How to Replace a Headlight on a 2002 Honda Civic
by William Pullman
Putting in new headlights once required replacing the entire headlight assembly. Newer cars use a composite headlight system, which requires only a new bulb. You can purchase bulb needed for the 2002 Honda Civic and replace it yourself instead of taking the car to a service center.
Step 1
Open the hood of the Honda Civic and pull the power steering fluid reservoir straight up to remove it from the mounting bracket on the driver's side of the engine compartment. The power steering fluid reservoir is round, made of a light-colored plastic and is the only reservoir in the engine compartment with a red cap. A hose is attached on the back, left side of the reservoir and leads to the back of the engine compartment. The hose on the power steering fluid reservoir has enough slack that you can move it to the side without having to remove the hose. You now have access to the driver's-side headlight.
Step 2
Remove the electrical connector from the back of the headlight bulb by squeezing the sides of the connector and pulling straight out.
Step 3
Pull the weather ring off of the headlight assembly. The weather ring is the round, rubber piece that sits around the headlight bulb.
Step 4
Press down on the thin holding wire that sits over the headlight bulb and rotate it downward to remove it from the bulb. The holding wire is used to secure the bulb in the headlight assembly.
Step 5
Pull the old bulb out of the assembly and slide the new bulb in. The tabs on the bulb should match the slots on the assembly. Do not touch the glass part of the bulb with your hands. The oil on your hands will collect on the glass and increase the temperature of the bulb, which shortens its life.
Step 6
Push up on the holding wire to lock the bulb in the assembly and reattach the weather ring. The word "Top" on the weather ring should face up.
Step 7
Plug the electrical connector into the back of the headlight bulb.
Step 8
Repeat Steps 2 through 7 with the second headlight.
Step 9
Slide the power steering fluid reservoir back into the mounting bracket on the driver's side of the engine compartment.
References
Things You'll Need
- Replacement headlight bulb Model No. HB2
Writer Bio
William Pullman is a freelance writer from New Jersey. He has written for a variety of online and offline media publications, including "The Daily Journal," "Ocular Surgery News," "Endocrine Today," radio, blogs and other various Internet platforms. Pullman holds a Master of Arts degree in Writing from Rowan University.
