Changing light bulbs

[fungus]

This morning my right hand front indicator bulb blew on my way to my first lesson. As I was near the pupils home and I only had one right turn to make, I decided to change the bulb at his place rather than pull in on the road.
Removing the cover on the back of the light cluster was not that difficult, but it was a bit tight. Securing the bulb holder afterwards was a fiddle. However the cover was a right pain to replace. I found it difficult to locate the guide lugs, and ended up dropping the wretched thing, which found its way into a cavity between the outer & inner front wings. I have not been able to retreive it yet as I have not had time, and the weather down here has been absoutely awfull. I think the easiest way to get at it will be to remove the wheel arch cover which would allow me access behind the light.

If this had happened when a pupil was taking their test, the test would be terminated, and no money refunded. In fact, I would have to reimburse the pupil who would no doubt be very annoyed about the whole episode.

The best car I have had with respect to changing light bulbs, was a Peugeot 405, where no matter which bulb blew, they were easily changable in a matter of a couple of minutes.

This modern practice of making it virtualy impossible to change lightbulbs infuriates me as it is so unecessary.

As Europe is keen to interfere in almost everthing, maybe they should consider legislation to make it illegal for manufacturers to construct a vehecle in such a way that something as important as light bulbs can not be changed easily.

[jont]

Be grateful you don't drive a Megane:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eZWqU9X6PR4
(FWIW, yes I agree it's ridiculous that something so basic can't be done easily)

[TripleS]

It looks as if the manufacturers are only interested in what's quick and easy and cheap for them in the assembly plant, and the problems and costs subsequently faced by owners are of no concern. Maybe it's also a way of helping their dealers to make more money.

Best wishes all,
Dave.

[crr003]

Maybe it's also a way of helping their dealers to make more money.

Nail and head.
A colleague has a Renault Megane and apparently only the dealer can change a headlamp bulb?
(Teach him to buy French I suppose...........)

[Angus]

I've got a Scenic. When the headlight bulb went, the local dealer quoted me about £60 (including the bulb). I did it myself, with the help of the Haynes manual.

However, it involved removing the front bumper, so that you can remove the headlight, because that is the only way you can realistically get your hand behind to remove the bulb. It took me about 4 hours! (OK I'm no mechanic)

And yes, I did both bulbs, throwing away one which still worked.

I suppose it may be easier if you've a smaller engine version with more room under the bonnet

A thought: In France, you have to carry spare bulbs so you can replace a bulb straight away

[Gareth]

A thought: In France, you have to carry spare bulbs so you can replace a bulb straight away

Perhaps that rule doesn't apply to french cars.

[7db]

I was disappointed this wasn't "how many advanced drivers does it take to change a lightbulb"

[Flexibase]

As I find difficulty in believing that such things happen through thoughtless design I am left with the worrying alternative that manufacturers conspire with vehicle service centres to ensure that drivers are unable to carry out such basic tasks, so have to pay mechanics!

This is bad enough for all drvers but must be an "L" Instructor's nightmare at test time.

There appears to be a need for Driving Instructor's Associations, or probably all reviwers, to have a rating for their car test on bulb changing ease - or do they already do that?

On a positive note, ask your friendly garage mechanic for their tips - I believe that it was for a Vectra Mk1 that I was told that it was best to first remove something else - perhaps a fuse or relay bank - to avoid a very fiddly and nealy impossible job.

[GJD]

As I find difficulty in believing that such things happen through thoughtless design I am left with the worrying alternative that manufacturers conspire with vehicle service centres to ensure that drivers are unable to carry out such basic tasks, so have to pay mechanics!

I don't think that's necessarily true. I think it can all be explained without the need for a conspiracy theory. If I were in the business of manufacturing cars, I would only concern myself with ease of bulb replacement at the roadside if I thought it was a factor that would affect sales. Mainly I would be concerned with ease of assembly on the production line - make that more efficient and my cost of production falls. That could be sufficient to explain it.

Conspiracy theory or not makes no difference though and personally I find hard to access bulbs annoying whatever the manufacturer's reasons. But I must admit that bulb access has never been a factor I've researched when buying a car, so perhaps I only have myself to blame. On the plus side, I had to replace a tail light bulb for the first time in my S60 recently. I was amazed and overjoyed at how accessible and quick the job was.

Gavin

[TripleS]

Maybe it's also a way of helping their dealers to make more money.

Nail and head.
A colleague has a Renault Megane and apparently only the dealer can change a headlamp bulb?
(Teach him to buy French I suppose...........)

I've heard lots of references to poor reliability of the the electrical systems on French cars, but our 406 (at nine years old) has done pretty well so far. At least it appears easy to change bulbs on it, although the only one to fail so far has been one sidelamp bulb. I often see much younger cars with one headlight out of action.

Best wishes all,
Dave.

[TripleS]

....I must admit that bulb access has never been a factor I've researched when buying a car, so perhaps I only have myself to blame. On the plus side, I had to replace a tail light bulb for the first time in my S60 recently. I was amazed and overjoyed at how accessible and quick the job was.

