Does anyone out there know how to change out the front headlight BULB of a 92 Honda Accord EX? The owner's manual doesn't say, and after trying to fish around with my hands I'm afraid I will break plastic and be bummed.

Using a mirror, I can see behind the headlight assembly under the hood. There is a black circular ring around a white plastic piece. The ring has the words Open and Lock with opposite arrows next to either one. But the thing won't budge when I try to move it in either direction.

Anyone know what to do?

EDIT: I don't need to replace the whole headlight assembly. I only want to replace the bulb.....



Modified by lindy3080 at 3:19 PM 1/1/2005

 

you gotta remove the front bumper and bumper support

 

I just need to replace the bulb, not the assembly. I shouldn't have to remove the assembly to do that should I? On the rear of the assembly it appears as though I can unscrew a black plastic ring which will free the bulb to be removed from the rear. BUT, the ring will not rotate. Is there something else I need to do?

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by kevinm1981 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">you gotta remove the front bumper and bumper support</TD></TR></TABLE>

wat he said

 

in order to replace a headlight bulb you have to remove the front bumper? surely not...???

 

it says Headlights, not headlight bulb, stupid girl

 

turn the black trim ring around the light bulb counter clockwise to unlock the bulb

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by jdmcb3 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">turn the black trim ring around the light bulb counter clockwise to unlock the bulb</TD></TR></TABLE>

You are correct. To get the trim ring to move you might need to use a flathead screw driver and a hammer to get the thing turning. Remember these things are probably on moved every few years, if that, so they are going to be a bit tight. On the bulb there are 3 flat tabs sticking out that will line up with the holes on the trim ring. Match them up and the bulb pops right out. Hope that helped.

 

Thanks, Lostcb7. I appreciate your kind and thoughtful reply. I was able to replace both bulbs using your tips. The plastic rim was on there very tight, and I used a flathead and hammer just like you suggested... without worrying that I was inadvertently going to break any plastic.

My husband and I just moved from Nashville to Atlanta, and I am not surprised that the nicest reply to my post came from there! It's a shame some people from Kent, Washington, are so desperate to feed their egos that they grovel with lame attempts to belittle others.

Thanks again for your helpful reply.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by lindy3080 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Thanks, Lostcb7. I appreciate your kind and thoughtful reply. I was able to replace both bulbs using your tips. The plastic rim was on there very tight, and I used a flathead and hammer just like you suggested... without worrying that I was inadvertently going to break any plastic.

My husband and I just moved from Nashville to Atlanta, and I am not surprised that the nicest reply to my post came from there! It's a shame some people from Kent, Washington, are so desperate to feed their egos that they grovel with lame attempts to belittle others.

Thanks again for your helpful reply.</TD></TR></TABLE>

Your welcome, glad I could help I had to learn the hard way through trial and error and lots of cursing. As for the people with the negative responses, you really have to watch out for those e-thugs, they are real hard asses.

Edit: If you plan on addressing more general maintenence issues with your car, it would be very beneficial to pick up a Haynes manual at your local Auto Parts store.

 

Good call for the flathead screwdriver. I couldn't get mine to move either until one was used. There were serveral of us trying to do it, they all thought I wasn't strong enough to turn it until they realized none of them could. At that point I remembered that the screwdriver trick and voila!

 

Haha, good times. I remember having trouble trying to figure out how to get mine out too. I actually tried twisting the bulb before I figured out that it was the black ring AROUND the light that I had to turn. I actually broke the plastic plug where the wires plug in completely off! I got that all figured out, now I just need to find some good bulbs that are bright and have good distance (that don't burn out between 20 and 90 days )

 

Hoping to get better leverage, I wedged a screwdriver in one of the slots on the back of the ring and broke it as soon as I struck the screwdriver. Obviously I can change the bulb now, but the ring is very loose. Where can I get a new ring? Must I buy the entire headlamp assembly? Surely not!?!?

 

To change the bulbs, I sprayed the headlight retaining ring with WD40 first. Then after getting it apart, cleaned it off with soap and water.

 

I've seen the ring in the aftermarket (AZ, NAPA, CARQUEST, ECT). The dealer might also carry them.

 

I just went through this too. Wound up breaking the locking ring. Only $5 for a new one through the dealer but it's a special order part. Won't be in for a few days. So right now the bulb is being held in place by duct tape lol.

 

Everyone is not completely and totally careful will break the locking ring. I did this the very first time I tried replacing my bulb on the first Accord I had. Now I have to be really careful and spray the **** out of em when I try to replace mines.