How to Change a Kia Rio's Head Light
by Christian Killian
Replacing the headlights in the Kia Rio will improve the visibility on the road in low light or inclement weather conditions. The headlights consist of a plastic housing and a 9003 halogen bulb that sits in the rear of the assembly. The 9003 bulb is very common and is available from any auto parts store. It is often sold in pairs, allowing you to change both headlights at once.
Step 1
Open the hood of your Rio and locate the electrical connector and headlight bulb cover on the back of the headlight assembly. Pull the electrical connector off the rear of the bulb and then remove the rubber bulb cover and set it aside.
Step 2
Release the wire bulb retainer by pressing in on the end of it and sliding it up. Once the clip is out from behind the hook on the headlight assembly, swing it away from the headlight bulb.
Step 3
Pull the bulb out of the headlight and discard it. Insert a new halogen bulb into the head light assembly, being careful to handle it only by the metal base. The oil on your hands will cause the glass to weaken and the light to fail if you handle the glass portion of the bulb.
Step 4
Push the wire bulb retainer over and clip it in place. Install the rubber bulb protector on the rear of the bulb, covering the wire retaining clip and allowing the electrical terminals to protrude through the center of the cover.
Step 5
Slide the electrical connector onto the terminals on the rear of the bulb. Be sure to push the connector all the way onto the terminals to avoid any issue with a bad contact or an intermittent connection.
Step 6
Repeat the process on the second bulb if required and then test the repair by turning on the headlight switch in the car. Cycle the headlights through high and low beam to ensure they are working properly.
References
- "Kia Rio Owners Manual"; Kia Motors Corp.; 2006
Writer Bio
Christian Killian has been a freelance journalist/photojournalist since 2006. After many years of working in auto parts and service positions, Killian decided to move into journalism full-time. He has been published in "1st Responder News" as well as in other trade magazines and newspapers in the last few years.
