QuestionHow do you changed a headlight for a 2005 Hyundai Electra?
AnswerFor the purposes of this answer, I'm going to presume you're trying to change one or both headlamp bulbs in your Elantra.
First, I'll say that if you're replacing your bulbs because they've burned out, you can have them replaced by the dealer under your factory warranty if you have less than 60,000 miles on your car. Headlamp bulbs (but not other bulbs) are covered under the warranty for 5 years or 60,000 miles, whichever comes first.
If you're replacing the left bulb, you'll first need to remove the plastic cover. You'll need to remove the three plastic retainers and one 10mm bolt to get the cover out of your way.
Access the bulb by removing the dust cover from the rear of the lamp. Unplug the electrical connector from the bulb. Unclip the bulb and remove.
When removing the bulb, you'll want to make note both of how the clip is retained and the orientation of the bulb. There's an alignment tab and a flat side on the baseplate of the bulb.
Clip the new bulb into place, attach the electrical connector and reinstall the dust cover.
It can be difficult to figure out exactly how everything goes together in the lamp because of the limited space in which you have to work. In your case, it may be easier just to remove the entire headlamp and then work on replacing the bulb in an atmosphere where you can clearly see how things go together. There are three 10mm bolts holding the headlamp in place. Remove the bolts, unplug the electrical connectors, and remove the lamp by pulling out the front of the vehicle.
