2003 Elantra headlight replacement

  • Thread starter Thread starter Moshe Jacobson
  • Start date Start date
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Moshe Jacobson

I have a 2003 Elantra and a headlight has already gone out. I'm not
sure if it could be a fuse or if it's the headlight, so I went to look
at the light. Well, the owner's manual is terrible, and I can't figure
out how to get the bulb out (it's the right side low-beam bulb). Can
anyone tell me how to get these bulbs out?

Also, is there a fuse for each light? If so, where is it? And how do
you find out this information?

There seems to be no Haynes manual for the 2002-2003 Elantras yet, and
it's kind of pissing me off, because I want to be able to work on my
own car, and the owner's manual is for the birds.

Thanks,
Moshe
 
I have a 2003 Elantra and a headlight has already gone out. I'm not
sure if it could be a fuse or if it's the headlight, so I went to look
at the light. Well, the owner's manual is terrible, and I can't figure
out how to get the bulb out (it's the right side low-beam bulb). Can
anyone tell me how to get these bulbs out?

Also, is there a fuse for each light? If so, where is it? And how do
you find out this information?

There seems to be no Haynes manual for the 2002-2003 Elantras yet, and
it's kind of pissing me off, because I want to be able to work on my
own car, and the owner's manual is for the birds.

Thanks,
Moshe
Click to expand...
why worry about the manual?
hyundai USA have all the information online.
http://www.hmaservice.com
how many cars have that sort of service?

For the latest weather where i am click
http://ii.net/~farmerjim/
 
Jim Vatunz had nothing better to do than to say:
why worry about the manual?
hyundai USA have all the information online.
http://www.hmaservice.com
how many cars have that sort of service?
Click to expand...

Oh, that's definitely awesome. I'm annoyed that that site only works
in Internet Exploder (tm) though.

Moshe
 
Jim Vatunz had nothing better to do than to say:

Oh, that's definitely awesome. I'm annoyed that that site only works
in Internet Exploder (tm) though.

Moshe
Click to expand...
that really annoys me too, but the information on there is like gold.

For the latest weather where i am click
http://ii.net/~farmerjim/
 
One thing that some of the users have noticed that burn
through headlights, some users were using the auto on/off
feature on the Elantra.

I am speaking of the function that when you turn your
car off, the lights go off, when you go to start your car
they come on, and that could be causing a spike that
causes the bulbs to burn out quicker.

Not saying that is the answer, but something to consider if you
are burning alot of bulbs out.

My 03 Elantra GLS Resource Page
http://www.stanarseneaux.com/elantra/
 
The Commander had nothing better to do than to say:
One thing that some of the users have noticed that burn through
headlights, some users were using the auto on/off feature on the
Elantra.

I am speaking of the function that when you turn your car off, the
lights go off, when you go to start your car they come on, and that
could be causing a spike that causes the bulbs to burn out quicker.
Click to expand...

Nope, that couldn't be it. I turn my lights off manually before
turning off the engine, and turn them on manually after turning on the
car. My dad has an Elantra he bought around the same time (though he
doesn't drive it nearly as much), and he uses the auto-on and auto-off
feature, but his lights are still fine.

Moshe
 
One thing that some of the users have noticed that burn
through headlights, some users were using the auto on/off
feature on the Elantra.

I am speaking of the function that when you turn your
car off, the lights go off, when you go to start your car
they come on, and that could be causing a spike that
causes the bulbs to burn out quicker.
Click to expand...

Why should that cause a surge any greater than when you turn on the
lights with the switch? Granted, it provides a greater initial drain
on the battery, with the lights on and the alternator not running, but
they come on, as your turn the key, just like they do when you turn
them on with the switch. There's no extra "surge" because of that.

That's like comparing using your computer monitor on/off switch vs
plugging it into a surge supressor and turning the monitor off by
killing power on the stip. Either way the monitor gets the same
intial surge of voltage when you power it on.
 
