How to replace the dome light in a 2001 Honda Accord EX sedan

The dome light is the overhead light that many drivers never even think about.  It typically comes on when you open the car door and goes off when you start the engine, and unless you need to read a map or find something in the back seat, you may never even use it.  But if the light does happen to go out, replacing it is an easy process.

You can probably find a replacement bulb at your local auto parts store (Sylvania DE3423 will work) but if not you can buy one online.  Amazon sells a two-pack for $7.59.  (AutoZone and O'Reilly each list it at $7.99.)

Follow the steps below to replace the dome light in a 2001 Honda Accord EX sedan.

1. Turn the light to Off

The dome light is located on the ceiling toward the middle of the car.  Push the switch for the light to the Off position.

2. Remove the cover

The plastic cover over the light can be removed by prying or popping it off.  There are two tabs on the rear side of the cover (toward the trunk of the car) that can be popped out with a small flathead screwdriver or knife blade.  Once the tabs have been popped out, pull the cover off.

3. Remove the bulb

The bulb itself sits in the housing held in by two metal tension brackets.  You can pull it out with your fingers -- remove one end first and then the other -- but be careful not to drop it because it could break or get lost.

4. Install the new bulb

Place the new bulb into the two brackets so that it clips into each one.  The orientation doesn't matter, as long as the light sits firmly in its housing.

5. Test the light

Push the light switch to On and verify that the light comes on.  If it doesn't come on, the bulb isn't sitting flush in its housing -- turn the light off and try to reseat it, then test it again.  If it still doesn't come on, either the new bulb is bad or you have a wiring problem.

6. Reattach the cover

Line the cover up so that the two large tabs are on the side toward the rear of the car, then push the opposite side of the cover (toward the front of the car) into place first.  Once that side is in place, push the rear side up, pushing the two tabs in slightly, and the cover should snap into place.

(Originally published on Helium.com, 2011. Prices and links have been updated.)

(Disclaimer: I earn a commission on Amazon sales made from links in this post.)

How to replace the high mount brake light on a 2001 Honda Accord

The brake light above your Accord's trunk uses a bulb just like the other two brake lights do, and this bulb can eventually go bad.  Fortunately, replacing this bulb is an easy thing to do.  You can find a new bulb at just about any auto parts store, bulb #7440, or you can purchase one online.

To replace the bulb, first open your trunk.  You'll see the bulb assembly on the ceiling of the trunk - the gray plastic piece mounted in the red plastic brake light cover.  To remove the assembly, twist it counter-clockwise (as you're looking at it) and pull it out from the housing.

Once you've removed the bulb assembly from its housing, the next step is to remove the power connector.  The connector is the small gray piece on the end of the cable that fits into the bulb assembly.  Remove this connector by pushing in on the small rectangular tab at the bottom of the connector and then pulling the connector away from the bulb assembly.

Now you should just have the bulb in its plastic case.  To remove the bulb, simply pull it up and out of the case.  Grasp the bulb by its base (below where the bulb balloons outward) and pull firmly, but be careful not to damage the bulb as you remove it.

After removing the old bulb, insert the new bulb by pushing it straight into the plastic case.  It should fit snugly.  Then reattach the connector, and once that has been done, put the bulb assembly back into its housing, in the roof of the trunk below the red plastic cover.  Push the bulb assembly in and then turn it clockwise until it locks into place.

You can test the bulb by turning the car on and applying the brakes, and having someone stand behind the car to make sure the high mount brake light comes on.  If no one else is around to help you test it, you can either put something heavy (like a cinder block or large box) against the brakes to keep them pushed in, and then go back and look for yourself, or else put a piece of white paper against the rear window, lightly covering the high mount brake light, so that when you apply the brakes you can see the reflection from the light coming on.  Of course, if it's dark outside, you'll probably be able to see the brake light come on without needing to reflect it onto anything.

(Originally published on Helium.com, December 2011)

How to replace the air filter in a 2001 Honda Accord

When you take your car to a service center for a routine oil change, they'll often check your air filter to make sure it's in good shape.  If it's not, they'll offer to replace it for you.  Air filters are not typically very expensive, but you can save some money by replacing your air filter yourself.  This article describes how to replace the air filter in a 2001 Honda Accord.

