Changing bulb in headlight

1989 Toyota Camry

A little personal tip - if you get fingermarks on a halogen headlamp, you can wipe them off with rubbing alcohol (isopropyl alcohol) or, if you want to do what mechanics do, keep a number of 2X2 alcohol wipes in your automotive toolbox just to wipe off halogen headlight bulbs.

HEADLAMP REMOVAL & INSTALLATION

Sealed Beam Headlamps

See Figures 2 and 3

Before making a headlight replacement, make sure that the headlight switch is in the off position.

1. Loosen the screws, release the clips and remove the headlight door. To release the clips, insert a flat blade screwdriver into the jaws of the clip and pry on the jaws.

2. Remove the beam unit retaining ring screws and remove the beam unit.

Fig. 2: Headlamp door clip removal

3. Compress the lock releases and disconnect the wire connector from the headlight. If the connector is tight, wiggle it while holding in the lock releases and pulling out.

Fig. 3: Do not remove the adjusting screws when removing the head lamp sealed bulb

Never try to loosen the aim adjusting screws. If the screws are loosened, the headlights will have to be re-aimed by a qualified technician.

4. When installing, use only a sealed beam unit with the same part number and wattage.

Composite Headlamps

See Figures 4, 5 and 6

Fig. 4: Headlight bulbs are inside the sockets located in the engine compartment

Fig. 5: Detach the wiring from the back of the headlamp bulb

This procedure only applies to replaceable halogen headlight bulbs (such as Nos. 9004 and 9005); it does not pertain to sealed beam units.

1. Open the vehicle's hood and secure it in an upright position.

Fig. 6: Twist and pull the bulb out, but do not touch the bulb if it is still good

2. Unfasten the locking ring which secures the bulb and socket assembly, then withdraw the assembly rearward.

3. If necessary, gently pry the socket's retaining clip over the projection on the bulb (use care not to break the clip.) Pull the bulb from the socket.

To install:

4. Before installing a light bulb into the socket, ensure that all electrical contact surfaces are free of corrosion or dirt.

5. Line up the replacement headlight bulb with the socket. Firmly push the bulb onto the socket until the spring clip latches over the bulb's projection.

WARNING
Do not touch the glass bulb with your fingers. Oil from your fingers can severely shorten the life of the bulb. If necessary, wipe off any dirt or oil from the bulb with rubbing alcohol before completing installation.

6. To ensure that the replacement bulb functions properly, activate the applicable switch to illuminate the bulb which was just replaced. (If this is a combination low and high beam bulb, be sure to check both intensities.) If the replacement light bulb does not illuminate, either it too is faulty or there is a problem in the bulb circuit or switch. Correct if necessary.

7. Position the headlight bulb and secure it with the locking ring.

8. Close the vehicle's hood.

Fig. 1 - various automotive lamps



Fig.2 - Headlamp Door Clip Removal



Fig. 3: Do not remove the adjusting screws when removing the head lamp sealed bulb




Fig. 4: Headlight bulbs are inside the sockets located in the engine compartment




Fig. 5: Detach the wiring from the back of the headlamp bulb




Fig. 6: Twist and pull the bulb out, but do not touch the bulb if it is still good.

Open the hood of your Honda Civic, and identify the headlight assembly that has the dirt inside of it. Depending on the year of your Civic and side of the headlight, you may need to move the power steering reservoir to gain access to the light assembly.

2 Squeeze the clips on both sides of the headlight assembly to release the headlight connectors. Use your fingers to loosen the headlight, and pull the small plastic tab to loosen the rubber gasket from the frame.

3 Unplug the wiring harness from the back of the bulb. Twist the bulb, to remove it from the headlamp assembly.

4 Locate, and remove, the screws that hold the headlight casing in place. Once the screws have been removed, gently guide the headlight casing from the location.

5 Inspect the assembly under a bright light, identifying any cracks that may be in the casing. If there is a crack, use a silicone sealant to seal the crack.

6 Dry the assembly, using a towel and or hairdryer.

7 Replace the assembly back into your Honda Civic, and secure it by replacing the screws you removed.

8 Replace the rear gasket where the bulb is inserted with a new gasket. Insert the bulb, and twist it into place.

9 Reattach the bulb wiring harness.

10 Turn the lights on, and re-aim the light assembly. good job your done

Pop the hood and look behind the headlight housing. There will be a pigtail wire connector plugged into the bulb. It will most likely have a retaining clip on the connector. Remove the clip and unplug the wire harness from the bulb. Once completed, there should be a round plastic retaining ring holding the bulb in. Some just twist and lock in place, and some have small torx bit screws holding the retaining ring in place. Either way, remove the round ring, then pull and wiggle the bulb out. (The bulb has a rubber "O" ring around it to seal out moisture, so you have to pull/wiggle the bulb to get it out) Some vehicles require unbolting the headlamp housing to get at the back of it. If yours is like that, there will be two LONG bolts right on the top, one on each side, most likely a 10mm head. Unscrew the two bolts and pull them out. Then just pull/wiggle the housing forward. I normally do this anyway since it's easier to get the round bulb retainer out when I can tip the housing to get at it unobstructed. When installing the new bulb, DO NOT touch the glass portion of the bulb or get anything on it. The oils in your skin will cause it to fail quickly. Hope this helps.

