Headlight replacement

[john22280]

does anyone have diagrams or instructions on how to change my headlights? its only been 2 years and the driver side bulb is out already, thinking of going to r & s strauss tomorrow to get the bulbs. What do these bulbs cost? Ive heard of silverstars, would these help me see better in the rain? wow that was a lot of questions. Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!

[SSMV6]

Silverstars (and Silverstar Ultras) will NOT help you see better in the rain. The white color doesn't enhance the reflective surfaces that well so it will actually make it harder to see in the rain. They are whiter than regular halogens and that's about it.

OEM bulbs cost about $8 each or about $11 for a twin pack. The size you need for the low beams is 9006. To remove, you need to unclip the wiring harness, then grab the bulb and twist it counter clockwise. When installing the new bulb make absolutely sure that the bulb's glass surface does not touch anything.... especially not your fingers! The oil from your fingers can cause hot spots and make the bulb burst when lit.

To reach the driver's side bulb, you'll need to remove a few fenderwell trim clips, move aside the fenderwell trim and reach in. It may help to have wheels turned all the way to the right first. The passenger side bulb is a little easier since you could reach it from the engine bay. Just look behind the power steering reservoir. The PS reservoir is just clipped there and it can be easily move aside by lifting it straight up and out of it's bracket. Just remember to replace the reservoir in the bracket when you're done.

[john22280]

thanks for the quick response... a lot of helpful info.

[Conundrum]

Old thread...but figured it was better than starting a new one...

One of my friend got a set of HIR highbeams for his Subaru (9011s which basically are 9005s), and I wanted to try one in my Accord. Anyhow, I figured the passenger side high would be the easiest to work with, got the harness off (stubborn thing actually), but I couldn't turn the bulb counter-clockwise to get it out. There are a few screws which look like they might be blocking it from turning, however the manual doesn't mention any of this, and I didn't want to touch them in case they are used for alignment.

Any suggestions on what I need to do here?

[BenjiBoy650]

Make sure you are turning the right way...and turn harder. They are pretty stubborn.

[Conundrum]

Still...normally when I use my "brute force method" something always snaps... :paranoid:

Are you SURE those screws don't need to come out for the 7th gen highbeams?

(FYI, moved this thread over to DIY section....makes more sense in my mind.)

[BenjiBoy650]

Check the manual...it might say. My manual tells me how to replace most of my bulbs. I didn't realize they would put screws in the high beams

[bagbklyn]

Old thread...but figured it was better than starting a new one...

One of my friend got a set of HIR highbeams for his Subaru (9011s which basically are 9005s), and I wanted to try one in my Accord. Anyhow, I figured the passenger side high would be the easiest to work with, got the harness off (stubborn thing actually), but I couldn't turn the bulb counter-clockwise to get it out. There are a few screws which look like they might be blocking it from turning, however the manual doesn't mention any of this, and I didn't want to touch them in case they are used for alignment.

Any suggestions on what I need to do here?


You need to loosen the screws. There's no need to take if off the screws completely.

[BenjiBoy650]

You really have to loosen screws to get a highbeam out? That's gotta be a stupid design on Honda's part...I just went down and took mine out, no mention of screws in the manual and the sockets were barely finger tight. I saw screws but they are not related to the high beam socket.

[SSMV6]

The screws don't need to be loosened. They're used instead of flimsy plastic tabs. If you unscrew the bulbs enough, then they will come out.... Let me go outside and see which direction they're supposed to turn and I'll get back to ya.

[ypsibird]

To reach the driver's side bulb, you'll need to remove a few fenderwell trim clips, move aside the fenderwell trim and reach in. It may help to have wheels turned all the way to the right first.

I've done the headlights 3 different ways and found it easiest to just pull the battery on the drivers side. The manual says to to do the fenderwell method. It works, but still leaves you with a very long and nearly blind reach to put the new bulb in. With the battery out it's fully accessible. It's only the terminals and 2 nuts to pull the battery out.

