1996 Honda Civic Headlamp bulb change

LENARD

MEMBER
1996 HONDA CIVIC

Electrical problem
1996 Honda Civic 4 cyl Two Wheel Drive Automatic 248K miles

I set out to change the headlamp bulbs on my 1996 Civic LX, and it seems my hands are too big to fit in behind the power steering fluid cannister to get to the rear of the assembly. Is there an easier way to get the bulb(s) out without having to hire a 10 year old with small hands? I though perhaps pulling the complete h/lamp out might help, but I read somewhere it involved removing the bumper cover to access the lower bolts. Unless I am overlooking the painfully obvious, I was wondering if there is a trick to this. By the way, your site is great!

Len

3 Replies

IMPALASS

MECHANIC
3,112 POSTS

Hello - Well - I hate to say but that is the first step in removing the lamp assembly---remove the bumper. This may be easier than you think... Have you looked it over to see?

Also, how hard is it to possible disconnect the PS reservoir to move it out of your way?

Next option......... What about your wife or girlfriend.......

Last option I see is what you said....... Is there a 10 year old near by?

Sorry - that is the best we can do there.............

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Sunday, November 2nd, 2008 AT 12:48 AM

LENARD

MEMBER
1 POST

I just wanted to let you know that upon further inspection the PS fluid reservoir does in fact slide up and out of its bracket, and there is just enough slack in the hoses to hold it far enough out of the way to enable a hand access to the rear of the headlight assy.
Thanks for your reply on this, I had to figure it out on my own since the 10 year old kid with the small hands I wanted to hire wanted more money than my mechanic would of charged.

Len

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Sunday, November 2nd, 2008 AT 3:23 PM

IMPALASS

MECHANIC
3,112 POSTS

Len

Great! Glad to see that worked for you. I myself haven't ran across where the PS reservoir is in the very front like yours. Most of the time it is the windshield wash, radiator overflow, and 84% of the time they just slide out. The other % of the time they have them bolted in so could you could take a head on collision and the car would be totaled, but your windshield wash bottle would be okay and still bolted in.

I truly appreciate the update..... We don't always get that. This way we can assist the next with what happened to you....... Unless of course they pay the 10 year old before contacting us.

I would bet the 10 year old kid knew all along. I bet he launders his yard mowing and assisting others money through the junk yards, oopss... Sorry, not politically correct... The Used Parts Yards and they told him. At one time you could go to a junk yard and get a part for 5 to 10 bucks. Now they are about 75 to 80% the cost of a new.

Well - glad you have a success story and thanks for the update!

Bob

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Sunday, November 2nd, 2008 AT 4:18 PM