No tools needed for most cars. Some cars require removal of certain components to access the back of the headlights.
Go to your parts store and ask them to look up what bulbs your car takes. Some cars have separate bulbs for the low beams and high beams. My Subaru does, but my old Honda only had one. Also, get a small pack of Dielectric grease. This prevents corrosion on the electrical connectors.
Step 1
For my car, there is a weatherproof cover that covers the electrical connectors to protect them from moisture. Because of this I personally don't use Dielectric grease to protect my electrical terminals. If you have one of these, remove it. Mine comes off by simply rotating it and pulling back.
Step 2
Unplug and remove the old bulbs. I have H1 bulbs which are small and held in by a metal clip. Some bulbs are in a plastic housing and twist out. Disconnect both electrical terminals, one is the ground and you don;t necesarrily HAVE to remove it but its easier out of the way. You can see the metal clip on the left, push it in and down. Then it will rotate out of the way.
Remove old bulb. Reinstall new bulb in reverse order. This is where you would apply the dielectric grease to the terminal on the bulb. DO NOT TOUCH THE GLASS OF THE NEW BULB!!! The oil on your bare fingers will cause the glass material to burn out faster.
I used Sylvannia Silver Star bulbs to make them a bit brighter.
Heres the before
Heres the after
Enjoy having an illuminated road at night!
I like this repair Tip and Steps. Drivers can save a good amount of money changing a broken headlight on their vehicle. From my experience it can be as simple as unplugging and replacing a light bulb. Sometimes more steps are required, which you have covered.
ReplyDeleteI have an Altima and learned a very important lesson when changing one of my bulbs; there is a TINY screw that if lost is only replaceable at a Nissan dealership. Great instructions and the pictures are helpful as well.
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