turn to unlock the cover and pull it off the headlight assembly.

4. Unlock the bulb retention clip, squeezing the clip's legs together and swinging the clip out and away from the bulb. Some Honda models don't have a retention clip; on these, you're done with the old bulb as soon as you turn it a quarter-turn and remove it from the light housing. Pull the failed bulb out of the headlight assembly and discard it.

5. Insert the new headlight bulb into the headlight assembly. Lock the bulb retention clip, squeezing the clip's legs together and closing the clip over the back of the bulb. Release the clip to secure the bulb. This step is unnecessary if the assembly doesn't have a retention clip.

6. Place the plastic bulb cover onto the headlight assembly and turn it clockwise a half-turn to lock it into place, or a quarter-turn if it's the type without a retention clip. Plug the headlight's wiring harness into the bulb's exposed prongs.

7. Turn the car's headlights on, cycling between high and low beam, to ensure the headlights are operating properly. Check the new headlight's wiring harness and connector if the headlight does not operate properly.

Tips & Warnings

• Use car not to touch the glass portion of a halogen headlight bulb. Halogen bulbs can be permanently damaged by the oils found on human skin.

References

• "2000 Honda Civic DX Owner's Manual"; Honda Motor Company; 2000
• "2004 Honda Odyssey EX Owner's Manual;" Honda Motor Company; 2004