How do you change a headlight on a 2005 Odyssey?

Answer 1

OK, answered my own question. On the 2005 Honda Odyssey changing the headlights (low beam) is fairly simple but upon first attempt may seem difficult.

Materials you may need:

• replacement bulbs
• dielectric grease (small packet)
• light cotton or latex gloves to prevent body oils from attaching to the new halogen bulbs.
• Key Trick of the Trade: Wide edged screwdriver with long handle (used only if plastic socket seems to stick when trying to remove: Be sure you depress the plastic retainer hook with your hadn as you gently use the screwdriver blade to work it gently free. DO NOT FORCE OR ALLOW THE BLADE BETWEEN THE ASSEMBLY, ONLY USE IT TO PUSH THE PLASTIC CLIP GENTLY DOWN)

Procedure: Driver's Side

• Open the hood and securely fasten the rod to prop the hood open.
• Locate fixture on inside of low beam and depress plastic retainer hook that affixes the wires to the lamp assembly. Depressing the retainer, wiggle the plastic female piece downward until it dislodges from the lamp assembly. I found that after five years it was firmly attached and using a wide edged long handled standard screwdriver I gently applied pressure to the top of the plastic femail piece, while depressing the retainer hook, and GENTLY worked the piece down little by little on each side until it wiggled slowly free.
• Gently grasp the lamp assembly turning counter clockwise 1/8th of a turn until it comes loose from the lens assembly. Carefully remove it.
• Put on your clean gloves. Its important not to allow body oils to contact new halogen bulbs, and not to scratch them as this may cause them to overheat and fail upon use.
• Now carefully open your new lamp from its packaging and apply a small amount of dielectric grease to the male end which will attach to the wire assembly. This helps assure a moisture free contact in the years to come.
• Remember that the lamp wire assembly will attach to the wire harness at the bottom. With that in mind, carefully guide the lamp assembly, without touching or bumping the lamp, into the socket and turn it 1/8th of a turn to lock it in.
• Now reattach the female wire harness clip to the lamp until you feel a moderate click from it being in proper position and contact.
• Test your light and you should be done.

Passenger Side:

• Follow the same procedure as the driver's side but be aware that if you need some room to maneuver you can gently slide the Power Steering Fluid reservoir up out of its clamp and give yourself a couple more inches with which to work.
• If you are replacing the High Beam, you will have to lift the reservoir out to access the high beam assembly.