2003 Honda Accord Headlight Out

2003 HONDA ACCORD
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JOSIEUONG
  • MEMBER
  • 1 POST
My passenger side headlight is out. My question is, do I need to replace the whole headlight or can I just replace the bulb. If I do need to replace the whole headlight, what is the difficulty of that? Is that something I can do myself or do I need to take it somewhere to be replaced?
Feb 13, 2007 at 3:49 AM
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JRTECHY
  • MEMBER
  • 3 POSTS
You only have to replace a bulb. I would recommend you get a bulb through you Honda dealer, the install takes ten minutes at most. Try to avoid getting your fingerprints on the bulb surface.
Feb 13, 2007 at 3:39 PM
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BRUCE HUNT
  • ✓Experienced Mechanic
  • 3,754 POSTS
You can get the bulbs from Walmart and they work just fine. I do recommend that you replace both sides of the car. Keep the one good one in the glove box as a spare. As the bulbs get older they do lose the ability to shine as brightly as they should. Replacing both will ensure that you don't have a strong side weak side look to the car. Also, they are engineered and manufactured the same. The other will go out in the near term.
Feb 15, 2007 at 2:36 AM

Suggested Repair

Replace only the headlight bulb, not the whole assembly. The job is a short DIY install of about ten minutes; avoid touching the bulb glass. Dealer or aftermarket bulbs are both said to work. Replacing both sides is recommended so lighting stays even, and the still-good bulb can be kept as a spare.

Conversation Summary

The owner of a 2003 Honda Accord Coupe with 55,000 miles asked whether a dead passenger-side headlight requires a full assembly or just a bulb, and whether the work is DIY. Replies said only the bulb needs replacement and the install takes about ten minutes if fingerprints are kept off the glass. One reply preferred a dealer bulb; the expert said Walmart bulbs work fine and recommended replacing both sides, keeping the good bulb as a spare, because aging bulbs dim and the other side may fail soon.

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