How to Change a Headlight in a Subaru Impreza

by Leigh Kelley

When a headlight in your Subaru Impreza burns out, you have to replace it before you drive at night or in the rain so you don't get a ticket. In some cases, you may want to change the headlight to a brighter light or a special light to customize the look of your Impreza. This job is best done during the day to make seeing the screws and wires easier.

Step 1

Make sure that your Impreza is turned off. Open the hood by pulling the latch near the floor board on the driver side of the Impreza. Secure the hood with the safety bar. Disconnect the battery by removing the clamps from the negative battery terminal and then the positive battery terminal. You may need to use pliers to loosen the clamp screw.

Step 2

Remove the air cleaner top piece that is on top of the headlight component. This is held on by a screw on the left and one on the right. Use a Philips screwdriver to remove these. Once the screws are out, pull the air cleaner top piece off and set it, along with the screws, in a safe place.

Step 3

Unscrew the Philips screw that is on the headlight casing. This screw will be on top of the casing toward the center of the vehicle. Slide the headlight casing up. Be careful when you do this, as the headlight wires are still connected.

Step 4

Disconnect the headlight wires. Grasp the white plastic connection cover with one hand while you grasp the end of the wire coming from the headlight. Pull gently until it comes apart. Pull the bulb out of the bulb slot. Wrap the bulb in newspaper and dispose of it.

Step 5

Connect the new bulb to the wire from which you disconnected the old bulb. Make sure that you thread the wire through the slot in the headlight case before you connect it. Slide the bulb into the bulb slot to secure it. Replace the headlight casing to its original position. Secure it by replacing the screw. Replace the air cleaner top piece and secure it by replacing the two screws.