Is this possible without dismantling the front of the car - taking the front bumper off to remove each headlight? Tried today and found it impossible to get the bulb holder out. Seems a total act of stupidity by Mr T if this is the case or am I missing a trick. Headlight bulbs are fairly easy but sidelights nope -Pre-facelift model. I dont usually give up this easy but what I thought was a 30min job seems the be "Mission Impossible" and it was freezing out today.
Norman
I'm afraid that, unless you have small hands and are quite dextrous, it's a bumper off job.
Mt T doesn't always get it right.
Quote from: normanh on March 5, 2021, 19:39Is this possible without dismantling the front of the car - taking the front bumper off to remove each headlight? Tried today and found it impossible to get the bulb holder out. Seems a total act of stupidity by Mr T if this is the case or am I missing a trick. Headlight bulbs are fairly easy but sidelights nope -Pre-facelift model. I dont usually give up this easy but what I thought was a 30min job seems the be "Mission Impossible" and it was freezing out today.
Norman
I must find the tale I usually tell and make it sticky.
You're doing the right thing. Freezing cold makes it even more impossible.
Instead of my usual unhelpful tale, this time I will actually do something out of character.... Provide assistance and contribute positively.
Below are two pictures of what you're likely dealing with. This is on FL headlights but should be the same.
There's a little clip that you swing away from the light, stick the new bulb in its holder in, and then swing back and click in place.
Hopefully the below two pictures and video help in your mission.
Try to press the clip on the far end.
Clip open:
IMG_20210305_194405_resize_75.jpg
Clip closed:
IMG_20210305_194422_resize_5.jpg
https://youtu.be/_hbgbyol_Dw
Good luck
Seems to me you are describing removal of h/l bulb, not sidelight?
Like I said Headlight bulbs no problem on a pre=facelift the sidelight bulbs are located right on the underside of the unit, I cant even see how the plug is fitted little alone remove it.
Norman
Quote from: scm2004red on March 5, 2021, 20:53Seems to me you are describing removal of h/l bulb, not sidelight?
Whoops
Quote from: shnazzle on March 5, 2021, 19:52Instead of my usual unhelpful tale, this time I will actually do something out of character.... Provide assistance and contribute positively.
That went well then! : ))
Quote from: Gaz mr-s on March 6, 2021, 11:38Quote from: shnazzle on March 5, 2021, 19:52Instead of my usual unhelpful tale, this time I will actually do something out of character.... Provide assistance and contribute positively.
That went well then! : ))
I know right! I think I do better just being a sarcastic bastard
Quote from: shnazzle on March 6, 2021, 11:55Quote from: Gaz mr-s on March 6, 2021, 11:38Quote from: shnazzle on March 5, 2021, 19:52Instead of my usual unhelpful tale, this time I will actually do something out of character.... Provide assistance and contribute positively.
That went well then! : ))
I know right! I think I do better just being a sarcastic bastard
Don't give up Shnazzle, don't give up!! I saw your pics & thought 'headlight', but since I've never seen the sidelight mounting I kept quiet. To think I could have saved you... tee hee
I'll be finding out in a while though got the same bulb gone.
Quote from: Gaz mr-s on March 6, 2021, 12:23I'll be finding out in a while though got the same bulb gone.
I've got one that looks like a dying glowworm, hence my interest, and confusion.
Anyone have any idea how the sidelight fits into the H/L unit or removing the plug? I'll try again when its warmer when my arthritic fingers decide to work better. Left index fingers not right since it was stitched back on.
Norman
Just a 1/4 twist and remove as far as I can see, bulb is a push fit in the holder.
<curse your manly big hands> ;-)
At the last MOT in December, the MOT man pointed out a dim sidelight bulb which he said was about to blow.
Since then I read of all the horror stories on here which all seemed to indicate the need for hands of a 3 year old, or a day stripping out front bumpers and removing headlights, etc, so the replacement was put on the back burner.
Having thought about it, I decided Mr T couldn't be the complete numpty everyone was suggesting so decided to investigate to see if the myth was true.
My car is a 2004 FL so should be fairly typical, the offending lamp was the LHS, which after peering down into the back of the lamp. appeared more restricted than the RHS, I am a male, of nearly 6 foot (shrinking a bit with age!), normal size hands and no longer as agile as I once was.
Turned out be quite simple, probably less than 1/2 hour for one side which included about 5 minutes to remove and replace bulb, 5 minutes to check handbook for bulb size and ferret in spare bulb box, and the rest for removing and replacing frunk plastics.
