Trebuchet
25-April-2006, 03:01 AM
I drive a 1985 Honda CRX -- formerly my wife's car, now my going-to-work vehicle. It's been a good car, no major work at all in 125,000 miles. I have no complaints about it.
Except the headlights.
Most cars of this vintage have either 2 large or 4 small headlights. Which can be round or square. The CRX has only 2 small, square ones. That's an unusual configuration, so the lamps are expensive. I just paid US$18 for one. That wouldn't be so bad if they didn't have to be replaced so often. I reckon I've changed lights several times as often on this car as any other I've owned. They're very vulnerable to stones etc.
Even that wouldn't be so bad if it weren't for what you have to do to replace them, as I've just gotten done doing. Here's what it takes:
1985 CRX headlight replacement
Step 1: Gather tools: 1 Phillips screwdriver.
Step 2: Remove two small screws holding turn signal assembly. Pull signal assembly out and let it dangle on its wire bundle.
Step 3: Locate and remove 4 tiny screws holding plastic headlight surround. “Locate” is not a trivial task, they are in cleverly hidden locations, one of which is under the hood and looks as if it holds the sheet metal together. Wiggle the surround out from all the sheet metal bits and lamp adjustment screws that it wants to hang up on.
Step 4: Remember that step 2 should have been “Turn on lights to verify which one is out.” Then reverse steps 2 and 3 and repeat on other side.
Step 5: Remove one even tinier screw holding sheet metal ring around lamp.
Step 6: Remove four similarly tinier screws holding the second sheet metal ring around lamp. Endeavor not to drop screws, which are so located as to make it very difficult to get your fingers on them. And which will land inside the car if they fall.
Step 7: Pull out old lamp and disconnect wire harness.
Step 8: Struggle to get new lamp plugged into wire harness, which is too short too allow access for your hands.
Step 9: Reverse steps 6 and 5. Observe that getting your fingers on the screws to take them out is NOTHING compared to trying to hold them getting them in.
Step 10: Reverse step 3. Observe that like the screws, the surround came out easier than it goes in.
Step 11: Reverse step 2. Again, it comes out easier than it goes in.
Step 12: Turn on lights and verify they work. Note that this should have been done after step 8!
Step 13: Close hood and put away tools.
Step 14: (13 would have been unlucky anyhow!) Note that gap between plastic shroud and turn signal is bigger on the side just completed than on the other. Retrieve screwdriver, pull screws, and re-install turn signal correctly.
Step 15: Pour a glass of wine and visit the BAUT!
By some miracle tonight, I did not lose any of the three dropped screws, although one required a flashlight and some persuasion to get it to drop to the ground. I curse the guy who designed this mess.
By comparison, the taillight replacement procedure is:
1. Use a coin to release plastic shroud from inside of car.
2. Turn lamp holder 1/4 turn to release from lamp assembly, and turn lamp 1/4 turn to release lamp from holder.
3. Reverse step 2 to replace lamp, using spare bulb conveniently located on inside of plastic shroud.
4. Replace plastic shroud.
5. Fervently wish the guy who designed the back of the car had been allowed to work on the front!
Except the headlights.
Most cars of this vintage have either 2 large or 4 small headlights. Which can be round or square. The CRX has only 2 small, square ones. That's an unusual configuration, so the lamps are expensive. I just paid US$18 for one. That wouldn't be so bad if they didn't have to be replaced so often. I reckon I've changed lights several times as often on this car as any other I've owned. They're very vulnerable to stones etc.
Even that wouldn't be so bad if it weren't for what you have to do to replace them, as I've just gotten done doing. Here's what it takes:
1985 CRX headlight replacement
Step 1: Gather tools: 1 Phillips screwdriver.
Step 2: Remove two small screws holding turn signal assembly. Pull signal assembly out and let it dangle on its wire bundle.
Step 3: Locate and remove 4 tiny screws holding plastic headlight surround. “Locate” is not a trivial task, they are in cleverly hidden locations, one of which is under the hood and looks as if it holds the sheet metal together. Wiggle the surround out from all the sheet metal bits and lamp adjustment screws that it wants to hang up on.
Step 4: Remember that step 2 should have been “Turn on lights to verify which one is out.” Then reverse steps 2 and 3 and repeat on other side.
Step 5: Remove one even tinier screw holding sheet metal ring around lamp.
Step 6: Remove four similarly tinier screws holding the second sheet metal ring around lamp. Endeavor not to drop screws, which are so located as to make it very difficult to get your fingers on them. And which will land inside the car if they fall.
Step 7: Pull out old lamp and disconnect wire harness.
Step 8: Struggle to get new lamp plugged into wire harness, which is too short too allow access for your hands.
Step 9: Reverse steps 6 and 5. Observe that getting your fingers on the screws to take them out is NOTHING compared to trying to hold them getting them in.
Step 10: Reverse step 3. Observe that like the screws, the surround came out easier than it goes in.
Step 11: Reverse step 2. Again, it comes out easier than it goes in.
Step 12: Turn on lights and verify they work. Note that this should have been done after step 8!
Step 13: Close hood and put away tools.
Step 14: (13 would have been unlucky anyhow!) Note that gap between plastic shroud and turn signal is bigger on the side just completed than on the other. Retrieve screwdriver, pull screws, and re-install turn signal correctly.
Step 15: Pour a glass of wine and visit the BAUT!
By some miracle tonight, I did not lose any of the three dropped screws, although one required a flashlight and some persuasion to get it to drop to the ground. I curse the guy who designed this mess.
By comparison, the taillight replacement procedure is:
1. Use a coin to release plastic shroud from inside of car.
2. Turn lamp holder 1/4 turn to release from lamp assembly, and turn lamp 1/4 turn to release lamp from holder.
3. Reverse step 2 to replace lamp, using spare bulb conveniently located on inside of plastic shroud.
4. Replace plastic shroud.
5. Fervently wish the guy who designed the back of the car had been allowed to work on the front!