Changing bulbs on a modern

[Bren]

Having suffered the indignity of having two bulbs in the o/s headlight fail on my 07 vectra, I decided to change them - at least the weather was sunny, despite temperatures hovering around freezing.

 

The haynes BOL insisted that I would have to remove the bumper and the offending headlight. I was not prepared to do this, so I removed the airbox and some of the trunking to gain access, which worked a treat.

 

Off to the local factor for two bulbs (£9 in total - Halfrauds charged me more than that for the low beam bulb when it failed on the n/s - thieving bastards), everything back together and working ok.

 

I did think what a PITA this would be if it occurred on a long trip, or if you were adverse to getting your hands dirty. Even a small garage would charge at least £50 for this - a lot for two bulbs.

[Bobthebeard]

Having suffered the indignity of having two bulbs in the o/s headlight fail on my 07 vectra, I decided to change them - at least the weather was sunny, despite temperatures hovering around freezing.

 

The haynes BOL insisted that I would have to remove the bumper and the offending headlight. I was not prepared to do this, so I removed the airbox and some of the trunking to gain access, which worked a treat.

 

Off to the local factor for two bulbs (£9 in total - Halfrauds charged me more than that for the low beam bulb when it failed on the n/s - thieving bastards), everything back together and working ok.

 

I did think what a PITA this would be if it occurred on a long trip, or if you were adverse to getting your hands dirty. Even a small garage would charge at least £50 for this - a lot for two bulbs.

 

Having lacerated my hands several times whilst replacing the headlight bulbs in Mrs Beards Honda Accord,I recently took the car to a local car parts shop that offers free fitting for things like bulbs, wiper blades etc.

The guy fitted the bulb, skinned his knuckles and sustained quite a deep cut to his hand.

Seems most moderns are similar....

Maybe one day, a Daily Mail journalist will have to replace his/her headlight bulb. Expect some serious headlines after that!

[Negative Creep]

We have the technology to make cars that drive themselves, so can someone explain why we don't have quick release headlights? It is a genuine safety issue since so many people simply won't bother, and there ought to be some form of mandate that the average motorist must be capable of changing a bulb by the side of the road

[Bobthebeard]

We have the technology to make cars that drive themselves, so can someone explain why we don't have quick release headlights? It is a genuine safety issue since so many people simply won't bother, and there ought to be some form of mandate that the average motorist must be capable of changing a bulb by the side of the road

 

Quite so!

In several European countries it is mandatory to carry a spare bulb kit in the car. Handy as fook if you need to take the bumper off, or remove the wheels and front suspension at the roadside to actually fit the bulb.

[Micrashed]

After battling for an hour I took the C8 to Halfords and paid £3.99 for the YTS trainee to fit new bulbs to both sides.

 

He swore, quite a lot as I remember......

[Bobthebeard]

After battling for an hour I took the C8 to Halfords and paid £3.99 for the YTS trainee to fit new bulbs to both sides.

 

He swore, quite a lot as I remember......

 

Lol. Trainee abuse!

Maybe the next European directive will be to carry a YTS trainee along with the spare bulb kit.

Expect Halfords will be stocking them soon. Pimply under paid youths in nicely padded boxes for £19.99.

[Barry Cade]

We have the technology to make cars that drive themselves, so can someone explain why we don't have quick release headlights? It is a genuine safety issue since so many people simply won't bother, and there ought to be some form of mandate that the average motorist must be capable of changing a bulb by the side of the road

 

Mk3 Mondeo's have quick release headlamps, 2 pull tags and the whole light unit comes out, See Brian doing it on Dave, just before his wife tells him there's a phonecall......

[Skizzer]

Rover 75 is a fugging nightmare for changing headlamp bulbs:

 

1. Remove appropriate front wheel (see Section B.94, 'Rounded wheel bolts')

2. Remove and reach through panel in arch liner via one-time self-chewing trim clips

3. Grubble around blindly trying to release a complicated spring assembly

4. Watch spring assembly detach itself where it's supposed to stay attached and ping into space

5. Search nearby undergrowth for spring assembly, fail to find it

6. Order new spring assembly from Rimmer Bros

7. Change bulb

8. Break bulb in half getting it round a 90 degree angle into the back of the lens with no manouvering space

9. Go to Halfords for another new bulb (if no back-up vehicle is available, remember to refit front wheel)

10. Find spring assembly on the drive on returning from Halfords, by running it over and destroying it

11. Wait for Rimmer Bros delivery of spare spring assembly

12. Change bulb

13. Spend an hour and a half swearing like a bastard trying to refit spring assembly

14. Bathe finger lacerations in TCP, apply plasters

15. Repeat steps 12 and 13 until successful. If doing this for the first time, you may find yourself returning to step 7 or even step 4.

[scaryoldcortina]

I just had to put 2 new headlights into a polo because the owner changed the bulbs themselves, exerting enough force trying to seat the bulbs to break the reflector away from its mounts. Bumper off and half the car to bits to get the headlights out....

