Changing Headlight bulbs in a 1996 Civic LX

[thecrackerjack]

Hello,

I have to say I have no experience with cars under the hood.

I have purchased some new headlight bulbs and want to to put them into the car.

I lifted the hood and I can't see how I'm supposed to gain access to the back of the bulb. On the passenger side I am guessing I could push my hand in and unplug the wire and pull the bulb back but the drivers side is completely blocked.

I also have the Haynes Repair Manual, but from what I have read, doesn't explain how to get at the bulb but only explains unplugging the wire and pulling the bulb out.

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

[Eran]

For the driver's side, you'll need to remove your power steering fluid reservoir (gray cylinder with red cap). It just slides up off it's bracket, so just pull it up, and set it aside.

To get the harness and bulb out, squeeze the sides of the headlight harness, and slide it off the bulb. Remove the rubber boot from the headlight to gain access to the bulb.

Holding the bulb in is a wire tensioner clip. Just press down on the left side of the clip (on YOUR left if you're facing your car) you'll feel it push down. Press down and slide up, and it'll come unhooked. Then just replace the bulb and put everything back together.

On the passenger side, you just reach down past the airbox and do the same.

[NOFX]

The power steering reservoir lifts up off of it's mount. You can lift it up to gain access to the headlight plug and boot.

Unplug the socket (pinch either side). Pull the black rubber boot off. Press the metal clip in and up. Now you can remove the bulb.

Do the opposite for installation. Make sure you line the bulb up properly. It won't fit otherwise.

[thecrackerjack]

Alrighty finally got them in. Took a bit to figure out how compact cars fit things together. The only other car I've done this with is a Volvo.

1. Open Hood
2. Wipe off back or wire connectors so the grit doesn't go into the socket.

passengers side
3. Pull the intake hose up and out of the way from its plastic pressure fitting
4. gently squeeze the side of the electrical wire connector and pull back it should come off
.... again the sides with a gentle squeeze
5. take off the rubber dust cap from the back of the headlight
6. there is a spring clip, one side has a screw the other side has non. press lightly on the screw side and swing the spring clip up gently and out of the way.
7. carefully pull the old head light bulb out and do not touch the glass part (so i have read)
8. reverse your steps to put the new bulb in

drivers side.
3. it looks impossible to do but pull up the reservoir that is blocking the socket and move it just far enough up and to the left that it is out of the way with out stressing the hose's connected to it.
4. clean the wire connector
5. squeeze the sides of the connector and pull back
6. depress the spring clip and rotate up and out and gently push it out of the way
7. pull the rubber fitting off
8. reverse your steps to put the new bulb in.

Hope this can help another noobie


Modified by thecrackerjack at 3:39 PM 9/10/2007


Modified by thecrackerjack at 3:39 PM 9/10/2007