Gavin

Aye, it's all too much a case of "like lambs to the slaughter" with most of us when we're looking to acquire a new car.

Maybe what we need is a properly organised check list for use by private buyers when looking at a prospective purchase, e.g. what does it cost to replace various items......

Apparently certain repair/replacement jobs on some of the supposedly cheap cars can actually prove to be quite expensive, so the economical car you thought you were buying may prove to be quite expensive overall.

Best wishes all,
Dave.

[fungus]

The tail light clusters on the Ibiza are fairly easy, although you have to pull quite hard to release the outer cluster spring clips, which I have smeared with petroleum jelly to make it easier when changing brake light bulbs, which I,ve had to do on several occasions. The headlight bulbs have a separate cover to the side light and indicator bulbs, which are tucked away in a rather inaccessible place. Although my hands are not large by any means, it was nigh on impossible to get my hand in to line up the lugs on the cover. Had a go this morning and succeded but could not hold the cover in place and secure the wire clip. So I tried easing it over with a screwdriver and the b****y wire clip flew off and ended up in the engine bay. After much cussing & swearing I gave up and decided to tackle it when I was in a better mood.

[jont]

Had a go this morning and succeded but could not hold the cover in place and secure the wire clip. So I tried easing it over with a screwdriver and the b****y wire clip flew off and ended up in the engine bay. After much cussing & swearing I gave up and decided to tackle it when I was in a better mood.

Is it time to bring out that old email about Haynes translations....
Haynes: This is a snug fit.
Translation: You will skin your knuckles!

Haynes: Rotate anticlockwise.
Translation: Clamp with vice grips then beat repeatedly with hammer, anticlockwise

Haynes: This is a tight fit.
Translation: Not a hope in hell matey!

Haynes: As described in Chapter 7...
Translation: That'll teach you not to read through before you start, now you are looking at scary photos of the inside of a gearbox.

Haynes: Pry...
Translation: Hammer a screwdriver into...

Haynes: Undo...
Translation: Go buy a tin of WD40 (catering size).

Haynes: Retain tiny spring...
Translation: "Jeez what was that, it nearly had my eye out"!

Haynes: Press and rotate to remove bulb...
Translation: OK - that's the glass bit off, now fetch some good pliers to dig out the bayonet part.

Haynes: Lightly...
Translation: Start off lightly and build up till the veins on your forehead are throbbing them re-check the manual because this can not be 'lightly' what you are doing now.

Haynes: Weekly checks...
Translation: If it isn't broken don't fix it!

Haynes: Routine maintenance...
Translation: If it isn't broken... it's about to be!

Haynes: One spanner rating.
Translation: Your Mum could do this... so how did you manage to botch it up?

Haynes: Two spanner rating.
Translation: Now you may think that you can do this because two is a low, tiny, 'ikkle number... but you also thought the wiring diagram was a map of the Tokyo underground (in fact that would have been more use to you).

Haynes: Three spanner rating.
Translation: But Nova's are easy to maintain right... right? So you think three Nova spanners has got to be like a 'regular car' two spanner job.

Haynes: Four spanner rating.
Translation: You are seriously considering this aren't you, you plebe!

Haynes: Five spanner rating.
Translation: OK - but don't expect us to ride in it afterwards!!!

Haynes: If not, you can fabricate your own special tool like this...
Translation: Hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha!!!!

Haynes: Compress...
Translation: Squeeze with all your might, jump up and down on, swear at, throw at the garage wall, then search in the dark corner of the garage for whilst muttering "bugger" repeatedly under your breath.

Haynes: Inspect...
Translation: Squint at really hard and pretend you know what you are looking at, then declare in a loud knowing voice to your wife "Yep, as I thought, it's going to need a new one"!

Haynes: Carefully...
Translation: You are about to cut yourself!

Haynes: Retaining nut...
Translation: Yes, that's it, that big spherical blob of rust.

Haynes: Get an assistant...
Translation: Prepare to humiliate yourself in front of someone you know.

Haynes: Turning the engine will be easier with the spark pugs removed.
Translation: However, starting the engine afterwards will be much harder. Once that sinking pit of your stomach feeling has subsided, you can start to feel deeply ashamed as you gingerly refit the spark plugs.

Haynes: Refitting is the reverse sequence to removal.
Translation: But you swear in different places.

Haynes: Prise away plastic locating pegs...
Translation: Snap off...

Haynes: Using a suitable drift...
Translation: The biggest nail in your tool box isn't a suitable drift!

Haynes: Everyday toolkit
Translation: Ensure you have an RAC Card & Mobile Phone

Haynes: Apply moderate heat...
Translation: Placing your mouth near it and huffing isn't moderate heat.

Haynes: Index
Translation: List of all the things in the book bar the thing you want to do!

[Mr Cholmondeley-Warner]

I LOL'd - it's been ages since I read that!

[crr003]

..I believe that it was for a Vectra Mk1 that I was told that it was best to first remove something else - perhaps a fuse or relay bank - to avoid a very fiddly and nealy impossible job.

On the VX I understand the easiest way to change a headlamp bulb is to remove the wheel on the relevant side and then the wheel arch liner..........