Kia Rio Headlight Assembly Removal? The 61 Top Answers

It’s worse than running at night with one eye closed: you’ve lost the light from one of your headlights. Either a bulb burned out, or a minor accident damaged the lens, reflector, or perhaps the entire lamp body. And besides the obvious danger, there are also the risks of being subpoenaed by a sharp-eyed law enforcement officer and the possible impact on a repair shop’s hourly rate. But you can handle the situation yourself and save valuable greenbacks while feeling the warm glow of performance by replacing a blown headlight yourself. At Car and Driver, we know you can. How to change a headlight:

How to replace a headlight bulb

Luckily, changing a headlight is often easy. Most of today’s halogen high intensity discharge (HID) or light emitting diode (LED) bulbs are easy to replace. They are held in place by thin wire clips or swivel bayonet mounts. They can be quickly pulled out from behind the headlight housing, disconnected from the wiring and swapped out for a working bulb. But to change a headlight, you must first identify the type of bulb you need. The first place to look is in your owner’s manual.

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If the manual is missing but you know the make, model and year of your car (you know that, don’t you?) you can go to a counter at an auto parts store or look it up in the headlight booklet which is usually located in the headlight aisle of the parts store . And finally, you can always pull out the faulty lightbulb and take it to the store to look it up.

How to extract the lightbulb

You can usually access the headlight bulb by simply opening the hood and removing the bulb connectors at the back of the headlight housing. Some vehicles can provide additional service space with small pivoting or rotating panels in the front wheel wells.

However, on some tricky models, various mudguards, air filter housings and even washer fluid bottles may need to be removed for full access before you can change a headlight. For this reason, we recommend having a pair of mechanic’s (or latex) gloves, a flashlight, a flathead screwdriver, a small box of socket wrenches, and needle-nosed pliers handy.

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Old school square or circular sealed beam headlights are different and bigger, but very easy to replace. They are usually held in place by a thin metal ring that screws into the lamp body assembly. The retaining ring screws can be easily removed from the front of the vehicle. But sometimes other light front fairings need to be removed first. A harness connector under the hood at the rear of the lamp slides onto and off the lamp’s copper terminals.

Remember this about new lightbulbs

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When changing a headlight, it’s important not to touch the glass of a new bulb, as contamination from your skin’s natural oil and even small amounts of dirt will lead to early failure. Use a small amount of dielectric grease (available at an auto parts store if it doesn’t come with the bulb) for a weatherproof bond on all bulb plugs and terminals. And don’t confuse the headlight beam adjustment screws with the usually smaller retaining screws.

Replacement of a headlight housing

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If the lens of the lamp is broken, the lens is heavily clouded, or the case has been damaged by an accident, the matter is more complicated. You should replace the entire headlight assembly, called the housing. These molded housings clip or bolt to the front end metal radiator bracket. On the back of the case are the wire harness connectors that need to be removed. And unfortunately, in some cases (e.g. versions of the Ford Fusion, Chevy Malibu and Toyota Camry), the front bumper cover must be loosened or removed in order to access the housing fasteners.

We recommend purchasing a repair manual or at least watching several YouTube videos on how to replace cases specific to your vehicle. (But be careful — these gritty DIY videos vary in quality and thoroughness.) And if replacing an entire headlight housing requires removing parts like a bumper cover, you’ll likely need access to slightly more sophisticated hand tools as well.

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The cost of new bodies, including a new lens, ranges from expensive to very expensive. And yet a relatively inexpensive repair is possible, especially if you have a good junkyard nearby where you can pick up used (much cheaper) parts. You can even practice your first move on the farm’s “You Pick It Up” donor vehicle.

Most headlight bulbs are easy to replace; Headlight housings require more work.

After you have installed the replacement housing, but before reinstalling any parts you removed to gain access to the headlight assembly, cycle the lights on and off to ensure that the replacement high and low beam bulbs and those reinstalled are working Cables are completely functional. This saves you the time and frustration of discovering a loose connection or incorrectly installed bulb too late, which requires removing and reinstalling the bumper cover or grille hardware. And of course the headlights need to be aligned. To do this, we recommend taking the car to a workshop; You could try to align them with the road, but this is a hit-0r-miss process at best. A shop has the expensive target equipment to get the job done right.

DIY tips

Choose a clean section of driveway or a work area (such as a garage) with good light when working on your vehicle. Be patient and allow sufficient time (at least two hours) for the headlight replacement. It might be easy, but it might also be more complicated than you planned.

Place any retaining clips and fasteners you removed in a jar or can. Otherwise they are too easy to lose.

Use masking tape and a sharpie to mark where the wiring has come loose so it can be reconnected the same way, i.e. correctly.

An old carpet, rubber mat, or large piece of clean cardboard to lie on can make kneeling or working under the car more comfortable.

Listen for a sharp click as connections are made.

