Installation help on 96 Accord Headlight Assembly

Does anyone know how to remove and replace the headlight assembly on a
1996 Accord? I have removed the three mounting bolts, but am stuck
trying to pull the assembly out past the bumper. Do I have to take off
the bumper? That somehow does not seem right to me. There are two
screws under each H/L that fasten the bumper cover down. How the heck
are those accessed? I have to believe this is not as difficult a job
as I am making it to be. Thanks for any and all assistance here ...

 

Yep. However, read below...

Are you trying to replace a burned out bulb? This IS an important question!

 

I am trying to replace the entire assembly on both sides. I am not
trying to replace a bulb. Does your answer confirm that the bumper
must be removed??

 

Yes.

There are several bolts holding the lamp assemblies that are hidden by the
bumper. Did you crash your car?

 

Car was not involved in an accident - the lights are cracked and need
replacing. I have removed the three mounting bolts without any
problems. I just cannot remove the assembly out from under the metal
above the lamp and over the bumper under them. Not enough play to
squeeze past. What holds the bumper on? I cannot believe that the
bumper cover goes on after the bumper is installed because there is
just to way to access the two screws holding on the bumper cover that
are underneath the H/L assembly. It seems that the bumper must come
off with the cover as a unit - correct?

Thanks for your help ...

 

Okay - the diagram is helpful but a set of instructions would be even
more so. Anyone know if this can be found in a Chiltons? Or some
other source? Thanks much for all of the assistance to date ...

 

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You just park it over your lawn, remove all the fasteners shown on the
drawing, then give a tug at one side or the other. The bumper will come
free, then you pull gently forward and the whole 'skin' falls off on
your lawn. You can substitute a blanket for the lawn if you are in an
apartment. While you're in there, think about installing some bug mesh
to keep bugs and small stones out of your AC condenser. Save a $600 repair.

'Curly'

 

From a study of my partial (long story, don't ask) shop manual for that
car, it looks like the bumper is withdrawn from the body by undoing nuts
from the engine bay side of the rad support.

It looks like you are supposed to pull the mounting blocks along with the
bumper.

The bumper is attached to its mounting blocks with two bolts on either
side. These bolts may be accessible from the signal lamp apertures. If they
are, remove the lamps and remove the bolts, which may be sufficient to
remove the bumper. The bumper is about 40-50 lbs and is awkward to handle.

You probably also have two screws per side that hold the rear corners of
the bumper to the wheel well lips.