[SSMV6]

I just tried taking them out.. They're a little tight, but with a little bit of encouragement, they will come out. They turn counter clockwise (bottom towards the passenger's side) to release them from the headlight housing.

[faboloso]

when i replaced my headlights + highbeams, i definitely had to loosen the screws. i tried to use the "brute force" method ( :lmao: ) but after about half an hour of that i realized i needed to loosen the screws. then they turn real easily :thmsup:

edit: oh yea, there was no mention of screws in the manual, thats why i couldnt figure it out... sort of odd

[Amanda Moen]

I've done the headlights 3 different ways and found it easiest to just pull the battery on the drivers side. The manual says to to do the fenderwell method. It works, but still leaves you with a very long and nearly blind reach to put the new bulb in. With the battery out it's fully accessible. It's only the terminals and 2 nuts to pull the battery out.

I just asked the parts guy if he could help me figure out how to change the low beam. Instead of helping me figure out how to change it, he did it himself. It was the passenger side one and he just reached through til he got the old one out then put the new one in. Because he did that I felt that I got my $11 worth. It might have helped that I'm a girl, though.

[SSMV6]

Advanced Auto Parts and most auto parts stores would help you change out your headlights or wiper blades if you buy it from them.

[EXLNavi]

Another addition to this old thread - you don't necessarily have to remove the fenderwell clips if your hand can reach in there.

I've replaced my headlamp bulbs quite easily (after the pass side burnt out) without removing a thing. Just popped the hood, twisted and pulled out the bulbs, plugged in and replaced.

Just be careful because it's a tight squeeze.

[SSMV6]

Another addition to this old thread - you don't necessarily have to remove the fenderwell clips if your hand can reach in there.

I've replaced my headlamp bulbs quite easily (after the pass side burnt out) without removing a thing. Just popped the hood, twisted and pulled out the bulbs, plugged in and replaced.

Just be careful because it's a tight squeeze.
The passenger side is definitely easier than the driver's side (no CAI). I put in a CAI in mine so I could reach in from the top for my driver's side. With the stock air box in the way, you'll either have to remove the battery or go through the fenderwell plastic on the driver's side.

From an earlier post ^^^
To reach the driver's side bulb, you'll need to remove a few fenderwell trim clips, move aside the fenderwell trim and reach in. It may help to have wheels turned all the way to the right first. The passenger side bulb is a little easier since you could reach it from the engine bay. Just look behind the power steering reservoir. The PS reservoir is just clipped there and it can be easily move aside by lifting it straight up and out of it's bracket. Just remember to replace the reservoir in the bracket when you're done.

[Aviography]

Man these bulbs are hard to turn! I never had such problem with my 96 Integra or any other cars I've changed bulb with, not even a 10 year old Subaru!

I was going to try out a modified 9005 bulb I had left over, but I may put that off for now as I don't feel like busting something using the brute force method.

FWIW, I trid to turn both the low and high beams on the passenger side, both of them wiggle just a tiny bit, but refuse to actually turn.........

:screwy:

Follow up: I found by loosening the 3 screws just 1/2 a turn made removing the bulbs much easier, however I have now noticed that there is something else differnt between 9005 and 9006 bulbs other than the tab at the top that I didn't know before, i.e. the portion of the bulb that goes into the light housing is different between the two types, the 9005 is smaller at just under 0.8" dia with the O-ring seal, while the 9006 is larger at 0.875" dia. with the O-ring seal, this made the 9005 high beam bulb sit really sloppy in the low bean housing, and it also means the environmental seal between the bulb and housing is lost. This is good to find out as I was tempted to run modified HIR high beam bulbs in the low beam housing as I did with the Integra without any issues (the Integra housing receptacle is such that the light bulb base lock in much better and tighter than the Accord), but now I will just get the low beam HIR bulbs for this purpose.

As well, the 3 screws seem to help hold the bulb base tightly in place, so I will just resort to loosening the screws before replacing the bulbs, and tightning the same screws afterwards to lock everything in place.