I have a 2003 Elantra and a headlight has already gone out. I'm not
sure if it could be a fuse or if it's the headlight, so I went to look
at the light.
<snip>
Can anyone tell me how to get these bulbs out?

Also, is there a fuse for each light? If so, where is it? And how do
you find out this information?
<snip>
=======================
Click to expand...

Bulbs and fuses are warranty covered for a year. If you have owned
the Elantra less than a year, take it in and let the dealer do it.

S25
 
[email protected] had nothing better to do than to say:
Bulbs and fuses are warranty covered for a year. If you have owned
the Elantra less than a year, take it in and let the dealer do it.
Click to expand...

Aw, what a shame. I've owned it for just over a year.

Moshe
 
[email protected] had nothing better to do than to say:
Headlamp bulb warranty is much longer than that. Please read your Owner's
Handbook.
Click to expand...

Oh, good! I'll check in just a bit. But a quick question for you:
Do you know if any dealer will provide me with warranty service, or if
I have to go to the dealer from which I got the car?

Additionally, there was recently a recall on my 2003 Elantra, and I
was told I had to take it to the original dealer to have it serviced.
Is that also true?

Thanks,

Moshe
 
[email protected] had nothing better to do than to say:

Oh, good! I'll check in just a bit. But a quick question for you:
Do you know if any dealer will provide me with warranty service, or if
I have to go to the dealer from which I got the car?
Click to expand...

Any Hyundai dealer will change it for you for free.
Additionally, there was recently a recall on my 2003 Elantra, and I
was told I had to take it to the original dealer to have it serviced.
Is that also true?
Click to expand...

no
 
=============
Headlamp bulb warranty is much longer than that. Please read your Owner's
Handbook.
=============
Click to expand...

Ok - let me rephrase that part of my message:
In MY warranty book (for an '02 Santa Fe, purchased new
in 2002, in the USA), certain maintenance items are specifically
mentioned. This INCLUDES wiper blades, fuses and bulbs.
They are warranted for one year or twelve thousand miles,
whichever comes first.
Your specific warranty MAY vary.

S25
 
I'm not sure if I'm helping you with this answer, but I think the headlights are part of 5yr. 60,000mile warranty. I got mine fixed for free.
 
We have a 2001 Elantra...two headlight bulbs have been replaced free w/i the
last 3 months.

nexttimei'mgoingwithjapanesecar said:
I'm not sure if I'm helping you with this answer, but I think the
Click to expand...
headlights are part of 5yr. 60,000mile warranty. I got mine fixed for free.
 
Moshe Jacobson said:
I have a 2003 Elantra and a headlight has already gone out. I'm not
sure if it could be a fuse or if it's the headlight, so I went to look
at the light. Well, the owner's manual is terrible, and I can't figure
out how to get the bulb out (it's the right side low-beam bulb). Can
anyone tell me how to get these bulbs out?

Also, is there a fuse for each light? If so, where is it? And how do
you find out this information?

There seems to be no Haynes manual for the 2002-2003 Elantras yet, and
it's kind of pissing me off, because I want to be able to work on my
own car, and the owner's manual is for the birds.

Thanks,
Moshe
Click to expand...

