Quick answer
Find the globe type in your owner’s manual (for example H4, H7 or H11), switch the lights off and let the globe cool, then reach in behind the headlight, remove the dust cover, release the clip or twist the globe out, and fit the new one without touching its glass. On many cars it’s a 10-minute job, but some modern cars need the bumper or headlight removed, and LED or HID headlights are a different job.
Is this a DIY job?
- Difficulty: Easy on many cars; Pro on cars that need the bumper, wheel arch liner or headlight unit removed
- Time: 10 to 30 minutes when the globe is reachable
- Tools: owner’s manual, clean gloves or a lint-free cloth, torch, sometimes a screwdriver or trim tool
- Skills: working by feel in a tight space
Open the bonnet and look behind the headlight before you buy anything. If you can see a round rubber or plastic cover on the back of the headlight and reach it with your hand, it’s usually a DIY job. If the back of the headlight is hidden behind the battery, air box or bumper, check the manual. It may say to remove other parts first, which is often a job for a workshop.
Step by step
- Find the right globe. Look in the owner’s manual under “bulbs” or “lamps”. It lists each globe by type (e.g. H4, H7, H11, HB3, HB4). You can also read the type printed on the base of the old globe once it’s out.
- Check what kind of headlights you have. If your car has LED headlights or HID (xenon) headlights from the factory, stop here and read “When to call an auto electrician”. Many LED headlights don’t have a replaceable globe at all.
- Switch off and let it cool. Turn the headlights and ignition off. Halogen globes get very hot. Give them a few minutes.
- Open the bonnet and find the back of the headlight. You’re looking for a round dust cover on the back of the headlight housing, one for each globe position. The manual shows which cover is low beam and which is high beam.
- Make room if needed. On some cars you need to unclip the air intake duct or move the coolant reservoir aside. Only move parts the manual says to move.
- Remove the dust cover. Twist it anticlockwise or pull the rubber cover off.
- Unplug the globe. Pull the wiring connector straight off the back of the globe. Don’t pull on the wires themselves.
- Release the globe. Some globes are held by a wire spring clip: push it in and sideways to release it. Others twist out (usually anticlockwise) or have a locking ring. Note the way the old globe sits, including the tabs on its base.
- Fit the new globe without touching the glass. Hold it by the metal or plastic base. Skin oil on halogen glass creates a hot spot that can shorten its life or crack it. If you do touch it, wipe the glass with a lint-free cloth and a little methylated spirits or isopropyl alcohol and let it dry.
- Seat it the same way round. The tabs only fit one way. Make sure it sits flat before you refit the clip or twist it home. A globe that’s crooked will give a poor beam.
- Reconnect the plug and refit the dust cover. A missing or loose cover lets in water and dust.
- Test it. Check low beam and high beam on both sides. Then check the aim against a wall at night: if the new globe’s beam sits noticeably higher or lower than the other side, it probably isn’t seated properly.
- Consider doing both sides. Globes on both sides age at the same rate, so when one fails the other often isn’t far behind. Replacing them as a pair also keeps the light colour and brightness even.
Specs table
Common halogen headlight globe types (12V)
| Type | Filaments | Typical wattage | Base | Usually used for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| H4 | 2 (high and low beam in one globe) | 60/55 W | P43t | Low and high beam in one headlight position |
| H7 | 1 | 55 W | PX26d | Low beam or high beam (one function per globe) |
| H11 | 1 | 55 W | PGJ19-2 | Low beam or fog lights |
| HB3 (9005) | 1 | 60 W | P20d | High beam |
| HB4 (9006) | 1 | 51 W | P22d | Low beam or fog lights |
Which globe goes where depends on the vehicle. Always confirm in your owner’s manual or from the old globe. Don’t fit a higher-wattage globe than specified: it can overheat the headlight and wiring.
What you’ll need
- H4 headlight globe / H7 headlight globe / H11 headlight globe (whichever your manual specifies; buy a pair)
- nitrile gloves
- dielectric grease (optional, a smear on the connector terminals helps keep moisture out)
When to call an auto electrician
- The manual says to remove the bumper, wheel arch liner or headlight unit to reach the globe.
- Your car has factory LED headlights. Many are sealed units with no replaceable globe, and some have control modules.
- Your car has HID (xenon) headlights. The igniter produces a very high voltage when the light switches on. Leave these to a professional.
- The new globe doesn’t work, works only on one beam, or blows again quickly. That points to a wiring, connector, relay or control module fault.
- A warning light or “lamp failure” message stays on after the change. Some cars with CAN-bus lighting systems are sensitive to the type of globe fitted.
- The headlight lens is full of water or condensation that doesn’t clear.
Need an auto electrician? Find local auto electricians and mobile services in your city.
Related questions
Q: Why does my new headlight globe not work? A: Check it’s seated properly and the connector is fully on. Then check the fuse, and test the old globe in the other side if you can. If it still doesn’t work, the fault is probably in the wiring, relay or switch. (see How do I check and replace a blown fuse?)
Q: Should I replace headlight globes in pairs? A: It’s a good idea. Both globes have done the same hours, and matching globes give an even colour and beam on both sides.
Q: Can I fit brighter or LED globes? A: Halogen “performance” globes of the same type and wattage are designed as direct replacements. LED retrofit globes in halogen headlights raise legal and glare questions; that topic has its own article. Never fit a higher-wattage globe than your headlight is designed for.
Q: Why do my headlights seem dim? A: Old globes dim with age, and cloudy or yellowed lenses cut light output. Poor earths and low charging voltage can also make lights dim.
Q: Is it illegal to drive with one headlight out? A: A headlight that doesn’t work on high or low beam is a reason to reject a vehicle at a roadworthy inspection, and police can issue a defect notice or a fine. Penalties vary by state. Replace a failed globe as soon as you can.
Sources
- HELLA, “Halogen bulbs” product information (2026) – 12V wattages and bases for H4 (60/55 W, P43t), H7 (55 W, PX26d) and H11 (55 W, PGJ19-2). https://www.hella.com/forvia-us/assets/documents/BI_Halogen_Bulbs_2026.pdf (checked October 2026)
- NARVA, “12V HB3 60W P20d halogen headlight globe” – HB3 rating and base. https://www.narva.com.au/products/48005 (checked October 2026)
- NARVA, “12V 51W P22d (9006) HB4A halogen globe” – HB4 rating and base. https://narva.com.au/products/narva-12v-51w-p22d-9006-hb4a-halogen-globe-box-of-1 (checked October 2026)
- NARVA, “How to replace a headlight globe” – let the globe cool, don’t touch the glass, check the manual for the globe type, replace in pairs. https://narva.com.au/narva-university/blogs/how-to-replace-a-headlight-globe (checked October 2026)
- NARVA, “Headlight globes – tech talk” – H4 is twin-filament, others single; higher-wattage globes than specified can damage wiring and the headlight; globe categories come from UN Regulation 37. https://narva.com.au/narva-university/blogs/headlight-globes-tech-talk (checked October 2026)
- Transport Tasmania, “Light Vehicle Inspection Manual – Reasons for Rejection” (V23) – a high or low beam headlamp that doesn’t work is a reason for rejection. https://transport.tas.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0011/402698/Light_Vehicle_Inspection_Manual_-Reasons_for_Rejection-_V23.PDF (checked October 2026)