You can buy a new air filter at your local auto parts store -- just tell them what year and model your vehicle is, and they'll make sure you get the right filter.  They may have several different brands or styles of filters to choose from -- the standard (least expensive) filter is usually sufficient for most owners.  Below is a quick online price comparison for the Fram CA8133 air filter:

- Amazon: $10.47
- Walmart: $10.47
- AutoZone: $12.99
- OReilleyAuto: $12.99 (may vary by region)
- AdvanceAutoParts: $16.49 (may vary by region)

The air filter is located under the hood, by the engine.  To open the hood, pull on the hood release lever located to the lower left of your steering wheel.  You should hear the hood pop open.  Then get out of the car and go around to the front.  The hood has been released, but you'll need to feel underneath the hood (near the front center) for the release latch -- pull up on the hood with one hand and feel for the latch with the other.  When you find the latch, pull it to release the hood, and then raise the hood as high as you can.

There is a bar laying across the front of the hood, on the car's frame.  This bar is metal with a plastic tip.  Raise this bar up and stick the plastic tip into the corresponding hole on the underside of the hood, on the right side about halfway between the center of the hood and the side.  With the prop rod in place, the hood should stay securely raised so that you don't have to hold it up while you work.

As you're looking at the engine, there will be a thick black hose toward the back (near the windshield) running toward the left side of the engine compartment.  This hose ends in a black plastic box with a striped pattern imprinted on the top.

Remove the top of this box by releasing the four metal clips -- two on the front side and two on the rear side.  Push these clips away from the box to release them.  Then you can remove the top of the box (with the hose attached) to expose the air filter.

The air filter may be sitting in the box, or it may have come up with the top of the box.  Remove the old air filter and replace it with the new one.  Be sure to install the new air filter in the same orientation -- the side with the taller pleats goes face-down.  Then put the top back on the box and push the clips back into place.

Put the metal prop bar back into place (be sure to hold the hood up with your other hand while you put the bar back) and then close the hood.  You've now replaced your own air filter and saved yourself some money!

(Originally published on Helium.com, January 2012)

How to replace a tail light on a 2001 Honda Accord

Replacing the bulb in a rear brake light (also called a tail light) is something you can easily do yourself in just a few minutes, rather than pay a mechanic to do for you.  For 2001 Honda Accord owners, all you'll need is a type 7443 replacement bulb, which you can get from a local auto parts store, and a slotted screwdriver.  (AutoZone.com sells a pair of long-life 7443 bulbs for $7.49, and Amazon.com sells a pair for $6.72.)

To begin, open your Accord's trunk.  Whichever tail light you're replacing (either the right or left side) you'll have to peel back the soft cover that hides the trunk frame so that you can get to the light.  There is a plastic screw located next to the trunk opening (the head of the screw faces the front of the car) -- remove this screw with your flathead screwdriver.  Then, peel the cover back, away from the frame, to expose the brake light and turn signal light.  (The brake light will be the higher of the two lights.)

The bulb assembly for the brake light is a gray plastic unit connected to an electrical wire.  Remove this assembly by grasping it and twisting it counter clockwise, then pulling it out of the cavity that it rests in.  Once the bulb assembly is free, disconnect it from the wire by pushing in on the plastic tab on the connector, then pulling the connector away from the light.

Now you should be holding the bulb in a small plastic housing.  To remove the bulb, simply pull it straight up, out of the housing.  Install the new bulb by pushing it (gently) into the now-empty slot.  Then reattach the power connector and slide the whole assembly back into the cavity that it came out of.  Twist the light clockwise to lock it into place.

Push the trunk frame cover back into its original place, making sure that the plastic mount that the screw attached to fits into the hole in the car's frame.  Then put the plastic screw back in and turn it until it is tight.  If someone else is nearby, ask them to verify that the rear brake light comes on when you start the car and push the brake pedal.

(Originally posted on Helium.com, January 2012)