[durant7]

WOW! What a PITA! 2004 Accord 4 cylinder. Low beams. Both went within 48 hours of each other and in NH it was -5F and snow, salt, dark. This weekend it was to warm up to 35F so I decided to attack....I had to. I drive in the dark both ways 65 miles in total.

Passenger side. Yes, there are three little screws, small philips. There was no way to losen them. I could not get enough leverage from engine compartment. Tried from the wheelwell when of course the plastic button broke. Grrr... At least I could see how it was designed to turn out. After taking some pain tollerance pills I was able to move it 1/8 of the way from the wheelwell. If you have a meaty forearm forget it. Went back at it from engine compartment with some adjustable jaws/pliers. Was not pretty but I got it. Truth is, if you keep wrench on bulb...who cares, it is junk anyway, just don't damage the female plug from the harness.

Drivers side. Remove battery with out any question. Counter clockwise again but still could not get enough leverage/grip from the engine compartment. Examination of things did not make me feel I was going to have anymore luck from the wheel well, more plumbing than on the passenger side. I put the wrench on the bulb part and it snapped. I removed the harness from the broken bulb and this time just mangled it out. VIOLA! I'm not proud but it's done. I bet the dealer mechanic has made a little wrench up to fit on the bulb and wrenches them out. Silly. I can do my Odyssey van in the parking lot of Wal-Mart along the way! Shame on Honda!

[Aviography]

:)

I agree, I have NEVER had as a hard time changing headlight bulbs in ANY car as compared to the Accord.

Whoever in Honda designed the headlight bulb mounting mechanism in the headlight assembly should be shot, or at least lashed in public!

[Accord9200]

Hmmm
It only gets worse...

Ive had to change the rears in my 92.. all ya did is pop a panel that covered the rear bulbs, twist and pull

In my 00, ya have to pop out the insulating panel for the trunk and keep it our far enough tog et ya hand in there, find a way to pop the stuff out and its yours.

With the fronts..
My 92 was very easy it was right there.. no plastic shrouds.

With my 00 ya have to have a very small phillips and pop out the airbox.

Whats messed up is...
You guys have to remove the battery and use brute force to get a damn headlamp out! The worst part is.. the lights in the 08 are even harder to get to. If the new lights are sitting on the edge of the qtr panels in the 8th gen, how in the world are ya gonna yank out a bulb?!

[phaser78]

Thanks for the tips...my passenger side headlamp bulb came out surprisingly easy (counter clockwise)...but putting it back in was another story: the screws did NOT need to be loosened (which would have been really hard to do anyway) and since i got the bulb out i figured it would HAVE to go back in so i just kept lining the replacement bulb housing up and turning it clockwise...eventually forcing it a little harder and harder...i took the bulb out a few times between tries and noticed "marks" were the bulb housing was catching - i realized it was very close to "Done" so i just kept trying and eventually it kind of gently "popped" back into place. I am waiting until i have more time to do the drivers side.

my 2004 now has 135K and running like new: i REALLY believe in the 3-4K oil change using the Motorcraft 5-20 synthetic blend and YES the crappy walmart Fram filters. I do a 3 quart trans change about every 6 months; i did a 9 quart "complete" change at 90K.

[ezshift5]

I am waiting until i have more time to do the drivers side.


.......after reading this thread, I am seriously thinking about letting the dealer change the driver's side low beam that failed recently (at the 3 year mark).

Entertaining (but painful) stories. How did such a well engineered car get such a dufus/dork/dweeb headlight set-up? Must involve beancounters...................

This thread has been seriously helpful.....(painful to read, but helpful)

best, ez....

[ezshift5]

.......after reading this thread, I am seriously thinking about letting the dealer change the driver's side low beam that failed recently (at the 3 year mark).


Drove to dealer, checked with service writer. 10 bucks. Plus the new 9006.


......42 minutes later, I was underway. Free car wash was inop that day. Maybe I'll go back so they can scrub off a few AZ bugs.

This thread was def. helpful.

ez....