Moshe
I have a 2002 elantra. I expect getting the bulb out is the same on
the 2003. Here's how you do it. On the engine side of the headlamp
you'll find a cap about 3" in diameter, mounted vertically, that
unscrews. It has flanges for your fingers to grip. When you get it
off, pull off the electrical connector on the back of the bulb (key
out, lights turned off of course). The bulb itself is held in by a
spring wire clip that is hinged on one side of the hole the bulb goes
in and swings across the flange and plug at the back of the bulb. The
other end of the clip is pressed under an overhang and stays put by
dint of friction and the strength of the spring. If you look you will
see a place where you can put a finger and push the molded spring wire
in towards the back of the bulb. Do that and shift the wire over a
little and it will spring free with the bulb now loose. Pull out the
bulb and put in the new one (don't touch the glass of the bulb, the
oils from your finger cook on the lit bulb and shorten its life). Make
sure you seat the bulb properly - it has three detents on the flange
that fit notches in the socket. You can put it in wrong and not
necessarily know -- I did that and rode around with my lights
illuminating the tops of the trees for a while before I took a second
look and realized I had misfit both lamps. You can actually see from
the outside of the head lamp whether the bulb is seated right. To
change the bulb on the driver's side you have to remove a plastic
shroud that covers the front part of the battery. It looks like you
have to remove the battery as well, but you don't. The bulb can be
changed with the battery in.
One other thing on lamps burning out which is talked about in this
thread. When my driver's side low beam bulb first burned out a couple
of weeks ago, I bought a replacement from an auto parts store. I
didn't look too closely and didn't notice that the wattage was too
high (70 I think when it was supposed to be 55). Shortly after
installing it, my other lamp blew. I got the correct replacements. I
wonder if putting a higher wattage bulb in one side somehow affects
the current flow in the other side, burning out that bulb prematurely.
In any event, be aware that it's easy to get the right looking bulb
(even has the same "model" number -- H7, I think) with the wrong
wattage.
Good luck,
Tim
 
Moshe
I have a 2002 elantra. I expect getting the bulb out is the same on
the 2003. Here's how you do it. On the engine side of the headlamp
you'll find a cap about 3" in diameter, mounted vertically, that
unscrews. It has flanges for your fingers to grip. When you get it
off, pull off the electrical connector on the back of the bulb (key
out, lights turned off of course). The bulb itself is held in by a
spring wire clip that is hinged on one side of the hole the bulb goes
in and swings across the flange and plug at the back of the bulb. The
other end of the clip is pressed under an overhang and stays put by
dint of friction and the strength of the spring. If you look you will
see a place where you can put a finger and push the molded spring wire
in towards the back of the bulb. Do that and shift the wire over a
little and it will spring free with the bulb now loose. Pull out the
bulb and put in the new one (don't touch the glass of the bulb, the
oils from your finger cook on the lit bulb and shorten its life). Make
sure you seat the bulb properly - it has three detents on the flange
that fit notches in the socket. You can put it in wrong and not
necessarily know -- I did that and rode around with my lights
illuminating the tops of the trees for a while before I took a second
look and realized I had misfit both lamps. You can actually see from
the outside of the head lamp whether the bulb is seated right. To
change the bulb on the driver's side you have to remove a plastic
shroud that covers the front part of the battery. It looks like you
have to remove the battery as well, but you don't. The bulb can be
changed with the battery in.
Click to expand...

You and I disagree on this. I tried for a couple of hours to get the
driver's side headlamp out with the battery in in my 2001 Elentra. I
finally gave up, disconnected the battery, removed it and had the lamp
replaced about 30 seconds after that. Maybe they changed things in
the 2002.
One other thing on lamps burning out which is talked about in this
thread. When my driver's side low beam bulb first burned out a couple
of weeks ago, I bought a replacement from an auto parts store. I
didn't look too closely and didn't notice that the wattage was too
high (70 I think when it was supposed to be 55). Shortly after
installing it, my other lamp blew. I got the correct replacements. I
wonder if putting a higher wattage bulb in one side somehow affects
the current flow in the other side, burning out that bulb prematurely.
In any event, be aware that it's easy to get the right looking bulb
(even has the same "model" number -- H7, I think) with the wrong
wattage.
Good luck,
Tim
Click to expand...

It's actually pretty common to have bulbs go out in pairs within
several weeks of each other. It has nothing to do with an incorrect
lamp on one side or the other.
 
that really annoys me too, but the information on there is like gold.
Click to expand...

I went to the Hyundai site to get detailed information on changing the
spark plugs in a V6. The detailed info is not there. On the V6, a
significant amount of labor has to be done to gain access to the spark
plugs. The on-line site simply does not elborate on it.

Old_Timer
 
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