Honda Accord & Light: 10 Questions Answered (For Newbies)

The Honda Accord is a sedan that boasts great utility, frugal fuel consumption, and an affordable price tag.

If you want a great sedan that delivers the goods on a budget, the Accord is a perfect choice.

At some point, you might need to replace the light bulbs on your Honda Accord.

This article will evaluate the different light bulb sizes and types found on Honda Accords.

Plus, we’ll answer questions you might have regarding the lighting on your Accord.

Which Light Bulbs Sizes and Types Do Honda Accords Use?

All Honda Accord model years have used a 9005 bulb for their high beam headlights.

The same 9005 bulb is used for Daytime Running Lights (DRL) on Honda Accord models.

Honda Accords released between 1990 and 2012 use a 9006 bulb for their low beam headlights.

Meanwhile, models released between 2013 and 2017 use an H11 bulb for low beam headlights.

The brake/tail lights on 1990-1994 Honda Accord use 3496/2057 bulbs.

Other Accords released between 1995-2005 and 2008-2016 use either 7443 or 7440 bulbs for brake/tail lights.

Click here to check Honda Accord light bulb prices on Amazon

How to Turn Off Daytime Running Lights on a Honda Accord

Daytime Running Lights are a safety feature available on Honda Accords that enable others see you during the day.

They are particularly useful in winter and other times when daytime visibility is poor.

To disable your Honda Accord’s DRLs, pull fuse #3 from the interior fuse box. It is a 10-amp fuse located in the bottom row and is third from the left.

Better still, you can check your owner’s manual before you disconnect the DRLs. There, you’ll find a clear description of the interior fuses box and the fuse you have to remove to turn off DRLs.

Note that the DRL Warning Light may start blinking once the DRLs are off. It’s meant to show that your DRL circuit has a problem.

The light isn’t particularly distracting for drivers. Plus, it stops blinking when you have your headlights on. For more troubleshooting read here about why car headlights may be blinking.

Honda Accord Light indicator Symbols Explained

The dashboard on your Honda Accord has different light indicator symbols, many of which may look confusing.

Fortunately, we have developed this detailed guide to help you make sense of the light indicators on your Accord:

1. Check Engine Light: Flashes when your engine is faulty. Get your engine checked immediately you see it.
2. Blind Spot Warning Light: Blinks to warn that there’s a car beside you. You might get a sound alert if you try to turn.
3. Charging System Light: Indicates a fault with your charging system or battery.
4. Brake System/ABS Light: Signals that your brakes and/or the anti-lock braking system are faulty. It could be anything from low brake fluid to worn brake parts.
5. Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS) Light: Indicates that the air pressure in one or more of your tires is not at an appropriate level.
6. Seat Belt Reminder Light: Flashes if one or more occupants have their seat belt(s) off.
7. Low Oil Pressure Light: This symbol illuminates when the oil in your engine is dangerously low. Check (and top up) your engine oil if you see this light.
8. Vehicle Stability Assist Light: Illuminates when the Vehicle Stability Assist (VSA) system is active.
9. Service Reminder Light: Indicates that your car is due for a scheduled maintenance activity—filter replacement, oil change, brake replacement, etc.
10. Cruise Control Light: This comes on when you switch on cruise control and set your desired cruising speed.
11. Power Steering System Light: Blinks when there’s a fault with your Accord’s power steering system.

How Do You Adjust the Light on a Honda Accord?

Need to adjust the lights on your Honda Accord vehicle? Look through our quick-and-dirty guide to tweak your headlights with ease:

• Park the car on a level surface
• Ensure tires have correct air pressure levels
• Have someone sit behind the steering wheel
• Clean the headlight lens
• Park the car in front of a wall
• Turn headlights on to see if they are aimed properly
• Open hood and adjust headlights by turning the adjusters with a screwdriver

Make sure to also read our article about the Honda Accord in snow and winter driving.

How Does the Auto Light Sensitivity Work?

Ever noticed how headlights on cars turn on when it’s dark? Those lights are programmed to start operation once they sense darkness.

They have light-sensitive sensors that can pick up changes in natural light.

If natural light is low, i.e., it’s dark, the sensors will send information to the headlights to start operation.

You can choose the sensors’ sensitivity to darkness—that’s what Auto Light Sensitivity is about.

Maximum sensitivity means light sensors will react to the slightest hint of darkness.

If it gets dark a bit (like it does in the evening), the sensors will cause the headlights to come on.

However, minimal sensitivity means light sensors react only to extreme darkness. Your automatic headlights will only come on when everywhere is very dark.

What Can Cause the Drive Light to Blink?

A blinking drive (D) light signals that your Accord’s transmission is faulty. Usually, it could be that the shift solenoid is bad, or that the transmission speed sensor is defective.

The following problems can also cause the Drive Light to flash on your Accord:

• Inadequate transmission fluid
• Bad circuit wiring
• Blocked strainer
• Bad binding mechanism

Please also read our article about how long Honda Accord lasts. 

Can I Use Headlight Covers on an Accord?

Headlight covers help protect your lights from damage and dirt. As such, they are popular among car owners.

Using headlight covers is subject to local laws. Because headlight covers affect the projection of light beams, many states ban their use.

Confirm if your local area permits usage of headlight covers before buying them.

Or, you can just buy a headlight restoration kit to clean your headlamps when they are dirty.

The Dome/Interior Light Isn’t Working

If the dome/interior light on your Honda Accord fails to work, it’s likely that you have a worn bulb.

Otherwise, a damaged fuse is the closest reason for your dome light’s malfunctioning.

Some other potential causes of this problem include:

• Loose mounting screw
• Missing mounting screw
• Loose dome light switch

If the bulb isn’t working properly, you might need a new one. Also, you may have to fasten the mounting screw or buy a replacement if it’s missing.

In a worse-case scenario, replacing the entire dome light unit might be inevitable. This is possible if you have a loose dome light switch.

Do Honda Accord Have LED Lights?

Compared to regular halogen bulbs, LED bulbs illuminate faster and use up less energy. As such, they are often preferred by drivers.

Most Honda Accords released in 2016 and later feature standard LED lights for increased visibility. Here is a list of Accords with LEDs:

• 2016 Honda Accord
• 2017 Honda Accord
• 2018 Honda Accord
• 2019 Honda Accord
• 2020 Honda Accord

Also read our article about where Honda Accords are made. 

The Lights Come on But the Car Won’t Start

Some Accord owners say that their car’s lights will come on, while the car refuses to crank.

This problem can be very annoying for drivers with busy schedules.

Here are some causes of the problem:

• Defective starter
• Broken ignition switch
• Weak battery
• Damaged fuse
• Defective alternator

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