How to Troubleshoot Headlights on a Honda Civic
by Daniel Valladares
If the headlights on your Honda Civic are not working, they need to be fixed immediately. Malfunctioning headlights result in reduced road vision and oncoming drivers may not be able to see your vehicle on the road. In addition, most states will issue fines for driving with faulty lights. The three most common problems for malfunctioning headlights on any vehicle are loose connectors, burned bulbs, and broken fuses. All three problems have simple solutions which only require a few minutes to perform.
Step 1
Turn off the Civic's engine and open the hood. If you are troubleshooting the driver's side headlight, remove the power steering reservoir tank by pulling it out of the vehicle.
Step 2
Lightly tug on the electrical connector at the rear of the headlamp assembly. If it is loose or comes out, firmly plug it into the assembly. Test the headlights. If they are still not working, there may be an issue with the bulb.
Step 3
Remove the connector by squeezing the tabs on both sides of the connector to unlock it. Remove the desired rubber seal on the headlamp assembly by pulling on the tab. If you are replacing the high beam bulb, remove the smaller rubber seal. If you are replacing the low beam bulb, remove the larger rubber seal.
Step 4
Unclip the hold-down wire from the headlamp assembly and move it out of the way to access the bulb. Pull the bulb out of the vehicle and use a clean rag to install the new bulb. Move the hold-down wire back into place and reinstall the rubber seal over the back of the headlight assembly.
Step 5
Reattach the electrical connector and, if replacing the driver's side light, reinstall the power steering reservoir. Test the headlights. If they are still not working, the issue may be with the headlight fuse.
Step 6
Remove the cover from the under-hood fuse box on the driver's side. Locate the fuses numbered "15" and "17." These are the left and right side headlights. If either fuse is no longer functional, it will need to be replaced. A fuse is broken if the metal inside the fuse is broken.
Step 7
Pull the fuse out of the fuse box and replace it with a new 15A fuse. Place the cover back onto the fuse box and close the hood.
References
- "2009 Honda Civic Owner's Manual"; Honda Motor Company; 2008
Things You'll Need
- Clean cloth
- Replacement bulb
- Replacement fuse
Writer Bio
Daniel Valladares began his career as a medical writer in 2008. He has written patient education brochures for several pharmaceutical companies and has worked as an auto mechanic at Kim's Speedy Auto Service since 2007. Valladares holds a Bachelor of Arts in English from Rice University and is currently studying to become a personal trainer.