[seacow]

I took the Volvo V50 to Halfrauds and was going to pay them to fit it - so we went to the car and I was embarrased that they are indeed quick release - but the guy dropped a pin which went somewhere into the bumper moulding. Well they couldnt find it but it didnt adversely affect the light. So I left - without going in to pay for bulb or fitting - am I a bad person?

[R9UKE]

 

Mk3 Mondeo's have quick release headlamps, 2 pull tags and the whole light unit comes out, See Brian doing it on Dave, just before his wife tells him there's a phonecall......

 

 

BRIAN PHONE.

 

Try the front indicator bulb on a Renault Mégane II with xenon headlights. I've had two failed attempts, I fear it'll be bumper off before MOT time in August

[gtd2000]

One of the sidelight bulbs went on my mums KIA Piacanto - had a look under the bonnet and could not see how it was possible to change...

 

Dug out the owners manual - no mention of how to do this.

 

Searched on Google - lots of articles about removing the bumper and half of the car to get to the rear of the light unit.

 

Real answer is: remove 2 x 10mm bolts and bob's-your-uncle

 

See here if you ever get stumped:

 

[PhilA]

Truck has quick-release... pop hood, remove big pin, wiggle light until it comes out of the rubber bungys, change bulb, refit.

 

My ugly mug, a while back, demonstrating... wouldn't make it on Dave though

 

Compared to the Renault, which has traditional sealed-beams held in place by four small chunks of rust that once were self-tappers... trying to insert a screwdriver into them merely proves they are made from cheese and rust... manage to liberate three, twist the metal up out of the way and remove the bulb assembly, fit a new one and then hunt around for suitable screws to put back in.

 

It's not always easier on a retro!

 

--Phil

[Ben_L]

My Cavalier being boggo spec hasn't much to hamper bulb changes...

 

But a massive PITA is one of the head lights. Either the Air Filter side or the Battery side. I know one of the two has to be removed to do it.

 

Or the heater control light (The one little pathetic christmas tree bulb that is meant to light the entire centre console) is a bad job to do too.

 

Took over an hour for me to change the headlight bulb in a Peugeot 207... But was a 5 second job in a Citroen Xsara Picasso.

[Des]

Be patient, the stylish and attractive way headlamps are moving back toward the door mirrors, it will soon be a simple matter of reaching through the air vents on the dash.

[Justin Case]

The procedure on an 02 Polo is really quite simple:

 

Try to insert hand in gap between bulb holder and rest of car - 10 mins

Drive to garage - 10 mins

Wait while mechanic tries to insert hand in gap between bulb holder and rest of car - 5 mins (this is why employ the experts )

Wait while mechanic sucks teeth and looks blank - 5 mins

Wait while mechanic attempts to change bulb with readily avaialable equipment - 10 mins

Wait while mechanic sucks teeth and looks blank - 5 mins

Wait while mechanic delves into the depths of workshop and retrieves instrument that any dentist would be proud to own - 10 mins

Wait while mechanic changes bulb - 1 min

Wait while mechanic changes other bulb FOC - 1 min (to perfect the art and cement his reputation as bulb changer extraordinaire)

Pay very reasonable bill - 2 mins

Drive home - 10 mins

 

Job done. Total time less than one hour; total cost £20

[face]

Did the headlight on SWMBO's C-Max at the weekend:

 

1 One screw to undo and two clips to, erm unclip.

2 Headlight off.

3 Remove connection plug.

Bulb out, bulb in

Reverse three initial steps.

 

Took less than five minutes and I'm a complete and utter spannerspaz.

[beko1987]

2004 Meriva:

 

Remove airbox, air intake pipe on drivers side, remove battery on passenger side

Find a 10 year old child with small hands to fit in the half gap left from the airbox and locate bulb.

Employ 10000million torques from child's fingers to unscrew bulb holder

get your dad to drive you to halfords as the air intake system is laying on the floor

return from halfords

replace bulb

employ another 5k torques to do the thing back up again

replace air pipe

replace airbox

Repeat for drivers side, which has slightly better access

replace battery

swear when the captive nut used for the battery holder rounds off

think fuck it and lash 2 massive cable ties around the battery

 

job jobbed.

 

1997 ZX

Pop Bonnet

Climb into engine bay and stand infront of the back of the headlight, inbetween the engine using the masses of space available

release 1 clip

pull bulb out

take wiring off bulb

replace bulb

plug in wires

do a dance in all the space!

repeat for other side!

 

Is that progress?

[jonny69]

Ford Anglia*.

 

1) Pull 'Hood Release' toggle on the dash and lift the bonnet.

2) Undo the two crusty rounded-out Philips screws that secure the headlight trims and be careful not to drop the trim as it falls off.

