Are Black housing headlights illegal???

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.

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

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

Hmmm... how about a Washington AF Meet?

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Originally posted by 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.

I'm not arguing with you. I'm trying to prevent people from getting the wrong information. People who give out the wrong information get other people who are new to this in trouble with the law. Have you picked up a DOT manual? If and when you do let me know. Or go down to your local police station and ask if you can put any colored bulb for turn signals - see what they say or how they laugh in your face.

Most modifcations are legal as long as it does not disturb others from driving (like neon lights or Cherry Bomb exhausts) - that is why you have SEMA and several other organizations backing us up - or else the government would say aftermarket stereos and shift knobs are illegal too.

If you want this to be an arguement I'm game - but I don't want people getting the wrong information. You find a DOT handbook or quote an officer saying it's ok to have green, blue, purple turn signal bulbs then I will apologize and turn in my Moderator status here.

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.

Oh so it must be legal - you have purple bulbs. So if your friends rob a bank than that's legal too. :rolleyes:

Originally posted by CivicSiRacer


Oh so it must be legal - you have purple bulbs. So if your friends rob a bank than that's legal too. :rolleyes:

Chill, all I am trying to say, is that I was talking to a cop here in town. He straight out told me, "In the state of North Carolina, it is LEGAL to have any colored turn signal bulbs. As long as they are neither red nor blue. You can not have any red or blue colored bulbs or anything on the front of a car." Then he proceeded to tell me that having red or blue windshield washer lights is illegal too. All I am trying to imply is that red and blue lights are illegal IN North Carolina. I am not trying to keep up with California. I personally don't care about the other side of the US, when I don't plan on ever going there....

:flash: In order to respond to your removing of the head lights there on your 99 civic, all you have to do is remove four bolts there are two on top and two on the sides one just behind the fender accessesable under the mud gaurd and one is hidden under your bumper directly level with the bottom of you hood grill.. and if your only talking about removing the bulb buddy you HAVE ISSUES...:flash:

Originally posted by Si2000 Vtec
Hmmm... how about a Washington AF Meet?

It sounds good, but there aren't too many Washington members left. We had quite a few meets as PH.com, though. If we meet, it might be rather small. We could, however, meet up with other groups like draglab.com or nwhonda.net... all of which have active meet schedules and have a lot of nice people that I know. I feel a joint BBQ coming on... sound good to you guyz? Put me on your AIM buddy lists and we can talk about this stuff elsewhere. GhettoLegs.

~Chris

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.

Actually... law and DOT say that you DO need an amber reflector in front and red in the rear facing the sides. And you do need amber turn signals. If you notice... ALL cars are now manufactured with amber reflectors on the side in the front and red reflectors on the side in the rear. You may not see them on the actual headlight and tail light housings... because not all cars are made that way. If they aren't built into the housings, then look on the front and rear bumper and you'll find the reflectors there. The whole point is safety... that's why the reflectors are there. And you DO need amber turn signals... if you don't think you do, check your local laws for the SPECIFIC code that shows lighting violations. If you still don't think you need it, tell that to the cops who ticketed me for my super whites when I had them.

if you are going with black housing, just paint them yourself man

Originally posted by GhettoLegs


Actually... law and DOT say that you DO need an amber reflector in front and red in the rear facing the sides. And you do need amber turn signals. If you notice... ALL cars are now manufactured with amber reflectors on the side in the front and red reflectors on the side in the rear. You may not see them on the actual headlight and tail light housings... because not all cars are made that way. If they aren't built into the housings, then look on the front and rear bumper and you'll find the reflectors there. The whole point is safety... that's why the reflectors are there. And you DO need amber turn signals... if you don't think you do, check your local laws for the SPECIFIC code that shows lighting violations. If you still don't think you need it, tell that to the cops who ticketed me for my super whites when I had them.

No one listens and some people they know everything. If they want to run with illegal items let them. They will learn someday.

CivicGurl you are close about the laws in NC, I'm not sure where exactly you are, but basically the popos must be lax where you are.. I'm in the Bragg area and word is there hella tight with that ecspecially on post.. I personally had green, now in the process of changing to purple and I have never been hit for it yet, but most would say I'm pushing my luck. The truth is, I live in NC and have out of state plates, usally the only thing that they could get me for is a violation of tint laws, as they have a 50 state tint guide in their patrol cars.. Now back to the turn signals and stuff, my next door neighbor is a cop here in Fayetteville and he has shown me their "Bible", as I'm always running over next door and asking "Hey man, can I do this? Or what about this?"... The bible says it straight... "White headlights, Orange turn signal, and red brakelights, with red or orange turn signals in the rear... There can not be any blue or red lights on the car; inside or outside!!! Yes I said inside, so then little blue laser lights, and the blue neons, underneath or in the car are illegal.. RED OR BLUE Only, they are emergency vehicles only, and by using those colors they can get you for a DOT violation, not to mention impersonating an emergency vehicle... Your headlights must be white, yes you can have a black housing, but the light that is emmitted from the housing must be white... Yea all these Hyper Whites and the Blue Tinted ones, are actaully not DOT approved, so technically they are illegal... You see those new fancy european cars with them bright ass head lights? Did you know those are actually illegal? Yes, as absurd as it sounds, you buy a car from the dealer and it is illegal, some messed up shit huh... But anyways, thats here in in NC... The truth is it really comes down to how the cops wanna play.. If they want to be dicks, they will be dicks and if they are kewl they usually let you slide... I think it really depends on how hideous your ride looks, because I always see ricey cars pulled over, but all the nice ones dont really get popped much.. The truth is you can do anything you want if you got money to pay the tickets!!

I'll just like to add that in Texas the law is the turn signal must emit either an amber or white light or anything in between amber and white. But in the rear ONLY amber or red is legal. My friend has all clear headlights and he bought an amber reflecter and stuck it crooked on his bumper and it looks nice... street legal clear headlights right there.

I just ordered a set of the black housing projectors, and im not to worried about how legal they are because i think i will be leaving an amber turn signal lens/bulb. But what I want to do to the rear, I am a little unsure about. Does anyone know the legality of the full taillight covers? I havent even checked if they make them for crxs, but im going with an all black motif and was wondering if anyone knew how that works. I heard that they were legal, however if someone rearends you you are at fault. Anyone heard anything regarding them?

Originally posted by sohcvtecrx
Does anyone know the legality of the full taillight covers? I havent even checked if they make them for crxs, but im going with an all black motif and was wondering if anyone knew how that works. I heard that they were legal, however if someone rearends you you are at fault. Anyone heard anything regarding them?

Basically, I don't really know the legality of them. But there is a bunch of people that have them. The only thing I have heard is, if someone does rear end you, then you are at fault. Due to the fact that they reduce the visibility of your brakelight. I would just check the laws in your state. That would be your best option.