I find it helpful to have a decent tool for pushing in and lifting the plastic frunk clips, a decent hand held work light, and a small mirror on a flexy stem to see underneath the light unit. Removing the 2 top headlamp screws enables the lamp to be lifted a small amount to gain just a bit of extra wiggle room. Replacing the bulbholder is a little bit more difficult as this is mainly by feel. The bulbholder needs a 1/4 turn to remove and replace.
I think Mr T isn't so dumb after all...
Hi SCM, thats as far as I got earlier in the week, its just that my hands were so cold I lost the flexibility in the fingers.
Thanks for confirming I was on the right lines.
Norman
Couple of things to consider, the PFL and FL h/l units are different, but I would assume the FL h/l is more difficult to access due to the additional projector lamp holder in the limited space. After replacing the failed bulb in the bulb holder, check it's operation before replacing it into the h/l unit, it's a pain to discover it still doesn't work when you have re installed everything.
Preface Lift only here and thats enough of a problem.
Norman
Did passenger side tonight by unscrewing two top headlight mounts - this gave a little extra hand room.
Shining a torch in through main headlight (PFL) lens - allowed me to see the tabs for orientation.
Driver side - screen wash fill pipe in the way -so going to try medical forceps or end up taking headlight out!
Could have had the bumper off and on - twice!! ;D
In the 15 mins I get free - I would loose 'something' on the gravel drive !
<must practice bumper swaps> ;)
Did it in under 12mins !
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/HEMOSTATIC-FORCEPS-ASSORTED-SURGICAL-VETERINARY-REPTILE-LONG-32-35-CE-ULTIMA/164686380030?ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT&var=464197077925&_trksid=p2057872.m2749.l2649
- bulb I took out looked like a xmas tree bauble - very silver !
Hope you wore full PPE when operating...
Well, I had such a problem. However, I had enough time to replace the light bulb. So I removed the bumper to swap the old halogen bulbs for the new smart light bulbs (https://www.amazon.com/smart-light-bulbs-wifi-bluetooth/dp/B09K38ZXYG). I thought it would be faster to remove the bumper than trying to get those little bulbs with my big claws. If I'd been at home then, I'd have asked my 12-year-old son to help me with this. He is always happy to see my car and help with the repair. But then I was in another city and had to deal with it myself. Marker lights are located under all the others, as well as fog lamps. And these are the most inconvenient parts you can find in a car.
With the MOT due in a couple of weeks I need to replace the sidelight bulb on OSF.
Has anyone attempting going in via the wheel arch liner or is this the musings of a lunatic?
Also I may have missed this, but are they 501 W5W bulbs?
Quote from: MikeBoo on January 14, 2023, 17:16With the MOT due in a couple of weeks I need to replace the sidelight bulb on OSF.
Has anyone attempting going in via the wheel arch liner or is this the musings of a lunatic?
I've never thought of that, but, seeing as much of the fastening for the liner has to be undone to remove the bumper, it's well worth a shot!
Come to think of it, with the liner out of the way, the headlamp will unbolt easily, which makes it a doddle,.
Now I realise I could be wrong about that. I had the bumper off, lights out and liners out and even the wings off the car only couple of months ago, and I'm struggling to remember the exact details.
I'll take a look at my car tomorrow and confirm.
Damn this getting old shit!
Quote from: Carolyn on January 14, 2023, 17:32Damn this getting old shit!
:)) :)) :)) :)) too recognisable O:-)
"Old age isn't so bad when you consider the alternative."
Maurice Chevalier:
All done :)
Luckily having no under bonnet plastic cover fitted due to the strut brace saved a bit of time.
Looking from above there was no point in attempting to access the bulb from the wheel well due to the inner wing.
Initially I thought that it would be a bumper off job even after I had removed the 2 headlight screws/bolts because not only is the headlight movement restricted by the remaining fixings and bumper but also it catches on the wing after lifting it about a centimetre.
Once I had worked out which way it turned and a cup of tea to delay the task, I discovered that it wasn't too bad to remove though refitting was definitely a challenge.
Having this topic & knowing that it was possible by this method was really useful.
so, I've had a peek nd reminded myself of what's what.
At the very least, one has to loosen the front bumper and remove the arch-liner to take the headlamp out.
I managed to do.It the other day despite having normal sized hands. It's of easy as there's not much room and the bulb holder is stiff to turn. I did find that loosening the headlight by removing the two top screws helped. I managed to use a pair of pliers to loosen the offside bulb and there was no way I could remove the connector without removing the bulb from the headlight first. I also removed the headlight bulb to give me more working room.
I found the nearside bulb was much easier to work on.
One of the side lights in my Avensis went this week, it is a 501 the same as the 2s, I used the LED below.
Looks so much better, a struggle to get at but worth it, the holder has four lugs so a 1/4 turn and out (sounds easy).
(https://i.imgur.com/Sbf6zHO.jpg)