3) Swap to a flat-bladed screwdriver and attempt to free the rusty screws round the lens using nothing more than the well-corroded slot in the screw head and hoping it doesn't just shear the head off. You're applying a lot of force on a now and well-justifiably obsolete form of fastener, so try not to slip and force the screwdriver into your paintwork.

4) Just face it, you will slip anyway. It happens just as the screw falls out the hole, the screwdriver slips off to the side and digs into the paint and the lens / sealed beam falls out and smashes on the floor.

5) eBay.

6) Wait for part to arrive and fit with new screws, the only sensible-sized pack was from Homebase and you paid way over the odds for them.

 

*Same for any 60's or earlier car

[Tartan58]

Mk3 Mondeo's have quick release headlamps, 2 pull tags and the whole light unit comes out, See Brian doing it on Dave, just before his wife tells him there's a phonecall......

 

One of the two things I miss about the one I had, that and the heated front screen - two things that should be on all cars these days.

 

The Kia has a very complicated description in the manual of how to unbolt the headlights which took 15mins to understand and 15seconds to carry out!

The MX5 is equally simple except for the fact that the bolts are rusted in so one sheared while trying to remove it - major grumps

[DSdriver]

Replacing mild steel screws like for like is fine if you do not intend to do the job ever again otherwise pay a few pence more for stainless steel. Just treat them with a bit more care as they wont take the torque of mild steel.

Steel into aluminium is always a bugger as they tend to fuse together and the motor industry haven't realised there is a product called Duralac which is used in the aviation world which prevents the corrosion.

[Rusty Pelican]

On a normal Imp ,

Undo the two rusted solid screws holding the thing in place ,

pull headlight from car

Remove or round off the three scvrews holding the sealed beam headlight in ,

Find new screws then refit , about half an hour

 

OR

Fit halogen headlights and cut a feck off big hole on the headlight bowl and do it in 2 minutes with no spanner in sight

 

[The Reverend Bluejeans]

Laguna 11 1.9DCi.

 

Buy bulb with Halfords trade card for 3 quid.

Open bonnet.

Replace bulb.

Close bonnet.

 

 

Piece of piss, takes 2-3 minutes at most.

[The Reverend Bluejeans]

We have the technology to make cars that drive themselves, so can someone explain why we don't have quick release headlights?

 

Citroen GS, 1970.

[dollywobbler]

We have the technology to make cars that drive themselves, so can someone explain why we don't have quick release headlights?

 

Citroen GS, 1970.

 

Citroen 2CV 1948. You don't even have to open the bonnet. Citroen were superb for many years. It's easy on the BX - even easier if the headlamp pops off its pegs. Merc W123 has quick-release headlamps too, though changing a bulb is again very simple with plenty of access.

 

That said, I bet an SM isn't fun. You also have to dismantle half of the front end to get the battery out. Perhaps Citroen started it. Headlamp replacement on a C3 is certainly nigh on impossible.

[Mat.T]

I got changing the bulbs on my sisters C3 down to an art, right side 10mins, left side about 20mins. The first time I change them I removed and discarded many bits of unnecessary black plastic/covers that made life easier

 

Volvo v40 are also fun, if you arnt gentle with the removal the headlamp inners pop off or snap the adjuster peg thing leaving them pointing on some very stange directions.

[ruffgeezer]

Headlamp replacement on a C3 is certainly nigh on impossible.

 

Piece of piss compared to side light bulbs on the C5, they are halogen, last about 2 minutes and get so hot, they turn the bulb holders into explodium, you have to wiggle them out, trying all the while not to get a plastic shrapnel wound, or break the holder.

 

We fit non halogen bulbs now, you have to grind one of the pins off, but they last a hell of a lot longer.

[Pillock]

To be fair, I moaned about the Focus as it was seemingly an arse-aboout-face way of doing it (taking the whole headlight unit out) but like the C-Max mentioned, it's one screw and they've even put a torx/flat combi screw in that you can undo with anything from a teaspoon upwards.

[Split_Pin]

I'm very lucky in this respect having old Vauxhalls as all you have to do on all of them us unplug and pull off the rubber dust cover. Had a look at the Chevy and its just the same. Tons of room and you can even see the spring assembly holding the bulb in.

 

The passenger side on the Vectra requires popping off the relay box but it just slides up.

 

However, on my MK4 Astra, I replaced the standard lights with French Morette units, and the main beam bulb is now right inside the wing. My mate has the same ones and it is a bumper off job to change that one, however I've had the Astras bumper off so often now that I've got it down to about 15 minutes!

 

Talking of lights, quickest ever bulb fix on the Corsa today. I noticed the rear n/s tail light was out when I was de-icing the windows, so I punched it and it came back on again. BO SELECTA.

[The Reverend Bluejeans]

Citroen were superb for many years.

 

Indeed. The GS is remarkably easy to work on for regular servicing and has many clever features such as the engine cooling fan on the front of the crankshaft. Fan belt? I don't think so.

However, changing a GS clutch is a 10 hour ballache. The headlights are the first things to be removed.