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Autopapyrus · Mitsubishi Outlander (2nd generation, CW)
https://autopapyrus.com/guides/mitsubishi/outlander/replacing-the-low-beam-and-high-beam-headlight-bulbs/
Compiled automatically from service literature and owner experience. Specs are for the typical configuration — check them against your exact car before you start.

Mitsubishi Outlander (2nd generation, CW): Replacing the Low Beam and High Beam Headlight Bulbs

The bulbs are replaced from behind the headlight, right in the engine compartment. You do not need to remove the bumper or the headlight. Replace the low beam and the high beam one at a time: the low beam bulb comes out with a twist, and the high beam bulb comes out together with its socket. Replace bulbs in pairs, otherwise the brightness and color of the light will differ between the two headlights.

Difficulty: Easy Time: 15-30 minutes Steps: 9 Tools: None needed, or a thin Phillips screwdriver. Clean gloves or a clean rag. Dielectric grease for the contacts (optional).

Part

  • 🔩 On halogen headlights, the low beam uses an H7 bulb and the high beam uses an HB3 (9005) bulb. Check the type against your owner's manual before buying, because trim levels differ. If your car has xenon (HID) headlights, the bulbs and the procedure are different and are not covered in this guide
There's a full repair manual for this car Every system, wiring diagrams and torque specs — not just this job. Haynes AutoFix (online) and 2 more. See manuals →

Step by step

9 steps
  1. Turn off the engine and the lights, and wait 10-15 minutes for the bulb to cool. Open the hood.
  2. Locate the back of the headlight you are working on. If the air duct or the air filter housing is in the way, move it aside or disconnect it. Do not force or break anything: all of these parts are held by clips.
  3. Low beam. Remove the protective rubber or plastic cover, if there is one. Disconnect the wiring connector from the bulb base. Turn the bulb counterclockwise about a quarter turn and pull it out of the reflector.
  4. Handle the new bulb only by its base and do not touch the glass with your fingers. If you do touch it, wipe the glass with a rag dampened with rubbing alcohol. Insert the bulb into the reflector. The tabs on the base must fit into the slots. Turn the bulb clockwise until it stops and plug in the connector.
  5. High beam. Remove the cover, turn the bulb socket counterclockwise, and pull it out of the headlight as far as the wire allows. Pull the bulb out of the socket and insert the new one the same way, without touching the glass. Put the socket back in place and turn it clockwise until it locks.
  6. If you see corrosion on the contacts, clean them and apply a little dielectric grease.
  7. Put the covers back on. They must seat tightly so that moisture does not get into the headlight.
  8. Turn on the low beams and the high beams and check both headlights. Then reinstall everything you removed or moved aside.
  9. If you replaced the bulbs in both headlights, check the beam aim against a wall or at a repair shop. In most cases the beam pattern does not change, but it sometimes shifts after a bulb replacement.

Common mistakes and warnings

  • Work with the ignition off and the bulbs cool, because a halogen bulb gets very hot. The pressurized glass can burst, so protect your eyes. Do not use higher-wattage or "high-output" bulbs unless necessary, because they overheat the connectors and the reflector. If a bulb burns out too often, or a new bulb does not light, check the fuse, the relay and the contacts in the connector.