Open the bonnet, look down at the back of the headlight, you will see 3 wires going into a plug which is surrounded by a large rubber seal.
Pull the plug out ( it plugs into the back of the headlight bulb ) . Once the plug is out, remove the rubber seal, it should have a tag to make this easier.
Under the seal there is a bulb holder, the bulb is held in by a springy piece of wire, one end if the wire clip has a small loop, push the loop toward the headlight and then ( with pressure on the loop ) move the clip sideways, ( there is a hook that holds the clip).
The clip will swing out ( one end will pivot ) and the bulb can be removed.
Do not touch the glass part of the bulb as the oils on your fingers can cause the bulb to blow prematurely.
Replace the bulb ,clip and seal ( the seal is marked TOP at the top) and plug the power back in.
Job Done!!
All the best , Marshall

open bonnet, goto the broken headlight. take off the connector from the back of the headlight, it has three wires going into it and is a cube type shape - the size of a sugarcube, probably black - pull this off gently by holdding the black connector only, do not pull the wires, wiggle it a little if it feels stuck (you dont need much force). Now there's the rubber seal on the headlight pull off this rubber seal, be careful not to stretch it too much or it could tear, be gentle with this too. Now you see some clip-type things and the connector sticking out of the back of the headlight. the clips have two round bits on the end, this is so you can squeese them together between thumb and forefinger. -------- squeeze both sides of the clips together, then pull them gently away from the headlight, the clips should now be in the unlocked position and hanging down loosely. you can now pull out the broken bulb noting its orientation so you put the new one in the right way round.
then put the clips back, (squeese them together and push them closed against the bulb then stop squeezing and let the clips go into their little notches to lock the bulb back in place. (simpler than it sounds) replace the rubber seal, making sure it sits as straight and flat as it did before, or you will get water in your lights! replace the connector - make sure it is fully home and is a snug fit. switch on and test. DONE!

First, make sure that the headlights and engine are off. Hot engine and hot bulb make changing it challenging. Reach behind the headlamp assembly and remove the electrical connector by pulling it straight out, towards that back of the car. Next, remove the large rubber seal that is on the back of the headlight assembly by pulling it off like the electrical connector. The electrical connector was in the center of the seal. There is a metal bar spring that goes across the back of the bulb assembly. It opens like a safety pin. Gently push down on the end of the metal spring. Once it is pushed down it will be out of its clasp and it will open automatically due to spring tension. The bar spring can be opened completely and then the bulb will come straight out the back of the headlamp assembly. To replace the bulb, first, make sure you don't touch the glass on the bulb since it may cause a hot spot and reduce the life of the bulb. There are 3 metal tabs that are on the bulb for the electrical connector. Position the bulb so that the "missing tab" is on the bottom. Put the bulb into position by aligning the 3 metal fingers on the outside of the bulb assembly into the openings on the back of the headlamp. They should seat fully. Once the bulb is in place you can close the bar spring by gently pushing down on the open end of the spring so that it engages the clasp. The spring will hold the bulb in place and you can verify seating by gently trying to move the bulb or by gently pushing and pulling the bulb. If it is seated then you can put the large rubber seal back on the back of the headlamp. Lastly you can pusht the electrical connector back onto the 3 prongs of the bulb. Don't push too hard and you might want to consider using some bulb grease to make it go on easier and to protect from corrosion. I changed both headlamps in about 3 - 5 minutes.

1. Open the hood.

2. Remove the electrical connector from the bulb by squeezing the connector on both sides to unlock the tab. Pull the connector straight off.

3. Remove the rubber weather seal by pulling on the tab.

4. Unclip the end of the hold-down wire from its slot. Pivot it out of the way and remove the bulb.

5. Insert the new bulb into the hole, making sure the tabs are in their slots. Pivot the hold-down wire back in place and clip the end into the slot.

6. Install the rubber seal over the back of the headlight assembly. Make sure it is right side up; it is marked "TOP".

7. Push the electrical connector onto the new bulb. Turn on the headlights to test the new bulb.

Hope this helps you.

Open the bonnet and look inside behind the headlight, there should be a plastic or rubber cover over the back of the light with 3 or 4 wires coming out of it, the wires should have a multi wired plug on the end of it, pull the plug out by the plastic multi point plug, don't pull on the wires. Remove the plastic or rubber cover and you should see 3 prongs coming from the rear of the headlight, that is the bulb, there are 2 spring clips that retain the bulb, push down on the clip and move towards the centre to release the bulb,
Change the bulb but take notice of where the 3 ppins on the bulb locate as 1 is a bit wider than the other 2 so it should fit only 1 way. put it all back together in the reverse order that you took it apart

Behind the headlight under the hood there is a small rubber disc that keeps water out of the head lamp. Disconnect the 3 prong plastic connector, then pull off the rubber disc. There is a small clip that you can compress with your fingers and swing out. Pull the old bulb out. Be careful you dont touch the new bulb with your fingers as the oils from your skin can cause the bulb to burn out prematurely. Also, be careful not to scratch the bulb. Be sure the bulb spring is holding the bulb securely, Reattach the rubber disc and then reconnect the 3 prong connector. Test it and it should be good.

Hi

Step 1: Remove Wire Harness. Find the wires and their harness connected to the back of the bulb. To make sure you have the right harness, wiggle it while looking through the clear lens. If the bulb moves while wiggling the the harness, you have the right one. To remove the harness, simply pull it straight back away from the bulb and off the bulb prongs.
Step 2: Remove Rubber Seal Boot. Note the orientation of the boot (typically, the two rubber tabs extending out the back are at the 12 and 6 o'clock positions). The most exposed edge of the boot is underneath the bulb when viewing from above. Feel underneath for the edge and peel it back away from the bulb housing. Work your way around the bulb housing peeling more of the boot back as you go. You may have to work your way around a few times to complete disengage the boot from the bulb housing. Don't worry about the part of the boot around the bulb prongs. It will slide off easily once the boot is disengaged from the bulb housing.
Step 3: Open Wire Clip. The bulb is held in place by a wire clip. DO NOT unscrew this clip! Find the tab opposite the screw, push it toward the front of the vehicle then pull it up vertically. The wire clip will pivot back. It pivots on the anchor held by the screw.