Are Black housing headlights illegal???

[MD99SiR]

Someone today told me that Black housing headlights on a 99 Civic are illegal. I was wondering if it is true or not? Well thanx for the help. Peace.

[CivicSiRacer]

It would be illegal if the whole housing was black (then no light would be coming out of them) you need an orange bulb for turn signals and white headlight bulbs. As long as they are functional they should be legal. Now some states might fight ya if there is no DOT stamped on them.

[MD99SiR]

Does anyone have instructions on how to replace the headlights on a 99 Civic? I know I have to remove my front bumper but does anyone have detailed instructions? Thanx

[GhettoLegs]

The only way cops will get you is if the bulbs are the wrong color or if the entire lens is completely black. If it's just the housing that is black, you'll be fine. It is also illegal if the housing does not have an amber reflector on the side of it (which most aftermarket headlights don't have), but this is a minor detail most cops will never catch.

[GhettoLegs]

Originally posted by MD99SiR
Does anyone have instructions on how to replace the headlights on a 99 Civic? I know I have to remove my front bumper but does anyone have detailed instructions? Thanx

Hey, who put all the other stuff on your car? Just curious. Anywayz... what part of Washington are you from? I'm in Tacoma... if you would like, I'll help you do it free of charge. I've replaced my headlights and I've never tried a 6th gen but it can't be much different. It was pretty easy. Just let me know if you'd like help with it. My days off are Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays.

[CivicSiRacer]

Originally posted by MD99SiR
Does anyone have instructions on how to replace the headlights on a 99 Civic? I know I have to remove my front bumper but does anyone have detailed instructions? Thanx

Remove the 5 bump clip screws above the grill. Take out one screw each from the fenderwells holding the corners on. And then two screw underneath the bumper. The bumper will pop off and then remove the 4 screws holding each headlight on. And undo the wiring harness. If you have foglights you have to disconnect them too to get the bumper off.

[MD99SiR]

Originally posted by GhettoLegs


Hey, who put all the other stuff on your car? Just curious. Anywayz... what part of Washington are you from? I'm in Tacoma... if you would like, I'll help you do it free of charge. I've replaced my headlights and I've never tried a 6th gen but it can't be much different. It was pretty easy. Just let me know if you'd like help with it. My days off are Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays.

I put everything but the nitrous kit on my car because it's the wet kit and I didn't want to be cuttin any wrong fuel lines or anything. I've installed dry kits on other cars before (Zex) and it was a sinch.
I'm on the other side of the mountains from you. I Live in the Tri-Cities down by Yakima. Ever heard of it? Anyways that's cool I might have to take a trip to Seattle soon and I'll get ahold of you. I go up there often but never have anyone local there to show me to the good import shops and good hang out spots and all. I'll probably be up in Seattle in the next month so I'll IM you or contact you on here to set up a time to meet and all. Thanx. Peace

[Si2000 Vtec]

Hmmm... how about a Washington AF Meet?

[rockerdude]

you don't need no reflector, in fact i did my own black housing and colored my reflector black as well. You also don't need no orange bulb. I have white bulb for my turning signal. Then again it all depends on location. in socal, the cops doesn't give a dam what your car looks like just as long it's not voilating any serouis code like having no door or something stupid.

[CivicSiRacer]

Originally posted by rockerdude
you don't need no reflector, in fact i did my own black housing and colored my reflector black as well. You also don't need no orange bulb. I have white bulb for my turning signal. Then again it all depends on location. in socal, the cops doesn't give a dam what your car looks like just as long it's not voilating any serouis code like having no door or something stupid.

If you pick up your local DOT book it will say headlights must be white, front turn signals must be orange, rear brakes have to be red, and rear turn signals have to be red or orange.

So don't go telling people the wrong information.

[rockerdude]

hahaha, that's funny. Last time i check, i recall seeing 2000 mustang, 99 eclispe and so on having black housing stock. Not white but black. it's common sense that the turn signal should be orange. Before you reply back with some bull smack, reread my thread and you will KNOTICE I didn't mention about what i'm doing legal nor illegal.

[CivicSiRacer]

Originally posted by rockerdude
hahaha, that's funny. Last time i check, i recall seeing 2000 mustang, 99 eclispe and so on having black housing stock. Not white but black. it's common sense that the turn signal should be orange. Before you reply back with some bull smack, reread my thread and you will KNOTICE I didn't mention about what i'm doing legal nor illegal.

the cops doesn't give a dam what your car looks like just as long it's not voilating any serouis code like having no door or something stupid

Sounds like to me that's what you said. You think that if you are not getting pulled over you're not breaking any laws. Duh. I was not talking bull smack punk, I'm trying to set people straight so they don't get pulled over for thinking they can be like yourself.

[93Civicgurl]

Originally posted by CivicSiRacer


If you pick up your local DOT book it will say headlights must be white, front turn signals must be orange, rear brakes have to be red, and rear turn signals have to be red or orange.

So don't go telling people the wrong information.

First of all, black housings are not illegal. That is what I have. Secondly, front turn signals can be any color EXCEPT blue or red. I have friends that have green, orange, yellow, and I have purple. It may just be different in different states. But that is how it goes here.

[SilverY2KCivic]

Originally posted by 93Civicgurl


First of all, black housings are not illegal. That is what I have. Secondly, front turn signals can be any color EXCEPT blue or red. I have friends that have green, orange, yellow, and I have purple. It may just be different in different states. But that is how it goes here.

I wish it could be like that here in Califfornia. But here the CVC (California Vehicle Code) specifically states that front blinker bulbs MUST have an orange reflector and the bulbs can inly be amber, or clear providing the whole lense cover is orange itself. Rear binkers can only be either amber or red (or clear if the lense over them is orange or red) and brake lights MUST be red. For my car, I have hyperwhite front blinkers, but (knock on wood) haven't been hassled any about them, and they have blinked many of times right infront of cops, since it's not something like blue or green, and blinks white, they aren't as concerned. For my tails, I was sick of the orange, but wanted to keep somwwhat legal (if that makes any sense) so I got yellow 35w bulbs for my rear blinkers. They light up the same yellow as the yellow light on a traffic signel. They definitely don't look orange, and are far from clear/white. So to most, it'll just look like an od colored amber or something, the only noticeable thing of them more then the color itself, is the intense brightness of them.

[rockerdude]

aruging with you is pointless. For someone with a name with the word civic and the word racer together, i would expect you to know more. Let's put it this way, any mods on any car is illegal, altezza is not legal, doing skyline conversion is not legal, body kits are not legal, putting aftermarket headers are not legal because you just stop restricting oem air flow. why? because none of those things are DOT certify. why people do it, because of performance and looks.