Keep these tips in mind and we trust your headlight replacement efforts go well. And we hope you don’t have to replace as many lightbulbs as this guy does:

Roc Canals Photography Getty Images

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Pull the lever towards you.

When released, it returns to the normal (low beam) position. The headlight switch does not need to be on to use this flashing feature.

How much does it cost to replace a headlight unit? Whether you’re replacing your car’s headlights because they’re damaged or upgrading your car accessories for better visibility, cost should be your first consideration. But you can’t blindly chase low costs. If you mistakenly buy a poor quality headlight unit or it doesn’t fit your vehicle, it’s all for naught. Read the information below to avoid unnecessary headlamp assembly replacement costs.

Two questions

1. Cost of the new headlight assembly

2. Labor cost to replace headlight assembly

How much does it cost to replace a headlight unit?

The cost of the new headlight assembly will vary depending on the year, make and model of your car. For example, the average price for a set of the headlight assembly on Amazon ranges from $80 to $400. The cost of replacing the headlight assembly on vehicles with HID or LED lights is definitely higher than on vehicles with simple halogen lights. Before replacing, you can check online which headlight assembly your car needs. You don’t need to replace the entire headlight set if only the headlight bulb burns out. The bulb repair is easy, and the cost of the car headlights is $10-75. Listed below are some of the cost of replacing headlight assemblies for various models of popular brands for your convenience and time-saving.

Labor cost to replace headlight assembly

Labor costs depend on how you do the job. Usually refers to the installation cost of the headline. If you replace the entire headlight assembly yourself, the average cost can range from $75 to $400. Take it to an auto repair shop and you’ll have to pay at least $250-$1000 in replacement cost for the headlight assembly. According to most aftermarket auto parts stores, replacing a single high intensity discharge lamp can cost $100 or more, while the total headlamp assembly replacement costs between $250 and $700. The cost of replacing the headlight assembly can range from $15 to $200 depending on the type of headlight bulb you choose for your car.

summary

The cost of replacing the headlight assembly is determined by the product price that is appropriate for your model and the labor cost of installation. The use of xenon bulbs and LED strips increases the price of replacing headlights. If your headlight bulbs are halogen bulbs, the replacement cost is usually not that high. Plus, do-it-yourself saves you more than half the cost of in-store repairs. We encourage you to compare the prices and performance of multiple headlamp assemblies online and choose a reliable supplier.

The exact cost of replacing your headlight covers will depend on the make and model of your car, where you live, and the labor costs for your mechanic. On average, a car dealership will charge $250 to $700. Trying to replace the cover yourself will usually cost you $75-$200 plus your time of course.

What is a headlight cover for?

The main purpose of a headlight cover is to protect your headlights while driving. Some things the covers protect your headlights from:

mistake

Chips from stones and other materials

Small abrasions

weather elements

Should I replace the cover myself or go to a mechanic?

Replacing your headlight covers yourself is a viable option that many people do to save money. If budget isn’t an issue for you, it’s usually easier to hire a professional to do it.

DIY

Advantages:

Cheaper – You don’t have to worry about labor costs.

Faster – There are no waiting times like in car dealerships.

Disadvantages:

You may not be able to attach the cover correctly

You can screw it up and cause damage

car dealership

Advantages:

The exchange takes place right the first time

They have all the necessary tools for the headlight cover of your specific vehicle

Disadvantages:

Expensive

You will be without your car for a day or two

How much can I expect to have to replace my headlight cover?

The exact cost of replacing your headlight covers will depend on the make and model of your car, the state you live in, the cost of labor for your mechanic, and the type of covers you need. Some car models require a mechanic to properly install the covers. Expect to pay around $250 to $700 on average when paying a professional. DIY costs about $75-$200 for the materials plus your time.

Don’t cover up the problem – get your car fixed now!

Problems with your car can quickly become very serious. Don’t waste time; Get your car repaired as soon as possible. Replacing or repairing some parts of your vehicle is expensive. Not only is it dangerous to sit on the problem, but the more damage that occurs, the more expensive it will be to repair.

Small problems that you could have fixed for less than $100 can turn into more expensive and serious problems. It is important to nip problems in the bud.

Will my insurance pay for maintenance and repairs?

Most insurers don’t pay for regular repairs and maintenance; However, some policies include roadside assistance. If your vehicle breaks down, you will be towed to a mechanic for repairs.

It is important to take out comprehensive and comprehensive insurance. While normal repairs are not covered, damage or repairs in the event of an accident or weather-related event are covered.

Is my insurance sufficient at the given time?

When it comes to car insurance, there are several factors to consider in addition to the monthly cost. A policy that covers you when you need it, has a low deductible and offers multiple discounts can be hard to find – that’s why we’ve done the work for you.

Get instant quotes tailored to your needs – fill out our short form today!

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