Changing headlight bulbs (NA1)

[Oyagi]

Who in their #@$##&^$&^mind at HondaDesign came up with the headlight bulb assembly?!?

I spent a friggin 45 mins tonight changing one bulb. Yes, I did a search, did it with the hood opened and headlights in closed position. The metal retainer ring nearly ripped the skin off my hands, and then the wire attached to the bulb is so short I can barely maneuver get the bulb out and later the new one back into the housing again! After I finally got the bulb in I had the hardest time screwing in that razor blade sharp retention ring again.

All this for a temp bulb to give me adequate lighting until my Philips HID kit arrives next week!

Now I am actually looking forward to my HID kit coming in so the extra wiring length will give me some room to work!

Did I miss some sort of trick here? I tried to remove the headlight cover to free up some space but how do you get that covered screw off? Why on earth would they have 3 exposed screws and one with a cover over it?!?!?

 

[Daedalus]

Sounds like you're missing a screw cover. The 2 inboard screws are exposed, the outboard ones should be covered just for aesthetics, but the covers are tiny slivers of plastic that pop off with a small screwdriver. I installed WhiteNSX's HIDs using his very excellent instructions and it wasn't hard. With headlight up, remove cover screws, move cover forward, remove lamp housing bolts, lift housing to remove cover, remove housing, install bulb, reinstall in reverse. Of course with the HID you have to then mount the ballast and ignitor. Each side took me about 45 -60 minutes total. Take your time with the covers and mask the painted areas around them so you don't scuff the paint. I drape shop towels everywhere I could and taped them in place, then just pulled them out after sliding the cover back into place. To just replace the factory bulb you may not even have to remove the lamp housing, just the cover.

 

[Hugh]

I spent a friggin 45 mins tonight changing one bulb. Yes, I did a search, did it with the hood opened and headlights in closed position. The metal retainer ring nearly ripped the skin off my hands, and then the wire attached to the bulb is so short I can barely maneuver get the bulb out and later the new one back into the housing again! After I finally got the bulb in I had the hardest time screwing in that razor blade sharp retention ring again.

On the 8th day, God created........................

 

[evof575gtc]

its always hard the first time.

second time around should take you 5 minutes.
you just need practice.

i install HIDs in many NSX with customers in and out in 10 minutes max.
no need to take the headlight covers off.

just twist the dust cap off.
unplug the bulb.
push down on the retainer clip with thumb and index finger and twist it off.
take out the bulb, and put in the new one.
and do everything in reverse.

for the HID, just strap the ballast under the headlight frame with zip ties, or double stick tape it behind the headlight bucket.

DONE!

 

[goldNSX]

Who in their #@$##&^$&^mind at HondaDesign came up with the headlight bulb assembly?!?

I spent a friggin 45 mins tonight changing one bulb.
...

Reminds me of a post I've opened here a few years ago. Everything in this car is built very stable. :tongue: Good luck!

 

[asylum]

Yes did it last week to put Philips BlueVision bulbs. Thanks I have small hands ! Ask your girlfriend or children to do this

 

[MvM]

Aah, changing headlight bulbs :smile:

Yes, the first time it takes time. With practice, it is not hard.

Yes did it last week to put Philips BlueVision bulbs.

Ayslum,
How do you like the BlueVision bulbs on the car.

Has anyone have any experience with the Luminics ExtremeWhite bulbs ??
The Philips BlueVision ones are 4300K but the Luminics (www.luminicsbulbs.com) are even whiter at 5100K or even 5500K.

I would like to try these and see how the look like before I switch to a full HID-kit.

 

[asylum]

Ayslum,
How do you like the BlueVision bulbs on the car.

They are a little bit expensive. I hope they will last as long as stock bulbs. They are not more powerfull than stock bulbs. Don't expect to see really better. But the light is really whiter and this is nice.

 

[DocL]

Huh....I replaced the low beam bulbs two weeks ago and both sides took me a total of 15mins to do the job. I also found it a lot easier to use my Potts elevator to loosen the ring.

 

[jalnjr]

Huh....I replaced the low beam bulbs two weeks ago and both sides took me a total of 15mins to do the job. I also found it a lot easier to use my Potts elevator to loosen the ring.

left or right???

dentists atleast you did'nt use that "small hands" verbage!!!!

 

[Oyagi]

Huh....I replaced the low beam bulbs two weeks ago and both sides took me a total of 15mins to do the job. I also found it a lot easier to use my Potts elevator to loosen the ring.

Hahaha, what the heck is an orthodontist doing with Potts? Up here ortho's are restricted to ortho only, no extractions allowed! :biggrin:

That reminds me of when I changed my coolant tank to the alum dali unit earlier this summer. I used a couple of hemostats to clamp off the hoses before disconnecting them.

 

[ChopsJazz]

its always hard the first time.

Ah, if I had a nickle for every time I've heard that... :wink:

 

[queenlives]

Ah, if I had a nickle for every time I've heard that... :wink:

PREvert

 

[mickeylex]

Ah, if I had a nickle for every time I've heard that... :wink:

Now how did I know that FSTR was gonna be the first one to say that. :wink: :biggrin: