I admit defeat

[slimwilly]

Now as mechanics go i am pretty good,


for my career i am a plumbing and heating engineer,


I have stripped and rebuilt engines in my past, fitted high lift cams ,ground valves in ect ect


Now , car front light bulb replacement


The last time one went on the wife Megane , a new bulb was purchased, put my hand in,under,around, tight as hell,,fumbled the retainer,rattle,clank,dropped it, it dissappeared under somewhere under the engine.


So took it to my mate at a garage, £30. new clip and bulb replaced.


So now two years on, same bulb gone again,


Halfords we fit,  , got her to phone them, £20 bulb and fitting,,let them sort it out, i shall see on her return.


Billy, not frustrated

[Lawrence]

Bulbs in modern cars are a pain in the arse.  On my Mondeo I have to take the light clusters (both front and rear) out to replace bulbs.  What happened to having a cluster that you could get to the back of, or a little flap in the trim you could stick your hand through?

[Chris]

Was the same on my 2004 Audi A4, was easier to take the light cluster out to replace the bulb, such a faf for what should be a two second job.

[bri h]

Anyone would think they do iy so you have to pay garage prices eh the ba';a'@s.

[Dave48]

So you notice a bulb has failed. Visit Halfords to buy replacement. if you thought a bulb was just a bulb think again. Study reference chart. Select bulb & purchase. Return to vehicle and attempt to fit. Now my car isnt too bad-at least theres room to reach/remove/fit behind the headlights. Several times Ive been outside shop & been asked by men/women if I know how to replace a bulb. Mercedes,Audi,Peugeot,Renault some of the worst offenders.-is this why so many cagesbeing driven around with blown bulbs? There just isnt any room to manoeuvre under the bonnet of most vehicles nowadays.

[Enceladus]

when i had to replace one in my golf a while back i had to take the battery out but fortunately managed to get at it without having to dismantle half the car!

[BBROWN1664]

I used to have a Renooo Laguna. To replace a head light bulb you had to do the following.

Jack up both sides of the car
Remove front wheels (I kid you not)
remove wheel arch liners
Remove front bumper
remove headlight assembly
Fit bulb and then refit all the other shite.

quite what you are meant to do with the spare bulb kit they make you carry in France I have no idea as changing a headlight bulb is obviously a dealer job to keep the French mechanics employed.

[Chris]

I used to have a Renooo Laguna. To replace a head light bulb you had to do the following.

Jack up both sides of the car
Remove front wheels (I kid you not)
remove wheel arch liners
Remove front bumper
remove headlight assembly
Fit bulb and then refit all the other shite.

quite what you are meant to do with the spare bulb kit they make you carry in France I have no idea as changing a headlight bulb is obviously a dealer job to keep the French mechanics employed.

Haha, what a ball ache! All just to fit a bulb! haha!

[BBROWN1664]

Fortunately I never needed to replace one before the cambelt needed changing

[tex]

 
 Had  the same with the wifes renault, got the bulb, thought 10min job, after half an hour, the expert neighbour machanics were out, 1 hour later no joy, had to admit defeat and went to halfords, sent the wife as i was to embarresed.

[fazed600]

Similar here, Honda Accord front side lights require you to undo the wheel arch liners and then squeeze hand through a tiny gap and do it all by feel. At least I have plenty of experience of groping in the dark.

[Jacko]

Same with the Civic.
Indicators need the wheel out

[robby boy]

On some Meganes there is a hole on the wheel arch that you can remove a plug from and get at the bulbs, on the Modus you have to remove the whole bumper and headlamp to get at the bulbs  (2 and a half hour job) for a foccing bulb, I think Renault think bulbs don't blow.

[Fazbaz]

A couple of weeks ago I was in Halfords buying some bulbs. The sales assistant politely asked if I wanted them fitting..... At this point I was kind to him and asked how much they would be to fit as they were dashboard lights.

He was about to go and ask when I said it was okay, I had three hours to kill anyway lol

Baz 

[rayburn600]

That is NOTHING.............................
Removed interior roof light fitting. Remove door pillar/screen trim. Remove door panel(trim card).
Thread wire through door shut in the rubber thingy, ran wire up through pillar & into roof lining. Connect to roof light.
Ran other end of wire though door and eventualy into door mirror. Fit bulb.  (16mm LED bolt light)
Connect up & test Refit all parts, except roof light.
Do the same to other side. Then refit roof light.
Wollar....
Puddle lights now fitted into the bottom of each door mirror. The lights come on whenever the Interior light comes on.
So in the dark you can Zap the door lock with key fob & the Door Mirror Puddle lights come on & light up the ground arround the door.
3.5 hours.
Easy.


Now, If I knew how to post a picture I would. Thats more difficult than doing the job!!!Try this...

http://imageshack.us/a/img689/6402/p3080329.jpg
http://imageshack.us/a/img845/8678/p3080328.jpg

[BBROWN1664]

Rayburn, you could just have bought a higher spec car that had them in the first place

[rayburn600]

Yes thats right.
3K more.
 
I got 6 for £35.
So now putting them in the Van.

[DILLIGAFF]

Many moons ago my then fiance had a FIAT 500 and I decided to change the plugs.


Managed to drop one into the engine cooling casing, as I don't have ET's fingers, where it rattled away happily beyond reach till we
sold the car. 

[Newgolddream]

Renault Scenic  - as bad as the rest.
Fortunately Halfords have a skinny young fella with universal joints at wrist and elbow.

Fitted bulb in a couple of minutes.

Well worth the extra cost.